NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House, Stephen F. Austin State University's art gallery located in downtown Nacogdoches, will be closed for a portion of the university's semester break.

The Art Center will be open as usual from 12:30 to 5 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 22, and Wednesday, Dec. 23, and again on Tuesday, Dec. 29, and Wednesday, Dec. 30. It will reopen for regular hours on Tuesday, Jan. 5.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Sen. Glenn Hegar of Katy, the youngest member of the Texas Senate, will be the speaker for the commencement ceremony at Stephen F. Austin State University on Saturday, Dec. 19.

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - The Stephen F. Austin State University School of Music and Opera East Texas will be presenting Gian Carlo Menotti's "Amahl and the Night Visitors" in three East Texas locations during the third weekend in December.

The one-act opera, written in English, will be presented at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 18, at the First United Methodist Church in Lufkin, 805 E. Denman Ave; at 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19, in the Pine Tree High School Auditorium in Longview, 900 Northwest Dr.; and at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 20, at Grace Bible Church in Nacogdoches, 315 Hayter St.

Tickets are still available for the world-renowned Moscow Ballet's performances of "Great Russian Nutcracker" at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 17, and Friday, Dec. 18, in W.M.Turner Auditorium as an Encore Event to the SFA College of Fine Arts' University Series.

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - "Allow time for parking" is the general recommendation for East Texans who will be attending either performance of Moscow Ballet's "Great Russian Nutcracker" in Stephen F.

SFA vocal students received honors at a recent regional competition that included over 500 students from Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico. Pictured, seated, from left, are Tiffanny Hamilton, Kylie Steed and Monica Hamilton. Standing, from left, are Patrick Wright, Keith LaLonde, Adam Williams, Patrick Russell, Stephen Hannah, Casey Parrish and Joshua Dennis.

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - Ten Stephen F.

Participants at a Stephen F. Austin State University Mast Arboretum workshop will learn how to create popular traditional holiday decorations and will have the opportunity to create fresh evergreen wreaths and magnolia garlands of their own during a workshop led by SFA horticulturist Dawn Stover.

The workshop is from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Dec. 12. The cost of the class is $20 for Friends of the SFA Gardens members and $30 for non-members. Seminar space is limited, so advance registration is required.

From left, Daniel Longtin, Caitlin Williams, Liz Roberts, Orrin Orth and Richard Skurla.

Students enrolled in SFA's combined Advanced Photography and Advanced Painting class work on a group project employing photographic imagery and silkscreen/painting processes. The 10-member class will exhibit their artworks in the Upstairs Hallway Gallery of The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House Tuesday, Dec. 8, through Friday, Dec.

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - Students enrolled in private and group lessons offered by the Music Preparatory Division of the Stephen F. Austin State University School of Music will perform in a series of end-of-the-semester recitals in mid-December.

Piano students of Stephen Adams and Erin Tang will perform at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12, in the Prep Performance Hall located in the new Music Prep House, 3028 Raguet St.

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - The combined choirs from Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches and Lufkin High Schools, and the SFA Music Preparatory Children's Choir will join with SFA's Orchestra of the Pines to present Ralph Vaughan Williams' Christmas cantata "Hodie" at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 11, in W.M. Turner Auditorium.