A classical musician instructed Dana School of Music students.

A classical musician instructed Dana School of Music students.
YOUNGSTOWN -- Classical guitarist Ana Vidovic has a firm grasp on her craft -- literally.
At a master's class and playing session Tuesday afternoon, the Croatian-born musician -- who has an extraordinarily strong handshake -- shared insights and advice with Youngstown State University music students.
Four Dana School of Music students chosen by music faculty were each given 30-minute, one-on-one "master's class" sessions with Vidovic. The sessions were held in the Bliss Center and other students, musicians and faculty were invited to listen.
"What you should be thinking about is how you're going to reach everyone in the audience," Vidovic told one student as she critiqued his performance. "You will always have to give more [in a performance]. You want to reach people with your music. Music talks in colors."
Vidovic, 23, picked up the guitar when she was 5 years old and attended the National Musical Academy in Zagreb, Croatia, at 13. The award-winning performer has made nearly 1,000 appearances around the world, playing everywhere from Vienna to Toronto.
"Her reputation precedes her," said Lake Baum, a junior in Dana at YSU, president of the YSU guitar association and one of the students in the master's class.
"It was very inviting," said Baum, 25, of Columbiana. "While you're sitting up there with her, everyone else goes away. The instruction felt very personal."
Performance
The master's class was held in conjunction with a concert performance Vidovic gave Tuesday night at St. John's Episcopal Church. The concert was preceded by an interview and recording session with National Public Radio personality Fred Child at WYSU-FM (88.5) studios.
Portions of the recording session may be used for future broadcast on Child's nationally syndicated classical music show, "Performance Today," heard locally on WYSU at 8 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday.
YSU classical guitar instructor Jim Boyce said Vidovic's visit provided a great opportunity for Dana students, and he credited WYSU, YSU student government and other sponsors for orchestrating the event.
"It was wonderful to have such an accomplished artist share her comments with the students," Boyce said. "This is the first time NPR has ever been gracious enough to come to one of our events."
Child travels the country and throughout the world meeting and interviewing classical musicians and recording performances for his program. Tuesday's visit was his first trip to Youngstown, and he was excited to hear Vidovic perform.
"This is one of my most favorite things to do, meeting the people behind the music and letting the audience meet the [musicians]," Child said.
Passing on knowledge
Vidovic said she also enjoys meeting new musicians and offering instruction and constructive criticism in sessions such as Tuesday's master class.
"I love doing it," Vidovic said. "It's hard sometimes for the student to begin to trust [me], and it's difficult to do in front of people. I use a gentle approach and give them as much information as I can in half an hour."
The Dana School of Music at YSU routinely offers students a chance to work with renowned professional musicians, including past participants Elliott Fisk and Christopher Parkening.