SFA Associate Professor Stephen Lias (left) and three of his students have all recently been honored for musical compositions they have written within the past year. Pictured with Lias, from left, are Lufkin senior Aden K. Ramsey, Lufkin graduate student Garry Wickliffe and Dallas sophomore Russell Cannon.

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - "Steak-worthy" is what Dr. Stephen Lias calls the most recent honors bestowed upon three of his composition students.

Stephen F. Austin State University combined choirs and members of the Nacogdoches community sing during a previous presentation of Handel's 'Messiah.' Registration is now open for community members to participate in this year's presentation at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5, in W.M. Turner Auditorium.

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - Registrations for participation in the community-wide presentation of Georg Frideric Handel's "Messiah" at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The Stephen F. Austin State University Department of English and Philosophy will host award-winning poet B.H. Fairchild as part of the department's new reading series.

The poetry reading will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 6, in Liberal Arts North, Room 102, on the SFA campus. The reading is sponsored by the Bachelor of Fine Arts in creative writing program at SFA.

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - The SFA Friends of Visual Arts will unveil 24 glass ornaments bearing original works of art by local artists during the opening of a scholarship fund-raiser, "Hooked on Art," from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8, at The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House.

"The opening is being held in conjunction with the Downtown Art Walk," explained Marty Prince, president of the friends organization. "But the fund-raiser actually lasts through Saturday, Dec. 6."

Katarzyna Mycka is one of two internationally renowned marimbists who will be working with SFA percussion students Nov. 2 through 4. She will also be a guest soloist during the SFA Percussion Ensemble's concert at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 4, in Cole Concert Hall.

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - Two internationally renowned marimba artists will be visiting Stephen F. Austin State University Nov.

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - As part of its monthly film series, the Stephen F. Austin State University School of Art and Friends of the Visual Arts will present a free one-night screening of "The Real Dirt on Farmer John" at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 7, in the Ledbetter Gallery of The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House.

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - Area 6- to 12-year-olds may register for a mask-making workshop offered by the Stephen F. Austin State University School of Art from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 15, at The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House, 329 E. Main Street in downtown Nacogdoches, as part of the Creative Art Saturday program.

The workshop will be taught by SFA art education majors and Assistant Professor Marsha Blount.

Dress up and journey with Alice "down the rabbit hole" and "through the looking glass" during the Stone Fort Museum's fifth-annual Halloween festival Friday, Oct. 31, on the campus of Stephen F. Austin State University.

The Mad Hatter, White Rabbit, Cheshire Cat and Ugly Duchess all await visitors to this year's "History was Never Scarier" event. Kid-friendly tours of the museum will join Alice on her fantastic adventures in a Wonderland famously created in 1865 by English author Lewis Carroll.

Dr. Michael Fountain

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Dr. Michael Fountain, longtime professor and associate dean of the Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture at Stephen F. Austin State University, will serve as interim dean of the college beginning Jan. 1.

Stephen F. Austin State University tuba and euphonium students dressed in Halloween costumes will present "Tubaween" at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 30, in Cole Concert Hall on the SFA campus.

The annual concert is the final event of the tuba-euphonium studio's 2008 Octubafest, which celebrates the tuba and euphonium as a solo and chamber music instrument. The 25 musicians will perform a variety of music, much of which is in keeping with the spirit of Halloween, explained J.D. Salas, SFA instructor of tuba and euphonium.