Conductor stays on for three more years

Conductor stays onfor three more years
YOUNGSTOWN -- Music Director Isaiah Jackson will conduct the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra through the 2005-2006 season after receiving a three-year extension of his contract from the Youngstown Symphony Society.
Jackson began his tenure with the orchestra during the 1995-1996 season as music director designate and assumed the music director's job for the 1996-1997 season. Under his direction, the orchestra has expanded community outreach concerts to include the annual "Pops at the Ballpark" and partnered with local rock trio Glass Harp on its CD "Strings Attached."
'Blast!' cast membershail from the Valley
CLEVELAND -- Keith Hallas of Poland and Brian Mayle of Boardman are in the cast of "Blast!" which won the 2001 Tony Award for best special theatrical event and will be performed beginning Tuesday at Palace Theatre. Hallas and Mayle, both 23, are graduates of Youngstown State University. Hallas plays trombone and didgeridoo. Mayle, who is also a vocalist, plays trombone, trombonium, didgeridoo and drums. The show's Cleveland run will end April 21. Call Tickets.com for tickets, (800) 766-6048.
YSU wind ensembleto perorm at Powers
YOUNGSTOWN -- The 58-member Youngstown State University Symphonic Wind Ensemble will warm up for performances in Columbus and Nashville, Tenn. with a concert at 8 p.m. Wednesday in Edward W. Powers Auditorium, 260 W. Federal St. More than 150 groups applied to perform at the Music Educators National Conference's Biennial Convention next weekend in Nashville; YSU was one of the few to make the cut. Trumpeter John Veneskey and saxophonist James Umble of the YSU Dana School of Music faculty will be guest conductor and soloist, respectively. The group will perform music by Dvor & aacute;k, Grainger, Sousa, Bernstein and Dr. Till Meyn, assistant professor of theory and composition at Dana.
Small Fry production
YOUNGSTOWN -- Youngstown Playhouse Youth Theatre will present the Small Fry production of "Three by Three" at 2 p.m. April 13, 14, 20 and 21 in the Actors' Arena. Written by Patricia M. Fagan, local playwright, the audience participation play is a retelling of classic fairy tales. Admission is $5, with special rates for groups of 12 or more. Reservations are required. Call (330) 788-8739.
Spring Musicale
YOUNGSTOWN -- The National Council of Negro Women will present its Spring Musicale at 4 p.m. April 14 at Greater Friendship Baptist Church, 646 Lakewood Ave. Participating will be guest choirs and soloists from throughout the city. Refreshments will be served.
Dance festival
WARREN -- Adjudicator Richard Dickinson, artistic director of Great Lakes Festival Ballet and director of the Ballet School, has critiqued and selected the dance companies that will perform at "Festival 2002: A Dance Journey" April 19 and 20 at Monroe Civic Center in Louisiana. The performances will be in conjunction with a four-day festival that includes classes and seminars and auditions for regional companies.
Musical comedy
CORTLAND -- "Showstoppers," a SCOPE Senior Follies musical comedy featuring ventriloquist Bill Lisby and more than 90 area senior citizens, will be staged at 7 p.m. May 4 and 2 p.m. May 5 in Lakeview High School Raidel Auditorium. Tickets are $7 and available at the door or in advance at SCOPE centers in Warren, Niles, Howland, West Farmington, Liberty and Girard. For information, call (330) 399-8846.
Juried art show
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Artists residing in Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware or Washington are invited to participate in the 2002 Mid-Atlantic Juried Art Show to be sponsored by the Hoyt Institute of Fine Arts. For a prospectus, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to the institute at 124 E. Leasure Ave., New Castle, Pa. 16101, or contact Elizabeth Rundorff, program director, at (724) 652-2882 or e-mail hoytdirector@lcix.net.