By JOSEPH CARUCCI
Director, YSU Dana School of Music & University Theatre
YOUNGSTOWN – The decisions and outcomes at Youngstown State University this past semester have weighed heavily on the Dana School of Music. We will greatly miss our colleagues who will not be returning full-time next year, and extend our appreciation for all they have done during their time at Dana.
Throughout, the community and alumni support has been strong and inspiring. It has underscored the need for the arts and arts education in our region and beyond, as well as the dedication and love of those who have been touched by the Dana School of Music. We are very grateful for this support.
Many have inquired about how Dana will move forward. The 12 returning full-time faculty members, along with our adjunct faculty, have the expertise, innovative spirit and flexibility to continue to build on the success of our program.
Next academic year, Hae-Jong Lee will continue serving as director of the Dana Chorale, and Misook Yun will continue teaching applied voice and assisting with the opera. Both will be teaching on a part-time basis. Dana will also be searching for part-time instructors in flute, violin and cello.
We have faculty members with both advanced musicology and music theory degrees. Along with some outside counsel, these areas in our curriculum will remain well-informed, student-centered, and forward thinking.
We will be conducting a search for a full-time lecturer who will direct the YSU Wind Ensemble and teach classes in conducting and music education. The successful candidate will serve as our director of bands and direct the YSU Youth Orchestra.
We will continue hosting the YSU Summer Camp, YSU String Project, and other collaborative opportunities.
Dana will continue to offer three rigorous and innovative undergraduate degrees and two graduate degrees. Each degree is student-centered and distinct from opportunities at other universities.
Highlights of these programs include:
• Bachelor of music (BM) in music education.
• Opportunities for voice students to study musical theatre or commercial voice styles.
• 100% job placement rate.
• BM in audio and music production
• Initiated a student-run record label (Dana Records).
• Added classes to the curriculum including Live Sound Production, Studio Ear Training and Video and Sound for Games and Film.
• Added an option of a digital audio workstation applied area.
• Incorporated opportunities for hands-on experiences through internships, work study positions and the Capstone Project.
• BM in music performance.
• Embedded a minor or certificate requirement and added a career development class.
• Songwriting, composition, technology and elements of commercial, American and world music have been added to the core curriculum.
• Master of music (MM) in music education
• MM in music performance.
As the Dana School begins its next chapter, please remain confident that we will be able to continue serving you, our community, and most importantly, our students, well into the future.