Very few university musical ensembles ever get invited to perform at the historic Carnegie Hall in New York. Even fewer get invited back for an encore appearance.But that’s the case for Youngstown State University’s Wind Ensemble.Ten years after its debut at one of the world’s preeminent concert venues, the 55-student Wind Ensemble has been invited to perform again at Carnegie Hall – 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 27.“We are honored and excited to be able to once again showcase the YSU Wind Ensemble in one of the world's most acclaimed concert sites,” said Stephen L. Gage, professor of Music and director of Bands and Orchestra at YSU’s Dana School of Music. “The Wind Ensemble’s long-standing tradition of performance distinction, as well as a litany of critically-acclaimed and internationally-distributed recordings, is the reason why we have been invited back.”Michael R. Crist, interim Dean of the College of Creative Arts & Communication, said, “Musicians spend a lifetime refining performance skills and developing intimate nuances preparing for the truly significant musical performance. Even a neophyte musician has knowledge of the historical importance of a performance venue like Carnegie Hall. Members of the YSU Wind Ensemble will have the opportunity to bring their combined efforts together in what could be a life-changing performance.”The performance on the day after Thanksgiving will be in the Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage and is part of Manhattan Concert Productions’ National Festival Chorus concert.Tickets, which range in price from $20 to $110, are available in person at the Carnegie Hall Box Office at 57th Street and Seventh Avenue, by phone at 212-247-7800 or online at
www.carnegiehall.org. Manhattan Concert Productions is offering a 25 percent discount for YSU friends and family Oct. 27 by using the code SPL22466 when ordering. After Oct. 27, the discount is 15 percent with the code FAM22465.A pre-concert alumni and friends event will be held 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 27 at Trattoria Dell'Arte, 900 7th Ave, New York. The cost is $50 and includes hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar. Concert tickets are not included in the price. Reservations must be made in advance by calling the Office of Alumni Engagement at 330-941-2754 or online at
www.ysu.edu/alumni.For those traveling to New York for the concert, Traveline Travel is tentatively planning a trip that includes bus transportation to and from New York, three night’s hotel accommodations at the Park Central Hotel, taxes and gratuities, for $735. A minimum of 35 people must make reservations by Friday, Oct. 9 by contacting Tracey Innocent at 330-941-2391 or tinnocent@traveline.com.The YSU Wind Ensemble is comprised of music majors in the Dana School of Music and ranges in class status from freshmen to graduate students.The Wind Ensemble has performed at the Music Educators National Conference, now known as the National Association for Music Education; a variety of Ohio Music Education Association State conferences as an invited collegiate performing group; and for the College Band Directors National Association. The Wind Ensemble also has been involved in numerous commissions and has had recent in-residence experiences with Michael Colgrass, Joseph Schwantner, Allen Vizzutti, Carter Pann, Karel Husa, Samuel Adler, Eric Ewazen, Frank Ticheli, Adam Frey, Anthony Iannaccone, Donald Sinta, David Gillingham, James Keene, Don Wilcox, Brian Balmages, Harry Watters, Anthony O’Toole and Ed Lisk.The group has released seven professionally produced and critically acclaimed CDs:
Lions, Jesters, and Dragons, Oh My! (1998);
Star Wars and Other Scores (2000);
Carnival (2002);
Spin Cycle (2004);
Tipping Points (2006)
Urban Requiem (2008) and
Old Wine In New Bottles (2012), the latter two on NAXOS International.
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Stephen L. Gage has served as Professor of Music and Director of Bands & Orchestra at Youngstown State University's Dana School of Music since 1993. In fall 2014, Gage was appointed as the conductor of the YSU Dana Symphony Orchestra in addition to his work with the YSU Wind Ensemble and Dana Chamber Winds & Strings. Gage holds degrees from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, the Eastman School of Music, and the State University of New York at Fredonia where he also earned the Performers Certificate and was a concerto winner. Stephen studied conducting with Harry John Brown, Donald Hunsberger, David Effron, Roy Ernst, James Keene, H. Robert Reynolds, and Paul Vermel. In September 2012, Dr. Gage was appointed as the Conductor of the W. D. Packard Concert Band in Warren. Stephen begins his 22nd season as the Edward Zacharias Memorial Chair/Conductor of the Youngstown Symphony Youth Orchestra. Previous teaching positions include serving as Director of Bands & Orchestra at Emporia State University (KS) and as Director of Bands at Auburn High School (NY).
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