YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – After 16 years of delays, Jenah Shank has released her newest album, “Worth the Wait.”
The album features seven songs the Mahoning Valley-based singer-songwriter recorded with John Sferra, who was part of Glass Harp, in 2009-2010. For various reasons, the project was put on the backburner until this year when Shank enlisted the assistance of Pittsburgh-based rocker David Granati. She worked with him at Dave World Productions to finalize the mixes and master the tracks.
The seven original tracks, many of them written while Shank was visiting the Navajo nation in New Mexico and the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community in Arizona, feature the musicianship of Sferra and his Glass Harp bandmates, Phil Keaggy and Daniel Pecchio, along with the late Jack Giering and Josh Lattanzi. Proceeds from the songs will be used to help outreach efforts in New Mexico.
The album comes on the heels of Shank’s “New Road: 2000-2025,” a collection of some of her most popular songs. “New Road” was first recorded in 2000, then remastered for an updated distribution, on CD and vinyl, in 2025.
Shank said her songs continue to garner thousands of streams and downloads as her album sales remain steady.
The artist participates in various benefit efforts and has shared her music at churches, coffee houses, youth events and venues across the country.
Her music royalties have helped send disadvantaged youths to summer camp and provided essential supplies to those in need. In 2010, she and her husband, Ron, established a scholarship fund.
In 2012, the Catholic Diocese of Youngstown invited her to sing for the ceremony recognizing the first Native American to be canonized, Kateri Tekakwitha. Shank also participates in suicide survivor vigils and other benefit efforts.
Shank and her husband have reached thousands of individuals through their work at the Truckers 4 Jesus Truck Stop Ministry in Girard. Musicians contributing to her work, along with Granati, Sferra and Keaggy, include Nickie Keaggy, Tracey Whorton and Jonathan O’Connor.
For information, go to JenahShankMusic.org.
Exhibition of Works by Graduating Art Students
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The Spring 2026 Graduating BFA Exhibition, featuring the art and design work of students graduating in the spring semester from Youngstown State University, will open Friday, April 17, at the McDonough Museum of Art and run through May 2.
A reception will take place on opening day from 5-7 p.m.
Admission is free. The museum is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
Auditions for ‘ACTS Sings! A Comedy Tonight’
SHARON, Pa. – Auditions for ACTS 40 Below’s production of “ACTS Sings! A Comedy Tonight” will take place from 3-5 p.m. Sunday, April 19, and 7-9 p.m. Tuesday, April 21.
The theater is on the lower level of ACTS main stage, 40 S. Irvine Ave., downtown.
Auditionees should prepare at least one, but no more than two, memorized songs from the comedy genre, which includes comedic numbers from musicals and comedic songs by artists from the past six decades. The cabaret-style show, which will close the season, will include solos, duets and group numbers.
Performances will take place at 7:30 p.m. June 5-6 and 2:30 p.m. June 7. Rehearsals will take place in the evenings on Tuesdays and Thursdays beginning April 28.
To preregister for an audition, go to ACTSPac.org.
Jazz Great John Fedchock with YSU Ensemble
SHARON, Pa. – The Youngstown State University Jazz Ensemble, directed by Kent J. Engelhardt, with guest artist John Fedchock, will perform Wednesday, April 15, at Apollo Maennerchor, 391 S. Dock St.
The 7:30 p.m. concert will also feature Conneaut Area Blue Note High School Jazz Band, directed by Glenn Cameron.
Tickets are $10 at the door.
Fedchock will perform his compositions “Bossa Rio,” “A Drop in the Bucket” and “Midnight Passage” with the Blue Note Jazz Band.
He will perform his compositions and arrangements “The Great Escape,” “Big Bruiser,” “Ruby, My Dear,” “Pools” and “Brazilian Fantasy” with the YSU Jazz Ensemble.
Fedchock’s career has spanned over four decades. He has established himself as a world-class trombone soloist, bandleader and arranger.
His New York Big Band has become a marquee group, showcasing Fedchock’s trombone and arranging, as well as the band’s star soloists.
Fedchock is a two-time Grammy Award nominee for Best Instrumental Arrangement. He began his career as a jazz trombonist when he joined the Woody Herman Orchestra in 1980. He toured with Woody’s Thundering Herd for seven years, during which time he was musical director and a featured soloist.
Born in Cleveland, Fedchock is a graduate of The Ohio State University and the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y.
‘Fashion & Feather’ Exhibition at Museum
KENT, Ohio – “Fashion & Feather,” a cross-disciplinary exhibition exploring the beauty, complexity and cultural significance of feathers, will open April 22 at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History and run through Oct. 16.
The exhibition will bring together historic fashion, ornithological specimens, cultural objects and the contemporary designs of Kent State University School of Fashion students. It will examine the complex relationship between people and the natural world.
Organized by species – including peacocks, ostriches, kingfishers and roosters – the exhibition is presented in the Cleveland Museum of Natural History’s new Visitor Hall, a free community gathering space.
The museum exhibition is curated by Sara Hume, curator and professor at the Kent State University Museum.
“The variety of ways that people have used feathers for their own adornment provides a fascinating counterpoint against the ways feathers serve the birds,” Hume said. “By placing fashion objects alongside ornithological and cultural collections, ‘Fashion & Feather’ allows us to see the beauty as well as the amazing functionality of feathers.”
Former White House Staffer to Speak
LIBERTY TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Janet Weir Creightton, a former White House aide, will recall her years of service in a 10 a.m. lecture Saturday, April 18, in the meeting room of Denny’s restaurant, 4020 Belmont Ave.
Creighton, a Canton native, is a former mayor of that city and has also served as Stark County auditor, recorder and commissioner.
In early 2008, President George W. Bush tapped her to serve as his deputy assistant and director of intergovernmental affairs.
Her talk will include photographs and memories behind the scenes at the White House, where she interacted with the presidential family, officials and dignitaries.
The lecture is being presented by the William Holmes McGuffey Historical Society. Admission is $15 ($10 for historical society members). For reservations, call 330 726 8277. The event will include refreshments, live entertainment and a 50/50 raffle.
Works by Local Women Artists at Gallery
WARREN, Ohio – “No Guarantees,” an exhibition of works by 19 local women artists, will open April 18 at Trumbull Art Gallery, 158 N. Park Ave., and run through May 19.
An opening-day reception will take place from 6-8 p.m. Admission is free.
The exhibition will include a wide range of media, including painting, photography, printmaking, drawing, mixed media, ceramics, fiber and quiltmaking.
Featured artists include Sue Anzellotti, Mary Lou Alexander, Dee Banks, Steph Blair, Dragana Crnjak, Kristina Danklef, DeJiva, Autumn Joi Ellis, Tara Flynn, Carol Gallo, Jenna Hudock, Adrien Lucas, Julie Martin, Missy McCormick, Jacki Mountan, Susan Russo, Tracy Segreti, Leah Sydney and Summer Zickefoose.
The exhibition is curated by Robyn Maas.
The gallery is open from noon to 4 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.