Berry, tenor, is a professor of music who joined SFA in 1987.

He teaches voice and voice pedagogy as well as directs the Opera Theater, including such shows as “A Little Night Music,” “Albert Herring” and “The Consul.”

Berry has performed as a soloist with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, San Antonio Symphony Orchestra, San Antonio Chamber Orchestra, Denver Chamber Orchestra and Orchestra of Santa Fe, among others. He also has performed with many noted conductors, including Roger Cantrell, Jurgen de Lemos, Margaret Hillis and Robert Shaw.

Over nearly 20 years at SFA, he served as dean of the Elliott College of Fine Arts, dean of the graduate school, associate provost, and provost and vice president for academic affairs before returning full time to teaching in January 2018.

This is one in a series of 2023 Teaching Excellence Award features.

The PCOE recognized faculty for their work in the classroom as well as research and/or creative activities within their disciplines at department- and university-wide levels.

The Research and/or Creative Activities Excellence Award recipients were Drs. James Rowe, associate professor of kinesiology and health science; Tingting Xu, professor of education studies; and Gina Fe Causin, associate professor of human sciences.

The Teaching Excellence Award recipients were Drs. Sarah Straub, associate professor of education studies, and Victoria (Tori) Wagner-Greene, associate professor of kinesiology and health science.

Dr. Judy Abbott, dean of the college, recognized the recipients of the university's Research Excellence Award, Dr. Gina Fe Causin, and Teaching Excellence Award, Dr. Sarah Straub.

Help SFA share a glimpse into life as a Lumberjack by participating in the Division of University Marketing Communications’ upcoming social media series, #SFASelfieSaturday.

Each Saturday, a selfie-style photo submitted by a faculty or staff member will be featured on SFA’s flagship account to tell our audience about colleges, programs and organizations, and to highlight the university’s amazing community.

To be featured, submit a selfie-style photo of you with your students, along with your name, the name of the class or organization and information that can be incorporated into a post to socialumc@sfasu.edu.

The April edition of the Employee Assistance Program newsletter has been released. It and all previous monthly editions can be found at the EAP webpage by clicking the “Newsletters” link in the bottom left gray box.

This month, find new ways to get moving, embrace curiosity, practice acts of kindness, manage your stress and more. Also, join live webinars on topics such as communication, stress and self-improvement.

The Organization for Women’s Leadership and Equity will hold its last general membership meeting of the 2022-23 school year from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. tomorrow in Steen Library's Wyatt Room and via Zoom.

Email owle@sfasu.edu, Dr. Mary Hawkins or Sheri Grant-Fenton for the Zoom link.

Jamaican-American hip-hop artist Sean Kingston will be the featured performer at SFA's SpringFest planned for 8 p.m. tomorrow in Johnson Coliseum. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m.

The concert will be hosted by SFA’s Student Activities Association and will serve, in part, to make up for the last-minute cancellation of the fall Homecoming concert.

Tickets for faculty and staff are $15 for concourse-level seating or $20 for pit-level seating. For community members, tickets are $20 for concourse seats and $25 for pit-level seating. Tickets can be purchased at gosfa.com/springfest23. To buy a block of seats, contact the SFA Athletics Ticket Office at (936) 468-5225.

Hosted by SFA's hospitality program, the fifth annual Kentucky Derby dinner and auction is set for 6 p.m. tomorrow at the Fredonia Hotel.

Tentatively themed “Spring Day at the Derby,” the event will feature a four-course dining experience inspired by traditional Kentucky Derby dishes. A cocktail reception with a cash bar will take place at 6 p.m., and dinner will be served at 7 p.m. Silent and live auctions will take place throughout the evening.

Guests are encouraged to wear traditional derby attire, which includes wide-brimmed hats, bow ties and colorful dresses. Tickets are $60 per person, $100 for couples and $400 for a table of eight and must be purchased in advance at sfasu.edu/give/hmsevent.

For more information, contact Carlie Allen, adjunct instructor in human sciences, at carlie.allen@sfasu.edu.

Music representing locations and composers from around the world will be performed by SFA's Symphonic Band and University Band at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 18, in the Baker Pattillo Student Center Grand Ballroom.

Titled “World Tour,” the concert features the University Band performing works referencing locations around the globe through titles and/or programmatic content, according to Dr. Chris Kaatz, assistant director of bands. The performance will feature Christina Colley, lead graduate conductor from Henderson, and Amanda Bruner, graduate conductor from Little Rock, Arkansas.

“The concert’s second half, presented by the Symphonic Band, contains works by composers of varying nationalities from across four different continents,” said Kaatz, who is also director of the Symphonic Band.

SFA's steel drum band will present another high-energy concert at 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 19, in Cole Concert Hall.

“The Jacks of Steel members are excited to present their spring 2023 collection of music,” said Dr. Jamie Vilseck, adjunct music faculty professor and director of the Jacks of Steel. “This concert features a collection of socas, calypsos, sambas, reggaes and pop music.”

Student ensembles in the sound recording technology program at SFA will perform at 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 19, at Banita Creek Hall.

The Popular Music Ensemble will perform “Gravity” by John Mayer; “Rock and a Hard Place” by Bailey Zimmerman; and “Bodysnatchers” by Radiohead, among other works. The Commercial Music Ensemble will perform “Headstone” by Whiskey Myers; “Son of a Sinner” by Jelly Roll; and “Zombie” by Bad Wolves, along with other artists. Both groups are directed by James Taylor, SRT lecturer in the School of Music.

Seats are still available for the April 26 performances of “Reading and Rhyming with Mother Goose,” a presentation of the Micky Elliott College of Fine Arts and its Children’s Performing Arts Series at SFA.

Targeting children in pre-kindergarten through second grade, “Reading and Rhyming with Mother Goose,” presented by MCP Shows, teaches children classic poems by acting out the stories within them using lively puppets and other props, according to Diane Peterson, Fine Arts Box Office manager and director of the children’s series.

Described as "a musical about two guys writing a musical about two guys writing a musical," the hilarious “[title of show]” opens Thursday, April 20, at SFA as the final 2022-23 Mainstage Series presentation of the School of Theatre and Dance.

With music and lyrics by Jeff Bowen and book by Hunter Bell, “[title of show]” is about Jeff and Hunter, two struggling writers, who hear about a new musical theatre festival. However, the deadline for submissions is a mere three weeks away. “[title of show]” follows their journey through the gauntlet of creative expression, and is, above all, a tribute to musical theatre and the joy of collaboration, according to Kristen Blossom, assistant professor of acting, voice and musical theatre and the musical's director.

The SFA Percussion Ensemble will present world premieres of two works, including one composed by a freshman SFA percussion student, written specifically for SFA percussionists when the ensemble performs at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow in Cole Concert Hall.

Dr. Brad Meyer, director of percussion studies, and Dr. Jamie Vilseck, percussion adjunct faculty, direct the Percussion Ensemble, which opens the concert with the premiere of “Plane of Existence” by Carson Chlup, freshman music education major from Mansfield.

The Trombone Choir at SFA will present classical music from three eras when the student ensemble performs at 7:30 p.m. Monday, April 17, in Cole Concert Hall.

The program will feature works from the Renaissance era, the Classical period and the 20th century, according to Dr. Deb Scott, professor of trombone.

The concert will open with a Renaissance era selection from the first early music major composer for brass, Giovanni Gabrieli. Luke Vacca, adjunct trombone professor, will conduct Gabrieli’s Canzon septimi toni no. 2, arranged by David Waters.

Have you ever wondered what makes dogs happy? Nikon Asia made a special camera for a dogs that takes pictures only of the things that excite them. Of course, turning a dog into a street photographer is a complex endeavor, but the photos ranged from dog friends to mundane items.