Cliffe College announces spring season of Pipino Performing Arts Series
January 22, 2021
The Cliffe College of Creative Arts has announced that the third season of the Donald P. Pipino Performing Arts Series will commence beginning with the spring 2021 semester.
“We’re thrilled to continue the Pipino Performing Arts Series this semester. Although the events will be presented virtually, we couldn’t be happier with the exceptional quality of the artists who will make up the spring season,” Cliffe College of Creative Arts dean Phyllis Paul said. “YSU believes that the arts are vital to the university and our community and is committed to supporting our many artistic endeavors. We invite you to join us for these outstanding performances and masterclasses and are proud to continue to bring the arts to you.”
Four guest artists will provide virtual public performance presentations and student masterclasses as part of the series. All presentations will be free and open to the public.
The first guest of the series will be composer and jazz pianist Vijay Iyer. Iyer, a MacArthur Genius Fellow and named Artist of the Year four times by DownBeat Magazine, has served as an influential, prolific, and shape-shifting presence in modern music. He holds a lifetime appointment as the Franklin D. and Florence Rosenblatt Professor of the Arts at Harvard University and also has a joint affiliation with the university’s Department of African and African American Studies.
Iyer will begin with a virtual presentation Wednesday, January 27, at 7:00 PM. The presentation will include pre-recorded music, interesting conversation, and a question-and-answer session. Patrons can access the event via the Cliffe College of Creative Arts YouTube channel. On Friday, January 29, Iyer will present a student masterclass over Zoom at 2:00 PM.
The series will continue as it welcomes Du Yun for her own presentation and masterclass. A Chineseborn composer, multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, and performance artist, Yun won the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for music for her opera “Angel's Bone,” which included libretto by Royce Vavrek. She was also named a 2018 Guggenheim Fellow. Yun will host a virtual masterclass Wednesday, February 17, at 4:00 PM and provide a virtual presentation the same day at 7:00 PM.
Following Yun’s events, the series will welcome countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo for a presentation and masterclass. Constanzo began performing professionally at the age of 11 and has since appeared in operas, concerts, recitals, films, and on Broadway. His debut album, “ARC,” was nominated for a 2019 Grammy Award. He is also a headlining Metropolitan Opera soloist and was named Musical America’s 2019 Vocalist of the Year.
Costanzo will offer a virtual presentation Wednesday, March 3, at 7:00 PM. He will also present a virtual student masterclass Thursday, March 4, at 4:00 PM.
The spring season of the Pipino Performing Arts Series will conclude as it welcomes multi-instrumentalist and composer Tyshawn Sorey for a masterclass and presentation. Sorey has performed nationally and internationally with his own ensembles as well as numerous artists of note. He has composed works for the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the International Contemporary Ensemble, and tenor Lawrence Brownlee with Opera Philadelphia, as well as countless other collaborative performers. He was also a 2015 recipient of the Doris Duke Impact Award.
Sorey will offer a virtual presentation Wednesday, April 14 at 7:00 PM. He will also present a virtual student masterclass Friday, April 16, at 12:00 PM.