YSU Dana festival features speakers, performance

A Pulitzer Prize-winning composer will rehearse with students and faculty.
YOUNGSTOWN -- Guest composers Michael Colgrass and Chris Rutkowski and Youngstown Symphony Orchestra music director Isaiah Jackson will be speakers during the 20th annual Dana New Music Festival for contemporary music at Youngstown State University.
The festival begins Wednesday with a recital at 12:15 p.m. in Butler Institute of American Art, 524 Wick Ave. A gala concert at 8 p.m. Wednesday in YSU's Bliss Recital Hall will feature the Festival Chamber Orchestra and guest violinist Walter Mony of Johannesburg, South Africa performing Rutkowski's composition "Dervish"; two new works for violin and string orchestra by festival director Robert Rollin; and "Nocturne" by YSU sophomore Fabio DeLuca, who was chosen for the New Music Guild's annual commissioning project.
Rutkowski, from the University of Indianapolis, will discuss nonclassical traditions in Western art music at 2 p.m. Thursday in Bliss Hall Room 3039.
Rehearsal
Colgrass, who also is a Pulitzer Prize winner, percussionist and music educator, will rehearse Sunday with YSU Percussion Ensemble, Dana Symphony Orchestra and Dana Symphonic Wind Ensemble in preparation for a concert at 8 p.m. Monday in Stambaugh Auditorium, 1000 Fifth Ave. The program will include works by Colgrass, who has been commissioned to write for New York Philharmonic, Boston Symphony and Toronto Symphony, among others.
Colgrass also will present performance anxiety workshops from noon to 2 p.m. Monday and from 2 to 4 p.m. next Tuesday in Bliss Hall Room 2326.
Jackson will address various classes at YSU's Dana School of Music today, Monday and next Tuesday.
Call Dana School of Music at (330) 941-3636 for more information.