Cliffe College of Creative Arts News

New exhibit to feature student mural concept posters

Mural posters created by students enrolled in professor of art Dragana Crnjak’s Mural and Site-Specific Painting course will be featured in a new exhibit in Bliss Hall’s Judith Rae Solomon Gallery April 11 – 22, 2022. The gallery is open 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM Monday through Friday.

YSU Jazz Ensemble concert to feature alumnus Harold Danko

YSU’s Dana School of Music will hold a concert by the YSU Jazz Ensemble and the Contemporary Ensemble Monday, April 11, 2022 at 7:30 PM in Kilcawley Center’s Chestnut Room, located on YSU’s campus. The Jazz Ensemble will feature two pieces by alumnus Harold Danko, who will also perform with the group, and four pieces by graduate student guitarist and composer Chandler Carpenter.

Two art professors awarded Distinguished Professorship Awards

Two of YSU’s Department of Art professors—Dragana Crnjak and Dana Sperry—have been announced as recipients of Distinguished Professorship Awards for the 2021-22 academic year. Crnjak’s Excellence in Teaching award and Sperry’s Excellence in Service award are just two of three awards given to Cliffe College faculty as part of this year’s recognition from YSU.

Dana faculty member awarded Distinguished Professorship Award

Part-time Dana School of Music faculty member Yukitada Onitsuka has been announced as the recipient of a Distinguished Professorship Award for the 2021-22 academic year. His Part-Time Faculty Teaching Excellence Award will be one of three awards given to Cliffe College faculty members at an awards ceremony in May.

Red Press Collaborative welcomes guest artist Richard Repasky

Chicago-based stone lithographer, educator, and artist Richard Repasky is the guest artist for this year’s Red Press Collaborative at Youngstown State University. Repasky and YSU art students will participate in printing sessions from 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM and 1:30 – 4:00 PM beginning Monday, April 4, 2022 through Friday, April 8 in room 4025 of YSU’s Bliss Hall.

University Theatre concludes season with comedic retelling of “Harry Potter” novels

YSU’s University Theatre will conclude its 2021-22 season with a comedic retelling of J.K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter” novels titled “Puffs, or Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic.” Shows will be held April 1 – 3 and 8 – 10 in the YSU Ford Theater, located in YSU’s Bliss Hall.

Beecher Art & Technology Lecture Series welcomes Paolo Pedercini

Paolo Pedercini, a game developer, artist, and educator, will present a free virtual lecture Monday, March 28, 2022 at 1:00 PM as part of the Beecher Art & Technology Lecture Series. Pedercini, who teaches at Carnegie Mellon University, has lectured and exhibited worldwide.

Yuahao Jiang to present for Beecher Art & Technology Lecture Series

Yuehao Jiang, a Chinese new media artist and educator, will present a free virtual lecture Wednesday, March 23, 2022 at 6:00 PM. Yuehao, whose work examines the relationship between mass-produced commodities and digital data under the impact of consumerism, has taught at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) since 2019.

Dana saxophone and jazz event to feature Grammy Award-winner Ralph Lalama

Three-time Grammy Award-winner and YSU alumnus Ralph Lalama will be among the featured guests at the Dana School of Music’s Saxophone Day and Jazz Day Saturday, March 19, 2022 from 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM in YSU’s Bliss Hall. A celebrated tenor saxophonist, Lalama is a mainstay in the world-renowned Village Vanguard Jazz Orchestra and a leading New York City jazz educator.

Grammy Award-winning classical tenor to conclude Pipino season

Grammy Award-winning classical tenor Karim Sulayman will perform the final concert of the 2021-22 Pipino Performing Arts season alongside pianist Yi-heng Yang Saturday, March 16, 2022 at 7:30 PM. The duo’s most recent recording debuted at number one on the Billboard Traditional Classical Chart and was included on The New York Times’ list of best classical music of 2020.