News and highlights archives

 

2022-2023 Highlights

  • 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

2021-2022 Highlights

  • Mimi Fox (California) 2022
  • René Izquierdo (Cuba) 2022
  • Pasquale Grasso (Italy) 2021

2020-2021 Highlights

  • Bill Frisell (Legendary Grammy Award winning jazz guitarist) 2021
  • Miles Okazaki (University of Michigan-Ann Arbor) 2021
  • Jim Campilongo and Luca Benedetti Guitar Duo (NYC) 2020
  • Paul Holmes Morton (Theorbo and baroque guitarist, period instrument specialist)

2018-2019 Highlights

  • Our 2018-2019 concert season will feature performances and masterclasses by acclaimed classical and jazz guitarists including:
    • Tengyue Zhang (China-- Winner of the 2017 Guitar Foundation of America International Classical Guitar Competition)
    • Zvonimir Tot (University of Illinois at Chicago and Jamey Aebersold Summer Workshops)
    • Stephen Mattingly (University of Louisville, KY)
    • Dan Wilson (Grammy Award Nominee and YSU alumnus)
    • Sheryl Bailey (Berklee College of Music)

2017-2018 Highlights

  • Our 2017-2018 concert season will feature performances and masterclasses by acclaimed classical and jazz guitarists including:
    • Dave Stryker (Indiana University-Bloomington and The Aebersold Summer Jazz Workshop)
    • Xavier Jara (Winner of the 2016 GFA International Classical Guitar Competition)
    • Elliot Frank (Prize winner in the Concurso Internacional de la Casa de España in San Juan, Puerto Rico)
    • Julian Lage (World-renowned jazz guitarist)

2016-2017 Highlights

  • Our 2016-2017 concert season will feature performances and masterclasses by acclaimed classical and jazz guitarists including:

    Student Achievements 2016-2017

    • Chris Mrofchak (BM Performance, 2014) accepts full scholarship to pursue DMA studies at the Florida State University College of Music under the direction of Bruce Holzman.
    • Michael Reardon (BM Performance, 2016) was offered Graduate Assistantships at the University of Cincinnati and the University of Indiana-Bloomington. Mike accepted the assistantship in Indiana to study and teach under the direction of Ernesto Bitetti.
    • Anthony Kunovic (BM Jazz Studies, 2015) accepts graduate assistantship at YSU (Master's in Jazz Studies)
    • Ben Dague (BMus. Education-2010, MM Performance-2014) offered three full-time teaching positions beginning in the Fall 2016: Browning Public Schools in Montana, Santa Fe Public Schools in Arizona, and Legacy Traditional Charter Schools in Arizona. He accepted the Legacy Traditional Charter School position.
    • Albert Troiani hired as adjunct instructor of guitar at East High School (Youngstown) and Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School (Pittsburgh)
    • Michael Reardon was selected to perform in a masterclass hosted by the Cleveland Classical Guitar Society with internationally renowned virtuoso Manuel Barrueco on April 17, 2016

    2015-2016 Highlights

    Achievements

    • Ben Dague (MM Performance, 2014) wins the 2014 Dana School of Music concerto competition (Concierto de Aranjuez, II.Adagio by Rodrigo).
    • Ben Dague (MM performance, 2014) hired as classical guitar instructor at Hiram College and Thiel College.
    • Anthony Kunovic (BM jazz studies, 2015) awarded graduate teaching assistantship in jazz studies at YSU.
    • Philip Monrean (BM Performance, 2015) awarded graduate assistantship in Communications and Marketing at YSU.
    • Nathan Zunic (BM education, 2011) hired as fulltime music teacher at Saint-Rose school.
    • Nicholas Jones and Michael Reardon chosen to perform as opening act for Rik Emmett (formerly of Triumph) at the Hard Rock Cafe in Pittsburgh.

    2014-2015 Highlights

    • Monday November 10: Recital by classical guitarist Mary Akerman (Student in 1980's Segovia California masterclass and winner of the 1985 Guitar Foundation of America International Competition).  See calendar for details.
    • Friday November 21:  Jazz Clinic/Masterclass by NYC jazz guitarist Ben Monder (New England Conservatory).  See calendar for details. 
    • YSU student Christopher Mrofchak was awarded 2nd prize at the 2014 Stroud All-Ohio Classical Guitar Competition (held at the Oberlin Conservatory). 
    • Chris Mrofchak accepts a graduate teaching assistantship to study at the Florida State University in Fall 2014 under the direction of world renowned pedagogue Bruce Holzman.
    • The Dana Guitar Quartet (Ben Dague, Chris Mrofchak, Phil Monrean, and Mike Reardon) performs on the nationally syndicated ABC News show 20/20 on April 26, Saturday, 2014. 
    • On May 17 the Dana Guitar Quartet performed at a fundraiser attended by Ed O'Neill, star of Married with Children and Modern Family. 
    • YSU guitar student Philip Monrean performs with the YSU Symphony Orchestra in February 2014 after winning the Dana School of Music concerto competition.
    • Michael Reardon to play in a masterclass with the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet on March 21, 2015.
    • March 24, 2015: Recital by Russian guitarist Anton Baranov (Winner of the 2013 Guitar Foundation of America International Guitar Competition).  See calendar for details.
    • April 3, 2015: Jazz guitar clinic, guest artist Dan Wilson.  See calendar for details.

    2013-2014 Highlights

    Our 2013-2014 concert season features masterclasses by jazz guitarists Dan Wilson (Akron, Ohio) and Bruce Saunders (Berklee College of Music, Boston), and recitals by classical guitarists Jeffrey McFadden (University of Toronto, Canada) and Andrew Zohn (CSU, Georgia). Please see calendar.

    YSU College of Creative Arts and Communication 60 second guitar promo: www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFnO-wmI8Lc

    Two YSU guitar students (Christopher Mrofchak and Benjamin Dague) have been selected to play in masterclasses with world-renowned guitarists Manuel Barrueco and David Russell.  The events are hosted by the Cleveland Classical Guitar Society.

    The following people and organizations have generously supported the Dana Guitar Association's 2013-2014 concert season. We encourage you to patronize these fine sponsors.  For more information please visit the Sponsors page.