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SHSU Update For Week Of Sept. 7
- Scholar To Explore ‘Unsettled’ America In Lecture
- Local Businesses To Bring ‘Bearkat Mania’ To Campus
- Concerts To Premier New Music Faculty
- Musical Guests To Give 'Unique,' 'Mythical' Performances
- Students Sought To Represent Class For Legacy Campaign
- Today@Sam Seeks Fall Calendar Info
- Submit Update Items Here
Scholar To Explore ‘Unsettled’ America In Lecture
In the 16th century, as the reach of European colonialism expanded, Don Luis de Velasco—an early modern indigenous translator of the Atlantic world—experienced in his worldwide travels nearly a decade of Western civilization before acting decisively against European settlement.
His story was recounted many times from the 16th to the mid-20th centuries in an array of diplomatic, religious, historical, epistolary, and literary writings.
Five centuries later, Anna Brickhouse, an associate professor of English and American studies at the University of Virginia, has found in those translations a means of understanding a wide range of texts related to settler colonialism and to the field of transatlantic studies.
On Friday (Sept. 12), Brickhouse will explore some of these ideas during an SHSU English department-sponsored presentation beginning at 2 p.m. in Evans Building Room 212.
“The Unsettlement of America” is titled after Brickhouse’s forthcoming book from Oxford University Press. Her scholarship in transatlantic studies has been considered "groundbreaking," according to April Shemak, associate professor of English.
“Through an approach that is hemispheric in scope and multilingual, Dr. Brickhouse’s work requires rethinking traditional categories of American literature,” she said. “Her first book ‘Transamerican Literary Relations and the 19th-Century Public Sphere’ (which won the Gustave Arlt Award) considered the transnational and multilingual influences on 19th-century literature in the Americas, connecting multiple locations, including the United States, Cuba, Haiti, and Mexico.
“Her forthcoming book ‘The Unsettlement of America’ focuses on indigenous translator Don Luis de Velasco and the role of translation in the relationship between European colonials and indigenous peoples in early modern Atlantic world,” Shemak said.
Because Brickhouse’s work crosses many disciplinary boundaries, Shemak said she believes the presentation will interest students and faculty across the university, especially those interested in American studies, literary studies, the history of the Americas, Native American studies, transatlantic studies, and translation.
“It provides the university community the opportunity to hear an award-winning scholar present innovative scholarship,” Shemak said.
For more information, contact Shemak at 936.294.1432.
Local Businesses To Bring ‘Bearkat Mania’ To Campus
Nearly 50 Huntsville area businesses and organizations will head to Sam Houston State University for the 29th annual Bearkat Mania on Wednesday (Sept. 10).
KSAM-FM and 104.9 The Hits radio-sponsored event will bring booths set up in Bearkat Plaza from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. that will provide great opportunities for all Bearkats, according to Steve Everett, general manager of KSAM and The Hits.
“This event is the only such experience where local businesses can set up to familiarize new and existing students, along with faculty and staff, with their products and services,” he said. “Bearkats can ‘sample their wares,’ meet new people and gather a bagful of free giveaways including a valuable coupon book.
“It’s a great opportunity to build bridges between SHSU and the rest of the community,” he said. “Students also can be exposed to potential employers, building personal and professional relationships.”
Attendees also can register for free door prizes, participate in promotions, and sample foods, as well as pick up one of 10,000 free coupon books that include discounts from participating sponsors.
The free event will include participants from local eateries, auto care, banks, shopping entities, and churches.
KSAM-FM and 104.9 The Hits will broadcast live throughout the event.
“This is a great partnership effort between KSAM radio and SHSU and it’s a great two day experience for Bearkats and businesses,” Everett said. “We are proud to be sponsored by the Student Activities each year and to work hand-in-hand with the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity for this event.”
For more information, contact Everett at 936.295.2651.
Concerts To Premier New Music Faculty
Two new faculty members will prelude their work in the SHSU School of Music through solo performances, showcasing their talent on the piano in two concerts, on Monday (Sept. 8) and Thursday (Sept. 11).
Piano instructor Anna Petrova, who has been praised for her “hallmark performances” of “excellent technical mastery and powerful control of timbre,” will present the first solo recital, beginning at 7:30 p.m. in the Gaertner Performing Arts Center Recital Hall.
The Bulgarian pianist, who performs extensively as a chamber musician, has won numerous international competitions and has performed with symphonies around the world. Her performances have been broadcast on National Public Radio, New York’s WQXR, and Bulgarian National Radio and Television.
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| New School of Music faculty member Anna Petrova (above) will give her first piano recital on Sept. 8, while Josu De Solaun, also new to the School of Music faculty (performing, below, Tchaikovsky's "Concerto No. 1, Opus 23) will debut his "one-man-show" on Sept. 11. Both concerts are free. |
Petrova holds Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from New York's Manhattan School of Music, where she is is currently completing her doctoral studies, dividing her time between New York and Houston.
On Thursday, assistant professor of piano Josu De Solaun will perform at 7:30 p.m. in the GPAC Concert Hall.
His “one-man show” will emphasize the idea of students, teachers and discipleship in honor of his first year teaching at SHSU.
“For instance, the first piece in the program is a Haydn sonata, followed by a Beethoven sonata, and the connection here is that Haydn was Beethoven’s teacher for a while,” De Solaun said. “The second half also partakes of the student thread, as both Maurice Ravel and George Enescu, the featured composers, studied composition together at the Paris Conservatoire, in the exact same class, under composer Gabriel Faure. Both are nocturnal pieces that deal with the mysteries, dreams and fears of the night world.
“Lastly, I will include a piece by Spanish composer Manuel De Falla, as I hail from Spain, and also because De Falla studied in Paris, as well, and was close friends with both Enescu and Ravel,” he continued. “In the piece by him I will be playing, ‘Andalusian Fantasy,’ one can hear the songs and rhythms of Spanish flamenco guitar music and singing, hauntingly transcribed for the piano.”
De Solaun began playing piano at a young age and completed his doctoral degree at the Manhattan School of Music.
He also has been recognized with numerous awards and has performed around the world—from St. Petersburg; to Washington, D.C.; to Taipei; to Rome, among many others.
“It will be my first time performing as SHSU faculty, and for this I am exceptionally excited, to play in front of all my colleagues and in this amazing performing space that we all share in SHSU,” he said.
Admission is free to both performances.
For more information, call the School of Music at 936.294.1360.
Musical Guests To Give 'Unique,' 'Mythical' Performances
Visiting musicians will perform a guest trio concert and will join with a School of Music faculty member for concerts beginning on Tuesday (Sept. 9).
That day, the “unique ensemble” Ascendo3 will perform a program that combines the classic and the contemporary, beginning at 7:30 p.m. in the Gaertner Performing Arts Center Recital Hall.
Ascendo3, composed of saxophonists (and father and daughter) Joseph Wytko and Anna Marie Wytoko and pianist Cameron Hofmann will perform a program that will include transcriptions of well-known works by Beethoven, Satie, and Piazzolla, and will also premiere compositions by Paul Osterfield and Philippe Gantchoula, both written for Ascendo3.
“This concert will feature great works of the past and the freshest music written now,” said Mas Sugihara, SHSU assistant professor of saxophone and faculty concert sponsor.
The next evening (Sept. 10), assistant professor of cello Daniel Saenz will be joined by guests who include soprano vocalist Misha Penton, electric guitarist George Heathco, shakuhachi (a Japanese bamboo flute) player Marty Regan, and SHSU faculty pianist Josu De Solaun for a program that premiered in Houston in May.
The “operatic song cycle, featuring five pieces inspired by fairy tales,” will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the GPAC Recital Hall.
The program will include “enchanting and mystical music that will be like no other cello recital you have ever attended,” according to Saenz, with works for solo cello by Mexican composer Mario Lavista and Japanese composer Natsuki Yoshioka; works for cello and shakuhachi by Texas A&M faculty member Marty Regan; and a large work for soprano, electric guitar and cello by George Heathco entitled “Ravens and Radishes,” which “retells through text and music some of the world's most popular fairy tales.”
Admission is free to both concerts.
For more information, call the School of Music at 936.294.1360.
Students Sought To Represent Class For Legacy Campaign
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| Last year's Senior Class Legacy program leadership team included (top row, from left) Kathy Perla, ’14; Brittney Hubert, ’14; Krista Huff, ’13; Keldon Shepherd, ’14; Coby Steele, ’14; Heather Davis, ’14; and Velichka Trayanova, ’14; and (bottom row, from left) Isaias Machuca, ’13; Synamynn Miller, ’14; Kristen Dougherty, ’14; Cyd-Cherise Reed, ’14; Sara Waldo, ’14; Nikki Abshier, ’14; and Maria Hernandez, ‘13. Not pictured is Melva Gomez, ‘14. —Photo by Brian Blalock |
Sam Houston State University’s class of 2015 now has an opportunity to leave a legacy that will make a difference in the lives of the students who follow them.
The Annual Fund office is seeking an elite group of enthusiastic and involved Class of 2015 graduates to serve on a leadership team help to promote and bring awareness about the Senior Class Legacy program to their organizations and at various events on campus.
The senior gift initiative was introduced at SHSU in 2012 through the SHSU University Advancement’s annual giving program.
Through the program, contributions are applied toward a scholarship that is awarded to an SHSU student.
Since its introduction, the class of 2012 was able to award one scholarship and the class of 2013 awarded four.
“The senior gift campaign allows for students to learn about giving back to Sam Houston before they graduate,” said Meggan Thompson, assistant director of annual giving. “And, of course, once they graduate, we hope they will continue to give back as alumni.
“We suggest a gift of $10 or more, but even a gift of $5 can help change the life of a current or future Bearkat,” Thompson said. “Every gift, no matter the size, will make an impact. But ultimately, participation is more important than the amount that is given.”
The leadership team, which comprises juniors and seniors, will receive a T-shirt to wear at events and a royal blue and white recognition cord to wear at graduation.
Gifts can be made online or by downloading a campaign form at shsu.edu/giving and sending it to SHSU Box 2537 or dropping it off in the Administration Building Room 120.
For more information on participating on the leadership team, or about the Legacy Campaign itself, contact Thompson at 936.294.2401.
Today@Sam Seeks Fall Calendar Info
The university Communications Office is now collecting information on campus events for its fall calendar pages.
Departmental calendars or events can be sent to today@sam.edu or jenniferg@shsu.edu or faxed to 294.1834. Please include the date, location and time of the event, as well as a brief description and a contact person.
Information collected for the Today@Sam calendar pages, at shsu.edu/calendars, is used by various media outlets, as well as the Communications Office for news stories and releases.
All information, including story ideas and update items for Today@Sam, should be sent a minimum of a week in advance of the event in order to make necessary contacts and write a story.
To see a full list of the Today@Sam submission guidelines, or to access submission forms for news or feature stories, calendar submissions, or hometown releases, visit shsu.edu/guidelines.html.
For more information, call 936.294.1836.
Submit Update Items Here
In order to assist members of the Sam Houston State University community in publicizing events, the SHSU Communications Office (Today@Sam) is now requesting that students, faculty and staff submit information about events, accomplishments or ideas for feature stories online.
Submission criteria and guidelines, including deadlines, have now been placed online, at shsu.edu/guidelines.html. This information is also accessible through the “Submissions” link in the right-hand navigation on Today@Sam.
From there, those submitting ideas can access forms that will allow them to provide detailed information about their idea, as well as attach event calendars, vitas/resumes or photos, depending on the type of submission.
Ideas submitted to the SHSU Communications Office are directly utilized in several ways: as news stories, “slider” or SHSU home page stories, hometown releases, and on the Today@Sam calendar.
If your submission qualifies for distribution, we will either contact you for more detailed information, or we will edit the information using SHSU/journalistic style and forward the final release to the appropriate media.
All information is verified before release, so please provide complete, accurate and timely information. Please type all responses in appropriate upper and lower cases.
For more information, contact the Communications Office at 936.294.1836 or today@sam.edu.
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This page maintained by SHSU's Communications Office
Associate Director: Julia May
Manager: Jennifer Gauntt
Located in the 115 Administration Building
Telephone: 936.294.1836; Fax: 936.294.1834
Please send comments, corrections, news tips to Today@Sam.edu.
