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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ALL EVENTS FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

News 2019-2020

  • Our 2019-2020 concert season will feature performances and masterclasses by acclaimed classical and jazz guitarists including:
    • Eric Susoeff (Duquesne University)
    • Zvonimir Tot (University of Illinois at Chicago and Jamey Aebersold Summer Workshops)
    • Chattanooga Guitar Duo (Tennessee)
    • Christopher Mrofchak (Florida, and YSU alumnus)

Congratulations to some recent YSU guitar graduates

  • Christopher Mrofchak (BM Performance, 2014) was invited to participate in the prestigious 2019 Parkening International Guitar Competition in Malibu, California.
  • Shaun McCune (BM Performance, 2019) was the winner of two recent competitions: the 2018 Dana School of Music concerto competition (Concierto for Guitar by Elmer Bernstein) and the 2018 YMTA (Youngstown Music Teachers' Association) performance competition.
  • Nicholas Frank (BM Performance, 2019) hired as an adjunct instructor of jazz guitar at the acclaimed New York University (NYU) in 2019 where also he will be pursuing his Master's degree (studying with Adam Rogers and Peter Bernstein).

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.

Classical and jazz guitarists who have performed and taught masterclasses at YSU.

  • 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

Dana Guitar Quartet (Christopher Mrofchak, Ben Dague, Michael Reardon, Philip Monrean) Youngstown State University, directed by Dr. Francois Fowler

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 2019-2020 concert season. We sincerely thank our fine sponsors for their support.