Dana Guitar Association

Thank you for visiting the Dana Guitar Association of Youngstown State University. We are a non-profit student organization that is devoted to the promotion and awareness of the classical and jazz guitar in Youngstown, Northeastern Ohio, and Western Pennsylvania. We present several concerts, clinics, and masterclasses every season by students, faculty, and internationally acclaimed guest artists at the Dana School of Music.

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News 2022-2023

  • Our 2022-2023 concert season will feature performances and masterclasses by acclaimed classical and jazz guitarists including:
    • Mark Whitfield (Grammy Award winning jazz guitarist)
    • Jonathan Kreisberg (Jazz guitarist, NYC)
    • Christopher Mrofchak (Classical guitarist, YSU alumnus, Florida)
    • Chattanooga Guitar Duo (Classical guitarists, Tennessee)
    • Stay tuned, additional events TBD

Congratulations to some recent YSU guitar graduates

  • Nicholas Frank (BM Performance, 2019) completed his Masters in Jazz Guitar Performance at NYU in 2021 where he studied with John Scofield and Adam Rogers. Recently hired as the guitarist for MSC Cruise-ships (full-time, 7 month position on a Mediterranean and Caribbean cruise).
  • Nicholas Jones (BM Performance, 2017): Hired as guitarist for the Army 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) Band, Fort Campbell, Kentucky in 2019 (full time position).
  • Anthony Kunovic (MM Jazz Studies, 2017): Hired as guitarist for the Army 1st Infantry Division Band, Fort Riley, Kansas in 2020 (full time position).
  • Christopher Mrofchak (BM Performance, 2014) completed his Doctorate in Music at Florida State University in 2021.
  • Samuel Roberts (BM Musicology/music recording, 2013) hired as a Recording Arts Technician (full time position) by Kent State University in 2020.

Recent YSU Guitar Student Successes PDF

Scholarships, Graduate Assistantships, Tuition Information

There are many scholarships available to undergraduate and graduate guitar students at YSU, and graduate assistantships are also available to guitar students pursuing a Master's degree. Further, YSU has one of the lowest tuition rates in Eastern Ohio and Western Pennsylvania.

Acclaimed classical and jazz guitarists who have performed and taught masterclasses at YSU.

  • Mimi Fox (California) 2022
  • René Izquierdo (Cuba) 2022
  • Pasquale Grasso (Italy) 2021
  • Bill Frisell (Legendary Grammy Award winning jazz guitarist) 2021
  • Miles Okazaki (University of Michigan-Ann Arbor) 2021
  • Paul Holmes Morton (Theorbo and baroque guitarist) 2021
  • Jim Campilongo and Luca Benedetti Duo (NYC) 2020
  • Dan Wilson (Grammy Award Nominee and YSU alumnus) 2019
  • Stephen Mattingly (University of Louisville, KY) 2019
  • Tengyue Zhang (China—2017 GFA winner) 2018
  • Zvonimir Tot (University of Illinois at Chicago and Jamey Aebersold Summer Workshops) 2018
  • Julian Lage (3 time Grammy Award nominee) 2018
  • Elliot Frank (East Carolina University) 2018
  • Xavier Jara (USA, GFA winner) 2017
  • Dave Stryker (Indiana University-Bloomington and The Aebersold Summer Jazz Workshop)
  • Peter Bernstein (NYC) 2017
  • Patrick Kearney (Canada) 2017
  • Thibaut Garcia (France, GFA winner) 2016
  • Ben Monder (Guitarist on David Bowie's last CD Blackstar) 2016
  • Ekachai Jearakul (Thailand, GFA winner)2016
  • Tim Miller (Berklee College of Music) 2016
  • Brad Shepik (New England Conservatory) 2015
  • Andrew Zohn (Columbus State University, Georgia) 2015
  • Dan Wilson (YSU alumnus) 2015
  • Anton Baranov (Russia, GFA winner) 2015
  • Sharpe/Zohn Guitar Duo (Columbus State University, Georgia) 2014
  • Ben Monder (New England Conservatory of Music) 2014
  • Bruce Saunders (Berklee College of Music, University of Texas-Austin) 2014
  • Mary Akerman (Kennesaw State University, GFA winner) 2014
  • Jeffrey McFadden (University of Toronto, Canada) 2013
  • Vladimir Gorbach (Russia, GFA winner) 2013
  • Joe Negri (USA) 2012, 2013
  • Johannes Möller (Sweden, GFA winner) 2012
  • Duo Spiritoso: Andrew Zohn (USA) and Jeff McFadden (Canada) 2011
  • Florian Larousse (France, GFA winner) 2011
  • Jérôme Ducharme (Canada, GFA winner) 2010
  • Gabriel Bianco (France, GFA winner) 2010
  • Stephen Aron (Oberlin Conservatory) 2009
  • Marcin Dylla (Poland, GFA winner) 2009
  • Robert Gruca (USA) 2009
  • Andrew Mah (Canada) 2008
  • Ioana Gandrabur (Romania/Canada) 2008
  • Thomas Viloteau (France, GFA winner) 2008

Almost 1 million views! Dana Guitar Quartet (Christopher Mrofchak, Ben Dague, Michael Reardon, Philip Monrean) Youngstown State University.

Youngstown State University jazz guitar duo (Nicholas Frank and Dan Mihelarakis) performs Spain by Chick Corea. Recorded by the Youngstown State University Department of Communication on December 10, 2018.

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Sponsors

The following people and organizations have generously supported the Dana Guitar Association's 2022-2023 concert season. We sincerely thank our fine sponsors for their support.