Correspondent photos / John Patrick Gatta ... Stephanie Gage, left, widow of Stephen L. Gage, and Claudia Gage, his daughter, thank the audience, musicians and sponsors at the conclusion of the #LoveMusic: Stephen L. Gage Legacy Concert Sunday afternoon at Stambaugh Auditorium in Youngstown.

YOUNGSTOWN — You understand the deep appreciation for Stephen L. Gage when so many of his former students, orchestra and band members and colleagues make time and travel hundreds of miles to honor his inspiration, influence and mentorship.

Gathering in Youngstown — some from as far as New York, Nevada and Alabama — were 88 musicians and seven conductors who performed a memorial concert, #LoveMusic: Stephen L. Gage Legacy Concert, to honor him Sunday afternoon at Stambaugh Auditorium.

Prior to his death in 2023 at age 66 following complications from surgery, Gage taught at Youngstown State University’s Dana School of Music for 28 years, where he served as director of bands and orchestra. He also conducted the Youngstown Symphony Youth Orchestra and the W. D. Packard Concert Band in Warren for 11 years. He was also the interim director of bands at Indiana State University, School of Music.

“The musicians represent the entire span of Steve’s career at YSU through his last semester teaching at Indiana State University, and we wanted everyone to have the opportunity to meet and work together,” said Gage’s widow, Stephanie Gage.

A tribute concert by the Packard Band took place in 2023, while Gage’s family and musical colleagues put together a memorial concert in May 2023. Encouraged by others, a second memorial concert was organized with a third planned for next year.

In his opening remarks, former YSU Associate Director of Bands John Veneskey said, “The smiles and the fellowship, the music making from this wonderful group of people behind me. Sit back and enjoy. And from the bottom of our hearts, Steve, we love you, we miss you, and we thank you.”

While introducing the second half, he said, “I’m not sure there exists a better example of the term ‘legacy’ than what we’re witnessing this afternoon. A legacy by definition is a person’s impact that they leave behind and the influence that they have had on others. I think we can all agree that what we’re experiencing today is evidence of an immeasurable, lasting, living legacy of Dr. Steven L. Gage.”

Stephanie Gage noticed the impact her husband had on so many people.

“When these musicians that studied and worked with Steve come together to make music, there is a camaraderie and energy in the room that is reminiscent of what Steve created in his rehearsals and performance,” she said.. “It is exciting to see that continuing in others.”

She added, “I knew Steve influenced many musicians over the course of his career as he spent hours communicating with them through social media, messaging and phone calls. He remained in contact with his students even after they graduated. But it was during the tribute and memorial concert that I saw just how profound that influence was. As I watched and listened to the conductors and musicians, I noticed things that were quintessential Steve. Things he would say, gestures, he would make, and an enthusiasm for music making.”

The musicians rotated in and out of the ensemble during the nearly two-hour concert. The nine selections performed included “The Star Spangled Banner: A Love Song to Our Country,” “Overture to ‘Candide'” by the legendary Leonard Bernstein, “Lincolnshire Posy,” “O Magnum Mysterium,” John Phillip Sousa’s “The Fairest of the Fair,” “Salvation Is Created” and “Star Wars Trilogy.”

“While Steve did like the ‘Star Wars’ movies, he was a huge fan of John Williams as a composer,” Gage said. “He most enjoyed watching the movies at Blossom Music Center with the Cleveland Orchestra playing the soundtracks live.”

The performance also featured the world premiere of “We Are, for Upon Their Shoulders We Stand,” a piece specifically commissioned for the memorial concert that took nine to 10 months to complete.

“The piece is based on four sequential notes — ‘G’ ‘A’ ‘G’ ‘E’ explained its composer, Jerry Ascione. “These are developed throughout the composition in various ways — harmonically, rhythmically, tempo, instrument combinations, etc. It is written for 36-plus instruments in a standard concert band format.

“The title is a paraphrase of a quote in a 1675 letter by Isaac Newton, “If I have seen further (than others), it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.” That title speaks to the educational influence of Steve Gage as well as many other faculty members of the Dana School of Music, past and present.”

Ascione met Gage in 2009 when he contributed his first commission to the Packard Band.

“He and I talked about music’s effect on people and its ability to invoke many different feelings,” Ascione said. “When Dr. David Blon contacted me and asked if I would be interested in composing a piece for this concert, I was extremely honored to do so. I recall the conversations that Steve and I had about the intrinsic beauty and power of music, and felt that this piece offers an excellent way of paying respect to a great friend, musician and human being.”

While the concert acted as a celebration of Gage’s artistic endeavors and influence on others, it’s also a springboard for the nonprofit organization, Mission: #LoveMusic.

“The goal of Mission: #LoveMusic is to continue Steve’s legacy by bringing composers, conductors, performers and audiences together through high-quality artistic concerts,” Gage said. “As the organization grows, we plan to continue to commission new music and host guest conductors and solo artists at our concerts as well as provide pre-concert talks to engage our audience.

“Through the generous donations of many people, scholarships were established in 2023 at both Youngstown State University and Indiana State University to support students that demonstrate Steve’s mantras ‘#LoveMusic,’ Dare to be Great’ and ‘Be the Music.'”