SHSU Update for Week of April 18, 1999

• Community/University Groups in Concert
• Student Journalists Honored
• Faculty, Students Participate in Convention
• Williams Elected
• Sangster Reception
• More Music and Drama
  

Community/University Groups in Concert

The Huntsville Community Choral Society, Huntsville Community Men's Choir, Sam Houston State University Symphonic Chorus, and Sam Houston State University Symphonic Orchestra will perform at 7:30 p.m. in the Lowman Student Center Ballroom.

Stephanie Prewitt, who has sung in theaters, cathedrals and concert halls throughout the United States and Europe, will perform as soloist. She has toured extensively throughout Austria, Italy, and Scandinavia, presenting concerts often broadcast by the national radio corporations of Western Europe.

In the United States, her credits have included performances with Aspen Music Festival and with the New York Ensemble for Early Music. A Texan, she is currently active with a variety of festivals and ensembles.

Recently, her concert work has included performances of works by Bach, Handel and Mozart. She is featured on a recently released recording of Koch International, singing 12th century polyphonic chants with Heliotrope, an ensemble based in California. In Europe, she has recorded for Preiser and Nuovo Era.

Tuesday's program will include "In the Churchyard," "Alto Rhapsody," "Song of Lamentation" and "Song of Destiny." Admission to the concert is $8, with SHSU faculty and students admitted for $5 and seniors and children for $3, with Friends of Music admitted free. Call 409-294-1360 for more information.

Student Journalists Honored

Addressing his audience as "my fellow students," the 36-year veteran said the future in communications is bright. "Words and those of us who use them for a living, have a lot of power," he said.

Journalists, whether they work for newspaper, electronic, or new media, should be conscious of serving their entire communities and should show their publics they are real people--"we need to show the public that we bleed."

One way to do this, he said, is for journalists to produce more personal stories, such as one he did for the Chronicle concerning his relationship with his father.

"If we do our jobs right we can effect change, and that's what makes this job so worthwhile and rewarding," he said. Some of the top awards went to Jeremy Heallen (Outstanding Journalism Student) and Denise Richardson (Outstanding Advertising/Public Relations Student).

Clinton Goodnight and Ashley Miller received Don Reid Jr. scholarships, named in honor of the late Huntsville Item editor. Reid's widow, Frances, attended the banquet.

Journalism alumni Bleu Beathard, who was elected Thursday as chairman of the Journalism Advisory Council, and Perry Smith, outgoing chairman, also attended and assisted in the award presentations.

Faculty, Students Participate in Convention

Student Jessica Harris submitted a paper, "An Analysis of Jack in the Box's Ad Campaign," which was selected for presentation in the Honors Conference. Student Jennifer Henry served as media coordinator for the Honors Conference.

Faculty members J. D. Ragsdale, Mary Evelyn Collins, James Paster, Don Richardson and Terry Thibodeaux served as chairs or respondents for various research panels.

Thibodeaux was elected to a three year term as association representative to the National Communication Association's Legislative Council and to the association's nominating committee from the Intercultural Division.

Collins, who is serving as vice president of the association, directed the Undergraduate Honors Conference which ran concurrent to the main convention. Ragsdale attended the past president's luncheon.

As new vice president, Collins is planning the association's 2000 convention to be held in New Orleans.

The Public Communication Department at SHSU, directed by Richardson, served as host of the opening reception honoring participants in the Honors Conference.

Williams Elected

Williams has served as vice president of the society since 1993 and has been responsible for directing three biennial national conventions. She was also elected to a third four-year term as an at-large faculty member of the council.

In addition to directing the writing program, Williams is an education professor and currently serves as president of the SHSU Alumni Association.

Sangster Reception

"This will be a great time to honor a very special person who means so much to us personally and professionally," said R. Dean Lewis, dean of the college. Lewis asked that those planning to attend the event notify his office (409-294-1258) of their intent to do so by Wednesday (April 21).

Barbeque and trimmings will be served, a cash bar will be available, and music will be provided by Variety Sounds DJ.

Donations to be used for a retirement gift and expenses are also being accepted. Checks can be made out to the COBA/Carol Lee Sangster Retirement and sent to Carol Shaw at SHSU Box 2056, Huntsville, TX 77341.

More Music and Drama

Works by Handel, Schubert, Schumann, Brahms and Strauss are among those to be performed in a senior recital by April Morrill, soprano, and Jay Whatley, piano, at 3 p.m. Sunday in the Recital Hall.

Vivaldi, Mozart, Poulenc and von Weber pieces will comprise the 7:30 p.m. junior recital of bassoonist Josafat Jaime, assisted by Stacey Helmbrecht (oboe), Doris Longoria (violoncello) and Whatley (piano).

On Monday the Percussion Ensemble, directed by Alec Warren, will present a concert at 7:30 p.m. in Killinger Auditorium. Featured performers include Matt Boozer (electric bass), John Fink (electric guitar) and Trent Hanna (piano).

Alpha Psi Omega will host two evenings featuring student and faculty works at SHSU's Showcase Theatre. Curtain time is 8 p.m. Wednesday (April 21) and Thursday. Ticket information is available at 409-294-1339 or 409-294-1329.

Also scheduled for Wednesday is a recital by students Ray Hilley (euphonium) and Eloisa Guzman (horn) at 7:30 p.m. in the Recital Hall.

A guest recital of Trio Issey, featuring Hiromi Matsunaga (piano), Hiroko Taguchi (violin) and Sean Katsuyama (cello) is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Saturday (April 24) in Killinger Auditorium. That recital will be preceded by a 6 p.m. reception in Austin Hall honoring Friends of Music.

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Media Contact: Frank Krystyniak
April 18, 1999
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