Multi-instrumentalist and composer Tyshawn Sorey will close the 2020-21 Donald P. Pipino Performing Arts Series.

Sorey, who received a MacArthur “Genius” fellowship in 2017, has been celebrated for his incomparable virtuosity, effortless mastery and memorization of highly complex scores, and an extraordinary ability to blend composition and improvisation in his work. He has performed nationally and internationally with his own ensembles, as well as artists such as John Zorn, Vijay Iyer, Roscoe Mitchell, Muhal Richard Abrams, Wadada Leo Smith, Marilyn Crispell, George Lewis, Claire Chase, Steve Lehman, Jason Moran, Evan Parker, Anthony Braxton and Myra Melford.

Phyllis M. Paul, dean of the Cliffe College of Creative Arts, said, “We’re so pleased to close our virtual season with Tyshawn Sorey. Before the COVID pandemic, he was scheduled on our 2020-21 season to perform in-person at the Robins Theatre in Warren, and we are currently working to bring him to Youngstown during our 2021-22 season. We’ve had such success with our virtual Pipino artists, though, it is likely we will continue to keep this format as a part of our annual season offerings.”

Sorey has composed works for the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the International Contemporary Ensemble, soprano Julia Bullock, PRISM Quartet, JACK Quartet, TAK Ensemble, the McGill-McHale Trio and Youngstown tenor Lawrence Brownlee with Opera Philadelphia in partnership with Carnegie Hall.

His music has been performed in notable venues such as the Walt Disney Concert Hall, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Village Vanguard, the Ojai Music Festival, the Newport Jazz Festival, the Kimmel Center, and the Mostly Mozart Festival at Lincoln Center.

He will give a master class at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, followed by a presentation at 7 p.m. Both events are free and can be accessed on the Pipino Performing Arts website — ysu.edu/