The decisions and outcomes at YSU this semester have weighed heavily on the Dana School of Music. We will greatly miss our colleagues who will not be returning full-time next year, and extend our appreciation for all they have done during their time at Dana.

Throughout this situation, the community and alumni support has been strong and inspiring. It has underscored the need for the arts and arts education in our region and beyond, and the deep dedication and love for those who have been touched by the Dana School of Music. We are all very grateful for this support.

Many have inquired about details regarding how Dana will move forward. The 12 returning full-time Dana faculty members, along with our adjunct faculty, have the expertise, innovative spirit and flexibility to continue to make this a successful program for our students. At this point, I can be confident about several paths forward that I would like to share.

Next academic year, Dr. Hae-Jong Lee will be continuing to serve as our director of the Dana Chorale and Dr. Misook Yun will continue teaching applied voice and assisting with the opera. Both will be teaching on a part-time basis. Dana will also be searching for part-time instructors in flute, violin and cello.

We have faculty members with both advanced musicology and music theory degrees. Along with some outside counsel, these areas in our curriculum will remain well-informed, student-centered and forward thinking.

YSU has approved the posting for a full-time lecturer who will direct the YSU Wind Ensemble and teach classes in conducting and music education. There will be a summer search to fill the position and the successful candidate will serve as our Director of Bands and direct the Youngstown State University Youth Orchestra.

We will continue hosting the YSU Summer Camp, YSU String Project and other opportunities that help us serve and collaborate with the community. One of our core values is service to the community and accessibility of the arts for all. This includes providing professional development opportunities for regional music educators.

Dana will continue to offer three rigorous and innovative undergraduate degrees (B.M. in Music Education, Performance, Music Recording — changing to Audio + Music Production) and two graduate degrees (M.M. in Music Education and Performance). Each degree is student-centered and distinct from opportunities at other universities. Highlights of these programs include:

B.M. in Music Education

• Offers opportunities for voice students to study musical theatre or commercial voice styles in applied lessons.

• Has a 100% job placement rate. Our graduates are a driving force in music education in Northeast Ohio and Western Pennsylvania.

• Includes an option of completing an Audio and Music Production Pedagogy Certificate.

B.M. in Audio + Music Production (AMP)

• Initiated a student-run record label (Dana Records).

• Added classes to the curriculum including Live Sound Production, Studio Ear Training and Video and Sound for Games and Film.

• Added an option of a Digital Audio Workstation applied area, forging a natural path for the music producer to succeed in the AMP curriculum.

• Incorporated opportunities for hands-on experiences through internships, work study positions and the Capstone Project.

B.M. in Music Performance

• Embedded the requirement of a minor or certificate and added a Career Development class to add to the skillset and marketability of our graduates. Options include, but are not limited to, a Certificate in Audio and Music Production, Non-Profit Leadership, Digital Marketing and Enterprise Resource Planning.

• Songwriting, composition, technology, and elements of commercial, American and World Music have been explicitly added to the core curriculum of all undergraduate degrees.

M.M. in Music Education

• Moved online to meet the demands of the modern education industry.

• Degree timeline is flexible and can be completed as soon as one year, or paced according to the candidate’s schedule.

M.M. in Music Performance

• Caliber of the Dana M.M. graduates speaks to the world-class quality of education.

• Graduate assistantships and scholarships are available.

I would like to reiterate our love and support for our colleagues who will not be returning next year. As the Dana School of Music begins its next chapter, please remain confident that we will be able to continue serving you, our community, and most importantly, our students, well into the future.

Dr. Joseph Carucci is the director of the Dana School of Music & University Theatre.