Dana music school drive debuts on high note
Zoldan donates $5M to Crescendo campaign
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CANFIELD -- A major fundraising campaign launched on behalf of Youngstown State University's Dana School of Music has every intention of rising higher on the treble clef.
"This means the world to me," Joseph Carucci, Dana's director, said. "The Dana School of Music is embedded in our community."
Also embedded is the Crescendo campaign to raise funds to fulfill the mission of preserving the school of music's history and attracting more students, which was celebrated during a special gala Monday evening at the Firefly Farm, 4950 S. Raccoon Road.
Adding a major infusion to the effort toward reaching the campaign's $20 million goal was Bruce Zoldan and Pamela Benger, campaign co-chairs, who gave $5 million of the estimated $8 million raised so far. Zoldan owns Phantom Fireworks and co-owns the Youngstown Phantoms hockey team.
Further goals to bring in new students include enhancing and improving some physical spaces, along with additional course offerings and degree options to secure the school's long-term sustainability, Carucci noted.
An estimated 150 students are enrolled at Dana, he said, adding that it's vital to increase that number, as well as the school's community impact, as it has faced challenging times.
Such impact also includes a free YSU string project for students in kindergarten through grade 12, a youth orchestra, chamber music on weekends and summer programs for such students that features a music camp, Carucci said. Other efforts include educator days to increase students' music pedagogy, he continued.
Paul McFadden, the YSU Foundation's president, noted that the Dana School of Music also was temporarily home to 15 Grammy Award winners as well as many of the region's K-12 music instructors. Another outreach effort this fall will be to have some Dana students tutor Youngstown City School District students on their musical instruments, he said, adding that the school of music is offering a master's degree program in digital programming.
In addition, McFadden thanked Zolden and Benger for "catapulting this campaign to where it is today. This is a new beginning of a new chapter for the Dana School of Music."
For decades, Dana has provided an important and rich legacy to performers and artists, so it's vital that future students have the same opportunities to expand the school's reach and scope, YSU President Bill Johnson said in his remarks Monday.
Before the program, many attendees enjoyed a variety of musical entertainment, courtesy of the Eduardo Arce Quartet; a piano performance by Madison Sheffield, a YSU senior who is pursuing a degree in piano performance; a voice performance from Emma Price; and a 50-minute performance by the YSU String Quartet. Also making a surprise appearance was the YSU Marching Band.
Carucci also remembered the late David S. Morgan of Poland, who taught bass, jazz and music theory courses before his death Aug. 15 at age 68.
Morgan was part of the Dana School of Music for 25 years.
"He left 25 years worth of impressions on the students and faculty," Carucci recalled. "He brought versatility, patience and a strong focus to acts, but mostly he secured humility, passion and presence to every moment. He was a powerful force at Dana and beyond."
Morgan also was a master of cultivating friendships -- the type of instructor with whom one could have a conversation in the hallway and "walk away a better person," Carucci added.
LOOKING BACK
When William Henry Dana founded the Dana School of Music in 1869 in Warren, it provided private lessons and a curriculum leading to an academic degree for those who aspired to be professional musicians. In 1891, the state of Ohio approved the Dana Musical Institute to grant bachelor of music degrees before students often were hired to play in various bands, orchestras and theaters – sometimes before they finished the curriculum, information at Monday's gathering stated.
By 1931, the state had changed its accreditation standards for those seeking to earn degrees in education, a move that proved difficult for the Dana Musical Institute. Consequently, the school sought partnerships with other colleges to maintain its educational credentials with the state at the same time what was then Youngstown College's music department was growing to where the program had enough courses to offer a bachelor of arts degree in music. In 1941, the Dana Musical Institute merged with Youngstown College.
In 1950, the institute was renamed the Dana School of Music and was moved to Bliss Hall in 1977.
The 1970s saw a strong increase in students' interest in jazz, which resulted in many such ensembles being formed and developed. Also, course offerings leading to bachelors of music degrees in jazz studies were introduced in the fall 1980 semester.
Today, the Dana School of Music consists of more than 140 studios, classrooms and practice spaces as well as computer and keyboard laboratories that allow students to develop their musical skills and acumen.
Recently, many of Dana's educational programs were realigned and revised to meet diverse student needs, along with addressing today's music industry's requirements.