YSU’s Dana School of Music announces new ensemble
YOUNGSTOWN — Phyllis M. Paul, dean of the Cliffe College of Creative Arts, and Randall Goldberg, director of Youngstown State University's Dana School of Music, on Friday announced the formation of a new professional ensemble in the Dana School.
Called The Dana Ensemble, the group is comprised of a flexible, modular roster of Dana School of Music faculty, which will often be joined by regional guest artists, coming together multiple times each semester for live performances.
"One of the only positive things that might be said about the surreal reality in which we have existed over the past year is that we in the arts in higher education have been forced to think in different ways and look at our realities through various lenses," Paul said in a news release. "In the Cliffe College, our faculty have utilized this time of collective crisis to lead with innovation and the development of several new collaborations that add tremendous value and expanded dimensions to YSU and our community."
Although the Dana faculty have played with many regional ensembles over the years, this is the first time they have formed a collective group of professional musicians from all studio areas in the school to perform together on a regular basis, Paul said.
Upcoming concerts
Two in-person concerts are scheduled for the spring semester.
The debut concert, "Sounds of Spring," will take place at 3 p.m. March 28 at Powers Auditorium in the DeYor Performing Arts Center, 260 W. Federal St.
It will feature Dana faculty and guest artists Helen Welch, an internationally acclaimed vocalist, entertainer, producer and band leader, and saxophonist Dave Kana. The Dana Ensemble for this concert includes Alice Wang, clarinet; Andrew Mitchell, trombone; Sean Yancer, French horn; Wendy Case, violin; Sara Schaft, violin; Caitlin Hedge, viola; Kivie Cahn-Lipman, cello; Dave Morgan, bass; Francois Fowler, guitar; Cicilia Yudha, piano; and Glenn Schaft, drums and percussion.
The second concert, "The Society for Public Musical Performance," will take place at 3 p.m. May 2 at Powers Auditorium in the DeYor Performing Arts Center.
The performance will feature three orchestral pieces arranged by Schoenberg, and a world premiere composed by University of Akron faculty member Jamie Wilding, commissioned by the Cliffe College of Creative Arts for the new Dana Ensemble.
Tickets for both concerts are all reserved seating on the main floor of the concert hall. To order tickets, click here or call the DeYor box office at 330-259-9651. A limited number of tickets will be available at the door. Reserved tickets are $10; tickets for senior citizens are $9; anyone with a valid YSU ID is admitted free.
The capacity in Powers Auditorium is restricted to 300 patrons. All social distancing practices will be enforced. Guests will be required to wear masks and remain in their ticketed seat for the duration of the concerts.
This story was originally published March 7, 2021 at 10:01 AM with the headline "YSU’s Dana School of Music announces new ensemble."