SFA students featured in orchestra concert

Winners of the Stephen F. Austin State University Department of Music’s Concerto/Aria Competition will be the featured performers during the Orchestra of the Pines Concert at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21, in Cole Concert Hall.

The regional orchestra, under the direction of SFA assistant professor Dr. Jeff Jacobsen, will serve as the accompaniment to four student instrumentalists and a vocalist as they perform the musical pieces on which they auditioned during the annual competition.

Brian Best, Huffman junior, will play Alexander Glazounov’s "Alto Saxophone Concerto in E-flat Major."

At SFA, Best is the principal saxophonist in the Wind Ensemble, lead alto saxophonist in the Swingin’ Axes Jazz Band and performs in the Jazz Combo and the Saxophone Quartet. He also serves as drum major for the Lumberjack Marching Band. A student of Dr. Brian Utley, SFA assistant professor of music, Best plans to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in music and earn his master’s degree in saxophone performance.

Yu-fen Chou, graduate student from Taipei, Taiwan, will play the first movement of Camille Saint-Saëns’ "Piano Concerto No. 2, Op. 22, in G Major."

Chou, accompanist of the SFA Women’s Choir, began her piano study at age 6. She earned her bachelor’s degree in earth science from National Central University in Taiwan and began her graduate study in piano performance at SFA in fall 2002 under Dr. Andrew Parr, professor of music.

Tenor Scott Quinn, Marshall senior, will sing "De’ Miei Bollenti Spiriti" from Giuseppe Verdi’s "La Traviata."

A student of Dr. David Jones, SFA regents professor of music, Quinn has performed in SFA’s opera productions of "Carmen," "Street Scene" and Signor Deluso." He performed the lead role of Tamino in the 2003 SFA opera production of Mozart’s "The Magic Flute" and is now preparing for the lead role of Nemorino in the 2004 SFA production of Donizetti’s "Elixir of Love."

Quinn recently placed first in the graduate division at the National Association of Teachers of Singing convention at Abilene Christian University and was presented the Grady Harlan Award for the most promising professional voice. In 2003, he was chosen as SFA’s Vocal Recitalist of the Year.

Michelle Sellers, Houston sophomore, will perform Cecile Chaminade’s "Concerto for Flute, Op. 107, in D Major."

Sellers is a member of the SFA Wind Ensemble, Flute Choir and Chamber Orchestra. In the summer of 2003, she participated in the summer FLUTE! master class in Santa Barbara, Calif. Sellers is pursuing a double major in music education and flute performance under the instruction of Dr. Diane Boyd-Schultz, associate professor of music at SFA.

Dustin Sheffield, Katy senior, will play the first movement of Ney Rosauro’s "Concerto for Marimba and String Orchestra."

A percussionist for the past 11 years, Sheffield is the principal percussionist for the SFA Wind Ensemble and active in many music groups. He has performed with a variety of ensembles, including jazz bands, percussion ensembles, rock bands, orchestras and drum corps. A student of Scott Harris, SFA assistant professor of music, Sheffield plans to earn a doctorate in music and teach at the university level.

The concert is a joint presentation of the SFA College of Fine Arts and the Department of Music. It is sponsored in part by Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital and gifts from Ed and Gwen Cole and the Wedgeworth-Wright Endowment for the Arts.

Tickets for the concert are $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and $5 for students. For more information call (936) 468-6407 or 1-888-240-ARTS or log onto www.finearts.sfasu.edu.

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