SFA music faculty to present chamber recital

The Stephen F. Austin State University College of Fine Arts and Department of Music will present a Faculty Chamber Recital featuring works by 20^th century French and Russian composers at 7:30 p.m. Monday, April 26, in Cole Concert Hall.

SFA faculty members included on the program are violinist Jennifer Dalmas, assistant professor; pianists Ping Ting Lan and James Pitts, both staff accompanists; and cellist Evgeni Raychev, instructor in the music preparatory division.

“The piece with which our audience is probably the most familiar is Maurice Ravel’s ‘Piano Trio.’ Ping Ting will be the featured pianist on what many consider to be the greatest piano trio of the 20^th century,” said Dalmas.

Dalmas and Pitts will perform Igor Stravinsky’s “Suite Italienne,” and Raychev and Pitts will present Dmitry Shostakovich’s “Cello Sonata.”

Dalmas, who also serves as the concertmaster of the Orchestra of the Pines, joined the SFA faculty in August. While earning her doctorate at Florida State University, she performed with the Tallahassee, Jacksonville and New World Symphonies in Florida. She has also performed solo repertoire and various concerti with orchestras in the United States and Europe.

Lan, a member of the SFA music faculty since 2000, earned her bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate in piano performance from the University of North Texas. In addition to performing with the SFA Choral Union, Women’s Choir and Chamber Orchestra, Lan maintains a large class of students through the SFA Music Preparatory Division. She has given solo recitals in the United States and in her native Taiwan.

Pitts, who joined the SFA faculty in 2000, is an active solo performer. He recently participated in the International Competition for 20^th Century Piano Music in Orleans, France, where he was a semi-finalist. He has been a soloist with the Waco Symphony Orchestra, the Central Texas Orchestra, the Houston Civic Orchestra, the North Dallas Symphony Orchestra, the University of North Texas Orchestra and the Orchestra of the Pines.

Raychev, who serves as the principal cellist of the Orchestra of the Pines, joined the SFA faculty in August. He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Bulgarian Music Academy and a second master’s and doctorate from Florida State University. Raychev has performed as a soloist, chamber musician and with orchestras in the United States, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Austria, Slovakia and Costa Rica.

Tickets for the concert are $5 for adults, $4 for seniors and $2 for students. For more information, please call (936) 468-6407 or 1-888-240-ARTS or log on to www.finearts.sfasu.edu.

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