Stephen F. Austin State University Office of Public Affairs

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - The Stephen F. Austin State University College of Fine Arts and School of Music will present a Mozart Choral Festival at 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 5, in W.M. Turner Auditorium.

Under the direction of Michael Dean, assistant professor of music, the Choral Union, Women's Choir and Chamber Orchestra will combine to sing four of W.A. Mozart's sacred pieces. The concert will open with "Sancta Maria, mater dei" and "Misericordias, domini,"

The group will also perform "Ave Verum Corpus," a lush choral arrangement that is among Mozart's most loved works, according to Tim King, director of choral studies at SFA, and "Regina Coeli." The latter features soloists Jennifer Klam, Houston junior; Alyssa Lopez, San Antonio freshman; Miguel Douglas, Killeen freshman; and Miles Ward, Joshua freshman.

The A Cappella Choir and Chamber Orchestra, under King's direction, will present Mozart's "Mass in C minor." Soloists include soprano Debbie Berry, SFA instructor of music; mezzo-soprano Kammi Mikeska, SFA alumna; tenor Richard Berry, dean of the SFA College of Fine Arts; and bass Joel Boudier, Orange senior.

"Without a doubt, music scholars agree that the 'Mass in C minor' is the greatest of Mozart's works in the choral genre," King said. "It is rivaled in popularity only by his 'Requiem.'"

"Mass in C Minor" is one of three programs the choir and orchestra will present during their upcoming European tour. The Salzburg Choral Society issued them a special invitation to participate in Vienna and Salzburg's year-long festivities celebrating the 250th anniversary of Mozart's birth.

The 83 students and accompanying faculty members will depart on May 19 and return May 29. To learn more about the tour or to make a tax-deductible donation to help fund the tour, visit www.music.sfasu.edu/europeantour.

Tickets to the May 5 concert are $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and $5 for students. All proceeds will help fund the European tour, and all donors who have made contributions toward the tour will be recognized during the concert. For tickets or more information, please visit www.finearts.sfasu.edu or call (936) 468-6407 or (888) 240-ARTS.