Updated 10/20/09
•We are proud to announce the release of the compact disc Dark Wood which features percussion chamber music recorded by the Youngstown Percussion Collective and the Youngstown State University Percussion Ensemble, produced by Dr. Glenn Schaft, featuring six premiere recordings & four commissioned works, including Glenn Schaft performing Dave Morgan's drumset concerto entitled Reactions.
•The YSU Percussion Studio and the Youngstown Percussion Collective are proud to announce the world premiere recording of Ziggurat on the recently released compact disc Rainbow Jimmies by percussionist/composer John Hollenbeck. Ziggurat features saxophone and percussion students from the Dana School of Music. Available on GPE Records. The work was commissioned by the Youngstown Percussion Collective and was premiered in New York City at the Whitney Museum of American Art.
•The Youngstown Percussion Collective (YPC) has begun a multi-cultural educational outreach initiative entitled "The World of Percussion." featuring five upperclassmen who perform multi-cultural programs in area K-12 schools. Proceeds serve as fundraising for YSU PE and YPC recording projects. We performed for nearly 2000 children in spring 2009.
•Glenn Schaft is presently writing an advanced level drumset book that explores improvisational techniques and concepts, musical interpretation, practice techniques and concepts, coordination and ambidexterity exercises, timekeeping, soloing, and pedagogical suggestions.
•YSU Percussion Ensemble has been selected to perform at the Ohio Music Education Association Professional Development Conference in Cincinnati, on Thursday, Jan 28 at 2:45PM. In addition, Dr. Glenn Schaft will also present a clinic entitled Teaching Rhythm - mastery of fundamentals for all musicians, Friday, Jan 29 at 4PM.
•As part of our endorsement deal with Dynasty USA, the YSU Marching Pride Drumline Dynasty percussion instruments are presently available for sale to an interested high school or college program. The instruments were manufactured in 2008 and the line is in its second season at YSU and remains in mint condition. It includes seven snares, three tenors sets, five bass drums and Dynasty stands and harnesses for each instrument. Please contact Glenn Schaft for further info.
•Tetsuya Takeno (BM Jazz Studies 2007) is serving as our percussion graduate assistant for 2008-10. He toured with various Holland American cruise line during 2007-08 and is presently pursuing the MM in percussion performance. Tetsuya is from Kanagawa-Ken, Japan, a suburb of Tokyo.
•Tim Hampton (BM performance 2008) was accepted at the California Institute of the Arts and the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. Tim is attending CCM to pursue the Master of Music in Performance. He studies with the members of the Percussion Group Cincinnati including Alan Otte, James Culley, and Russell Burge.
•Cory Doran (BM performance 2009) was accepted at the University of Southern California and the Texas A&M University at Commerce. Cory is attending Texas A&M University to pursue the Master of Music in Performance with Brian Zator and serves as their Percussion Teaching Assistant.
•Dean Anshutz (BM performance 2008) has been touring and recording with the Youngstown based band "The Zou" among others. He was recently appointed at the Aurora (OH) Music Academy.
Brian Sweigart (MM in performance 2008, YSU Percussion Teaching Assistant) was recently awarded a full time position in Eurhythmics at the Cleveland Institute of Music.
•Ron Coulter – BM-2002, MM 2004. Ron is currently Lecturer of Percussion Studies at Southern Illinois University Carbondale and adjunct Instructor of Percussion at John A. Logan College in Carterville, IL. He has previously taught at Clarion University of Pennsylvania and the Dana School of Music at Youngstown State University. In 2006 Ron became an Educational Endorser with the Promark Corporation and Black Swamp Percussion.
•Nathan Douds – BM performance 2004. Received his Master of Jazz Piano degree at Bowling Green State University in 2008 where he served as a teaching assistant. Nathan is presently a freelance drumset and piano artist and adjunct percussion faculty at YSU and Slippery Rock University.
•Craig Hill – BM 2003, MM 2005. Craig is currently performing internationally as a drummer, percussionist and band leader in the showbands on Holland America Line Cruise ships. He has performed aboard the flagship, Rotterdam, and aboard the elite Prinsendam. A few of the artists that he has performed with include Nestor Torres, Joel Mason, Ian Finkel, Robert Van Sice, Reuben Alvarez, Reynaldo Gonzales, Jim McNeely, Jimmy Heath, Don Bradon, Conrad Herwig, Allen Vizzutti, Bernie Fields, Vivianna Guzman, Filip Wojceichowski, Dick Cantino, and the Gaylords.
•Joshua Haggerty – BME 2006. Received the Master of Music in Performance at the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana in 2008.
•Michael Yonchak (BME 2002) Mike is currently Visiting Assistant Director of Band, Wind, and Percussion Activities and Director of Athletic Bands at Otterbein College in Westerville, OH. He is a DMA candidate in conducting at the University of Kentucky.
•Darren Allen - BME, 2002 – This is Mr. Allen’s third year as band director at Bay Village High School and fourth year working in the Bay Village School District, where the music program has been voted a Top 100 Music Community in the United States for six years in a row. Mr. Allen is currently pursuing his master’s degree in music education at Case Western Reserve University. As a guest conductor, he works with the Cleveland Youth Wind Symphony, which performs regularly at Severance Hall. He also frequently performs in area jazz ensembles including the Dukes of Wail, Dan Zola Orchestra, Cleveland Jazz Orchestra and Ernie Krivda & The Fat Tuesday Big Band. Mr. Allen and his wife Alice, a harpist, perform together in the Parma Symphony Orchestra, which had its Severance Hall debut during the 2007 season.
•Chris Steele (BM 1999) A summer tour as the drummer for the Glenn Miller Orchestra followed by a tour with an R&B artist in China showed his passion for all styles of music. Cary Brothers had given Chris his first TV appearance on the Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn as he performed “Blue Eyes.” Behind the scenes you can hear Chris in the movie Dawn of the Dead and Four Brothers. In front of the camera you can see Chris as Jim Carey’s drummer in The Majestic. Chris has performed with a gambit of Pop, Rock, and Reggae artists that include Barry Manilow, Deborah Gibson, John Popper, David Foster, Rusted Root, Matisyahu, and The Wailers. Now Chris is enjoying touring and recording with one of his favorite artists Trevor Hall. Chris received the Master of Music in Jazz Studies from the University of Southern California in 2002.
Mike Anderson (BME 2008) Attended the So Percussion Institute in Princeton, NJ summer 2009.
Zachary Taylor (BME 2009) is pursuing a masters in percussion performance at Kent State University and is teaching Percussion Methods Courses at YSU.
•Fall 2008 Studio Events:
8/14-17/08 YSU Marching Pride Drumline Camp
9/24/08 Percussion Studio Recital: Bliss Hall 2326, 8PM
10/15/08 Music at Noon: Percussion Ensemble: 12:00PM, Butler Institute of American Art
10/30/08 YSU Percussion Ensemble: Butler North, 8PM
11/5-8/08 Percussive Arts Society International Convention - Austin, Texas
11/14/08 Guest Artist: Sam Ruttenberg, Drumset Clinic, 11AM-1PM, 2326
12/4/08 Zachary Taylor, Senior Recital, Bliss Hall 2222, 8PM
•Spring 2009 Studio Events:
1/14/09 YSU Jazz Experience w. Glenn Schaft, 12:15pm, Butler Institute of American Art
1/23/09 Youngstown Percussion Collective, C. H. Campbell Elementary School, Canfied, OH
1/30/09 Youngstown Percussion Collective, Dana Convocation, 11am, Bliss Recital Hall
2/11/09 YSU Faculty Jazz Trio - Nathan Douds-pn, Dave Morgan-bs, Glenn Schaft-dms, Butler Institute of American Art, 12:15PM
2/11/09 Percussion Studio Recital: 8PM, Bliss Hall 2326
2/18/09 Music at Noon: YSU Percussion Ensemble: 12:15PM, Butler Institute of American Art
2/27/09 YSU Festival of Winds & Percussion: 7pm, Ford Family Recital Hall
3/11/09 Youngstown Percussion Collective, Employment Development Incorporated, East Liverpool, OH
3/12/09 Youngstown Percussion Collective, Poland Union Elementary School, Assembly, Poland, OH
3/26/09 YSU Percussion Ensemble: 8PM, Butler North
3/29/09 Mario Butera - Senior Recital, Butler North, 4PM
4/3/09 Youngstown Percussion Collective, Maplewood Elementary School, Townville, PA
4/5/09 Kevin Rabold – Junior Recital, Butler North, 4PM
4/15/09 Eric Zalenski & Bob Young, Sophomore Duo Recital, 8pm, Bliss Hall - Spotlight Theater
4/19/09 Cory Doran – Senior Recital – 4PM, Bliss Hall, Spotlight Theater
4/29/09 YSU Jazz Experience w. Glenn Schaft-dms, Guest Artist Allen Vizzutti-tpt, Butler Institute of American Art, 12:15PM