By Edward P. Noga

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Recently, during one of my daily walks downtown, I came across muralist Patrick McGlone working on the side of a Commerce Street building; he was painting Pete the Penguin. In our brief conversation, he shared about being a Youngstown firefighter, also mentioning that, after some schooling in Pittsburgh, he has been painting “on the side” (or on the wall) for the past six years. 

While sharing his story, he said, “You know, this Valley is dripping with culture. We just have to bring it all together.” AMEN!

This Business Journal entry could be a postscript to my previous commentary about the Youngstown Symphony. As a reminder, the following paragraphs (in italics) are taken from my last commentary “Three Strikes but Not Out.” Following the two paragraphs, I’ll be adding a “Valley dimension” to the discussion, something which I have known, but perhaps neglected, over the years until Patrick the painter rekindled my awareness.

So here we go with the reminder:

In baseball language, “three strikes” refers to the number of pitches that are good to hit but are often swung on and missed or called a strike by an umpire. I think most folks know that if an umpire makes a rather flamboyant gesture and yells “You’re out,” your time at home plate is over. So what does this have to do with the Youngstown Symphony?

In recent years, using the baseball analogy, three things have happened to our symphony that could have easily elicited the “You’re out” call. 

In 2020, Randall Fleischer, our conductor who worked tirelessly to promote the symphony and engage the musicians with the community (they played at our county fair among other places), passed away suddenly at his home in California. STRIKE ONE! 

We all know the damage done to people, places and things because of the pandemic. STRIKE TWO! 

Finally, STRIKE THREE!  happened after a long search for a new conductor. After dozens and dozens of applications, and hours of work by a very diligent search committee, a wonderfully talented young man from Florida was hired, who, within a few months of his hire, asked the symphony to let him out of his contract for personal reasons. 

Hope the above stirred your memory.

Three of my ministry assignments over the past 50 years have been in Warren, Canton and Youngstown. For the record, during my parish ministry in Canton, I  occasionally attended both the Canton and Akron symphonies. 

I have a distinct and wonderful memory of a July 3 concert at the McKinley Memorial Park near downtown Canton, with the patriotic music program ending with fireworks that filled the summer sky near the monument. 

I clearly remember going to the Akron Symphony one evening, getting there extra early, and paging through the program. As I read the list of musicians, I realized that a few names seemed familiar. A friend whom I was with said, “I know that some of the musicians play in Akron, Canton and Youngstown,” adding, “That might be why the Akron Symphony is usually on Friday, Youngstown plays on Saturday and Canton’s concerts are on Sunday.” Truly a moment of enlightenment!  As years passed, it became more obvious to me that smaller orchestras use part-time musicians because their season and schedule do not warrant (and cannot afford) full-time musicians.

Fast forward to 2025. The Youngstown Symphony is made up of talented musicians, some of whom play not only in Youngtown but also in Warren, Canton, Akron, Columbus, Erie and Greenville (Pa.), Wheeling (W.Va.), Lexington (Ky.) and occasionally with the Cleveland and Pittsburgh orchestras. 

Additionally, many of the musicians belong to smaller ensembles like the Youngstown Area Community Concert Band and Warren’s W.D. Packard Concert Band. Some give personal music lessons while others teach orchestra, band or choir at regional primary schools. 

In other words, our region has what might be called a group of travelling minstrels who are very professional. They accompany world-class soloists and guest artists who bring some of the world’s best music to our local stages. How lucky are we?

To follow up on my commentary last month, the “start-up” date for the Youngstown Symphony’s abbreviated season at Stambaugh Auditorium will be Dec. 22 at 7:30 p.m. 

It will be a welcome reunion of sorts, with a group of real “pros” on the stage, performing magical holiday music. It will be just one example of that “culture” about which my muralist friend spoke the other day. In another sense, it will be somewhat of a “ We are back” concert in the orchestra’s 99-year history.

Put that December evening on your calendar and be there to say, by your presence, “We are glad you are back!”