Updated 8/3/09
•We are proud to announce the release of two recordings, Dark Wood and Rainbow Jimmies featuring the YSU Percussion Ensemble and the Youngstown Percussion Collective. The discs will soon be available on Rhapsody, Amazon, I-Tunes, etc.
•The Youngstown Percussion Collective (YPC) recently founded 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 writing a drumset book. It is an advanced level text 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, January 28-30, 2010.
•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 will be attending CCM beginning fall 2009 to pursue the Master of Music in Performance. He will study 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 will be attending Texas A&M beginning fall 2009 to pursue the Master of Music in Performance with Brian Zator and will serve 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 to teach at the Aurora (OH) Music Academy.
Brian Sweigart (MM in performance 2008, YSU Percussion Teaching Assistant) was recently awarded a full time tenure track position in Eurhythmics at the Cleveland Institute of Music. Brian is presently teaching part-time at CIM and will begin his new position fall 2009.
•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. Josh is currently adjunct percussion instructor at YSU.
•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) Selected to attend the So Percussion Institute in Princeton, NJ summer 2009.
Zachary Taylor (BME 2009) is pursuing a masters in percussion performance at Kent State University beginning fall 09.
•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