Two weeks of concerts and lectures are planned at and around Youngstown State University for the 28th Dana New Music Festival.
Guest artists for the festivities include composers Kathy Henkel and Jerry Ascione, the piano duo DuoARtia and accordionist Mary Tokarski.
Henkel composes in a variety of styles often featuring double reed instruments. Her works have been played in England, Italy, Austria, Canada, Mexico, and across the United States. She will be represented by several chamber works throughout the festival.
Ascione is a graduate of the Dana School of Music, where he studied horn with William Slocum and played piano with the YSU Jazz Ensembles. Ascione played assistant principal horn in the U.S. Naval Academy Band and was leader and music director of The Commodores of the U.S. Navy Band from 1989 to1997. He then assumed the role of piano soloist with the Navy Concert Band. During his distinguished career, he has written many big band and orchestral arrangements.
DuoARtia features pianists Jeri-Mae Astolfi and Holly Roadfeldt and specializes in the work of 20th and 21st century composers. Their concert Monday will include ''Two Contrasts for Two Pianos'' by Dana faculty member Robert Rollin
Tokarski started playing accordion at age seven and has gone on to win a multitude of awards performing both nationally and internationally as a soloist, with orchestras, and as a member of the "K" Trio. She is also the founder and director of the Tokarski Music Center in Connecticut.
Admission for all Dana New Music Festival concerts and lectures is free and open to the public. For more information, call 330-941-3636.
The lineup includes:
Monday - Lecture by Mary Tokarski, concert accordionist, on "An Introduction to Composing for the Accordion" at 5:10 p.m. in Bliss Hall Room 3150; and DuoARtia concert at 8 p.m. in Bliss Recital Hall.
Tuesday - Lecture / composition seminar by Mary Tokarski, concert accordionist, on "New Music Resources for the Accordion" at 3 p.m. in Bliss Hall Room 3150.
Wednesday - Concert by Mary Tokarski, concert accordionist, at 7 p.m. at Sts. Peter and Paul Church, 421 Covington St., Youngstown
April 27 - Dana Composers Ensemble at 11 a.m. in Bliss Recital Hall.
April 29 - Chamber music recital with guest composer Kathy Henkel and the Dana Composers Ensemble at 3:30 p.m. at Sts. Peter and Paul Church.
April 30 - Lecture / composition seminar by composer Jerry Ascione on "The Music of Jerry Ascione" at 3 p.m. in Bliss Hall; lecture by composer Kathy Henkel on "The Los Angeles New Music Scene" at 5:10 p.m. in Bliss Hall Room 3150; and Wind Ensemble, Dana Chorale and University Chorus concert with composer Jerry Ascione at 8 p.m. at Stambaugh Auditorium, 1000 Fifth Ave., Youngstown.
May 1 - Lecture by composer Kathy Henkel on "The Los Angeles New Music Scene" at 3 p.m. in Bliss Hall Room 3150.
May 2 - Chamber music recital with Dana Composers Ensemble and composer Kathy Henkel at 12:15 p.m. at the Butler Institute of American Art, 524 Wick Ave., Youngs-town; Gala festival concert with Composers Ensemble and the Festival Chamber Orchestra with composer Kathy Henkel and Kirk Kupensky, harp, at 8 p.m. at St. Columba Cathedral, 159 W. Rayen Ave., Youngstown.