Dr. Lauren E. Burrow, associate professor of elementary education, and Dr. Heather Olson Beal, associate professor of secondary education, presented at the National Council of Teachers of English annual convention.

Burrow co-presented a poster and participated in a panel session with elementary education majors about school and community events that promote diverse literacy.

Burrow and Olson Beal, alongside Nacogdoches High School students, participated in a panel presentation about student voice in Barrio Writers, an SFA summer writing program.

The faculty reception is scheduled for today, and the staff reception is scheduled for tomorrow.

Both receptions will be from 3 to 4:30 p.m. in the Baker Pattillo Student Center Twilight Ballroom.

In observance of World AIDS Day, the Texas Department of State Health Services will provide HIV and syphilis counseling and testing from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 30, in the Baker Pattillo Student Center Regents’ Suite A.

A presentation on sexually transmitted diseases also will take place during the event.

For more information, contact Walter de la Cruz, Student Success Center academic advisor, at (936) 468-5808 or wwdelacruz@sfasu.edu.

A community singalong of George Frideric Handel’s “Messiah” will raise funds for SFA’s A Cappella Choir to travel to Europe in 2020.

The community event, with guest conductors, organist, pianist and soloists, and featuring the audience and SFA A Cappella Choir as the chorus, is at 7:30 p.m. tonight in Cole Concert Hall.

The fundraiser is designed to help defray the costs of the choir’s 2020 Italy tour, according to Dr. Michael Murphy, director of choral activities in the SFA School of Music.

“Ring in the holiday season with the perennial favorite, Handel’s ‘Messiah,’” Murphy said. “The SFA choral area is hosting a community singalong for Nacogdoches and surrounding communities. Bring your ‘Messiah’ score or rent one for $2 from the SFA choral area, and sing or listen to Handel’s glorious masterpiece.”

Tickets are $15 adults, $10 senior citizens, $5 students and youth. For tickets or more information, call the SFA Fine Arts Box Office at (936) 468-6407 or visit finearts.sfasu.edu.

SFA’s Children’s Performing Arts Series will present two performances of the holiday classic “’Twas the Night Before Christmas” tomorrow in Turner Auditorium.

Inspired by the timeless poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas” and the real life of its author, Clement Moore, this funny musical introduces Santa Claus in a particularly beneficent light, according to Diane Peterson, SFA Fine Arts Box Office manager and director of the children’s series.

Performances are at 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Tickets are $7.50 for individuals and $6 per person for groups of 20 or more.

To order tickets, call (936) 468-6407 or (888) 240-ARTS. For more information, visit cpas.sfasu.edu.

SFA’s Trombone Choir will perform a recital at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow in Cole Concert Hall.

The 32-piece Trombone Choir, under the direction of Dr. Deb Scott, professor of trombone in the SFA School of Music, and Dr. Danny Chapa, low brass instructor, will play several beautiful chorales.

Tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for seniors, and $3 for students and youth. For tickets or more information, call the SFA Fine Arts Box Office at (936) 468-6407, or visit finearts.sfasu.edu.

SFA’s Swingin’ Axes and Swingin’ Aces jazz bands will perform the music of Duke Ellington, Oliver Nelson, Sammy Nestico, Thelonius Monk and other jazz artists when the student ensembles perform at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 29, in Turner Auditorium.

Guest saxophonist Carlos Casso will perform with the Swingin’ Axes joined on stage by his son, Dan, a senior music education major and trumpet player in the Swingin’ Axes.

Tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for seniors, and $3 for students and youth. For tickets or more information, call the SFA Fine Arts Box Office at (936) 468-6407, or visit finearts.sfasu.edu.

A reception for artist Kymia Nawabi, whose work is showing at The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House through the end of the year, is planned for 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 29, at the art center in downtown Nacogdoches.

“Kymia Nawabi: Not for Long, My Forlorn” features a series of large-scale drawings that “acted as meditations on life and death channeled through ravenous, otherworldly beings and animals that inhabit a purgatory-like space,” according to Nawabi.

Admission to the exhibition and reception is free. For more information, call (936) 468-1131.

Voice students will present a program of musical theatre and opera scenes in a performance that features the Broadway hits of Leonard Bernstein at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 29, in Cole Concert Hall.

“Bernstein on Broadway … and More!” will showcase students enrolled in the opera workshop class taught by Dr. Deborah Dalton, associate professor of voice and director of opera.

The first part of the program features the Opera Ensemble in scenes from selected Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals, including “Carousel,” “Oklahoma!” and “The Sound of Music.” Selections from “West Side Story,” “Candide” and “On the Town” also will be performed.

Tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for seniors, and $3 for students and youth. For tickets or more information, call the SFA Fine Arts Box Office at (936) 468-6407, or visit finearts.sfasu.edu.

Tickets to The Purple Xperience, "the most authentic Prince tribute in the world," and award-winning bluegrass sensations Dailey and Vincent are going fast, so purchase your tickets today!

The Purple Xperience, coming to SFA on Friday, Nov. 30, is a five-piece group that transports the spirit and sound of Prince direct from Minneapolis. Tickets are $45 for Section A seating; $36 for Section B seating; and $27 for Section C seating. Discounts are available for seniors, students, children, and SFA faculty and staff.

Dailey and Vincent will present “A Springer Mountain Farms Christmas” on Dec. 11 featuring holiday favorites performed as only this bluegrass duo can.

Single-event ticket prices for the University Series are $25 for adults, $20 for seniors, and $10 for non-SFA students and youth. Tickets for SFA students are $3.

Both University Series and Encore Event performances are at 7:30 in Turner Auditorium.

For more information or to purchase tickets, stop by the Fine Arts Box Office in Room 211 of the Griffith Fine Arts Building, call (936) 468-6407 or (888) 240-ARTS, or visit finearts.sfasu.edu.

SFA’s School of Theatre and Friends of Theatre will host a fundraiser to benefit theatre students at 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 2, at Maklemore’s Ale-House and Bistro.

“Christmas Chronicles,” a program of sentimental songs and stories, features local talents and beloved performers Brad Maule and Rhonda Plymate Simmons. In addition to the holiday-themed entertainment, the audience will be treated to a full meal that includes a dinner entree, drink and dessert, according to Cleo House Jr., director of the School of Theatre.

“Our purpose with this event is to raise money for our Friends of Theatre fund, which goes to support student scholarships, student travel to conferences and student research,” House said.

Tickets for “Christmas Chronicles” are $50 per person. For tickets or more information, call the SFA Fine Arts Box Office at (936) 468-6407 or visit finearts.sfasu.edu. Seating is limited.

Darren Pearson creates vivid, whimsical "light paintings" with the use of quickly drawn lines in the air and a long exposure setting on his camera.

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