April 18, 2005 – Sylvia Bierschenk

SFA presents annual band concert in the park

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - "A great way to spend a Sunday afternoon" is how Fred J. Allen, Stephen F. Austin State University director of bands, describes the upcoming Concert in the Park at 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 24. The annual event presented by the university's Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band and Concert Band will be held outside Cole Concert Hall and is free to the public.

"Each year families bring their lawn chairs or picnic blankets and listen to the great music," Allen said. "And as in years past, Kappa Kappa Psi, the honorary band fraternity, will be selling hamburgers and all the fixings, beginning at 1 p.m.".

A highlight of the concert will be the recognition of Sammy Almany as the 2005 inductee into the SFA Band Director's Hall of Fame.

Almany graduated from SFA with a bachelor's degree in 1967 and a master's degree in 1973. During his 34 years of band directing, Almany has taught in Cushing, Gladewater, Pine Tree, Port Neches-Groves, Mount Enterprise and Nacogdoches.

During his 26 years at Port Neches-Goves, Almany was the coordinator of bands and the high school band director. The high school band received 24 first division ratings in marching, advanced to the area marching contest for 11 consecutive years and to the state marching contest for five years, winning the preliminaries in 1988.

The band also earned 14 Sweepstakes Awards in a row and was awarded a first division at the 1991 State Wind Ensemble contest. In 1994 the band was named the Outstanding Band in Class 4A. Other recognitions include the Region 10 Honor Band in both Class 5A and 4A, Area Honor Band and State Finalist in Class 4A.

Although he has retired as a full-time band director, Almany still teaches beginning band at Moses and McMichaels Middle Schools in Nacogdoches.

In addition to receiving a plaque at the concert, Almany will guest conduct the SFA Wind Ensemble in playing "Them Basses" by Getty Huffine.

Under Allen's direction, the Wind Ensemble will also perform "English Waltz" by Percy Grainger." David Campo, SFA assistant director of bands, will direct the band in playing "Second Suite in F" by Gustav Holst.

The concert will open with the Concert Band, directed by Campo, performing "Marche Militaire Françaose" by Camille Saint-Saëns. Graduate students Michael Murdoch of Lufkin and Katy Crow of Pittsburg will be featured conductors of the band.

The Symphonic Band, also directed by Campo, will perform several pieces, including "Canarios Fantasia" by Douglas Akey. Members of the band's brass section will join the Wind Ensemble in closing the concert with "Polka and Fugue" by Jaromir Weinberger.

The concert is a joint presentation of the SFA College of Fine Arts and the Department of Music. For more information, please call (936) 468-6407 or 888-240-ARTS.