YSU Cliffe College of Creative Arts

YSU Cliffe College of Creative Arts

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Cliffe College of Creative Arts at Youngstown State University provides a dynamic learning environment in the creative arts.

The Cliffe College of Creative Arts serves as a cultural center for the YSU campus and the Mahoning Valley. Each year, the College hosts over 400 events including dozens of art exhibits, eight major theatrical productions, and more than one hundred musical events. Academic programs combine theoretical and practical offerings giving students the opportunity to augment traditional classroom activities with internship and laboratory experiences.

Operating as usual

Photos from Dana School of Music's post 02/03/2025

Last week, Italian folk group Alla Boara visited the Dana School of Music to present masterclasses for our students! 🎶

Anthony Taddeo, founder of Alla Boara and Dana School of Music alum, presented a masterclass for our percussion students. During the session, he shared insights from his personal journey as a musician, highlighting the skills and experiences that contributed to his success.

Following the percussion masterclass, the members of Alla Boara performed for our students. Later that evening, they performed again as part of the Cliffe College Performing Arts Series during their "Serata Italiana".

We are grateful for alumni like Anthony Taddeo who visit the Dana School of Music to share their talents and knowledge with our students. 🐧

Photos from YSU University Theatre's post 01/31/2025

Here’s a look inside our Stage Makeup class with Associate Professor Katherine Garlick! This week, students practiced various techniques to enhance facial features. Using these techniques makes it easier for audiences to connect with the emotions portrayed by performers on stage. 🎭

Photos from Dana School of Music's post 01/29/2025

We’re having a great start to the Spring 2025 semester here at the Dana School of Music! Our students are busy expanding their musical knowledge and preparing for their upcoming recitals. Here’s a look inside some of our classrooms this semester! 🎶

Photos from YSU University Theatre's post 01/21/2025

Last Summer, our YSU theatre students performed “Here There Be Dragons” at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Edinburgh, Scotland! 🎭🐉

Presenting themselves as the “Steel Penguin Ensemble”, these students presented nine sold-out shows at the world’s biggest arts festival. The group was led by Adam Day Howard, who was the Musical Director and Associate Producer of “Here There Be Dragons”.

Our theatre students gained hands-on experience in several areas of the theatre industry, from learning how to promote a show to performing for an international audience. Outside of operating their own production, our students watched several theatre productions at the festival and explored unforgettable sights across Edinburgh, Scotland.

Thanks to our supportive and well-connected faculty, our theatre students receive professional-level experiences both inside and outside the classroom. ✨

01/17/2025

If you’re a high school artist, transfer student, or aspiring artist, you’re invited to join us for YSU’s Portfolio Day on February 8, 2025! ✨

This event provides the opportunity to showcase your creative work and receive valuable feedback from our art faculty. Attendees are also invited to learn about our programs, facilities, scholarship opportunities.

Registration for this event is required. To learn more about YSU’s Portfolio Day and register for this opportunity, visit ysu.edu/find-your-passion-ysu-portfolio-day

01/16/2025

Meet Dr. James Umble, a professor at Dana School of Music who will present a recital on January 27! 🎶⬇

A two-time recipient of the YSU Distinguished Professor in Teaching Award, Dr. Umble loves finding new ways to communicate important musical fundamentals and sharing inspiring pieces of music with his students. Dr. Umble also enjoys sharing new works as a performer. His upcoming recital will feature several unique compositions, including a jazz and classically influenced piece written for him by NYC composer and musician Patrick Zimmerli.

Dr. Umble believes that our long and distinguished tradition of providing training and music education, along with our faculty who deeply care about student success and well-being, are what make Dana School of Music special. These values are evident through the excellence of Dr. Umble’s saxophone studio, who he describes as a “terrific and close-knit saxophone ‘family’”.

You can see Dr. Umble and pianist Dr. Daeun Choi perform at St. John Episcopal Church on January 27 at 7:30 p.m. Entry is free and open to the public!

Photos from Department of Art • YSU's post 01/14/2025

This semester, five inspirational artists are visiting campus to present lectures as part of the McDonough Lecture Series and the Department of Art Lecture Series! ⬇

January 22: Anna Chapman is an artist and educator investigating transformative approaches to art-making, community practice, and connection to land in light of destabilized socio-ecological contexts.

February 5: Julia Betts is an Adjunct Professor at Carnegie Mellon University. Her sculptures, installation, and performance work has been exhibited nationally and has appeared in several publications.

February 12: Emerging Artist Abby Cipar is a multidisciplinary artist, arts advocate, curator, and wage laborer with roots in Northeast Ohio. Their nationally exhibited work can be found in private collections across the US.

February 20: Sidney Mullis is a Pittsburgh-based sculptor whose work has been exhibited both nationally and internationally. She’s been featured in art periodicals and had artist residencies throughout the country.

February 27: Will Hutnick is the Director of Artistic Programming at the Wassaic Project, a nonprofit organization that uses art and art education to foster positive social change. His work vibrates at the intersection of the natural environment, digital spaces, and queerness.

All lectures take place at 5:30pm inside the McDonough Museum of Art. These artists will have their work display inside the museum from January 22 through February 28.

01/13/2025

We're so excited for YSU's Summer Festival of the Arts to return to campus in just a few months! 😍✨

The 27th Annual YSU Summer Festival of the Arts returns to the YSU campus July 12-13, 2025! 🎨✨

Celebrate regional talent with over 100 juried artists, live performances, interactive activities, and family-friendly fun. This free, community event is a highlight of the region's cultural calendar, attracting over 15,000 visitors each year. We can’t wait to see you there!

Photos from Dana School of Music's post 01/11/2025

Our Middle School Honor Band Concert was a success! Today, over 190 middle school musicians performed two outstanding concerts in Ford Theater under the direction of YSU’s Dr. Kate Ferguson and Guest Director James Dowdy. Thank you to everyone who showed their support for our Middle School Honor Band, and we hope to see these young musicians back on campus soon! 🎶

Interested in more opportunities for young musicians to enhance their musicianship? Join us for our 2025 Summer Music Camp from June 8-13th. For more information, email [email protected] or call 330-941-3636.

Photos from Dana School of Music's post 01/10/2025

Today, over 190 middle school musicians joined us on campus for our annual Middle School Honor Band! These students spent the day rehearsing with Dana School of Music faculty and students to prepare for tomorrow's concert.

There will be two Middle School Honor Band Concerts tomorrow in Ford Theater. The “Red Band”, conducted by YSU's Dr. Kate Ferguson, will perform at 1:00pm, and the “White Band”, conducted by Guest Director James Dowdy, will perform at 2:15pm. We hope to see you there!! 🐧🎶

Photos from Department of Art • YSU's post 01/08/2025

We’re thrilled to once again host this year's NE Ohio Scholastic Art Award Exhibition and Ceremony! The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards is a national competition where middle and high school students submit their original visual or literary pieces. The competition was organized by NEO Scholastics Coordinator Josh MacMillan, a YSU alum and art teacher at Hubbard High School. ✨

This exhibition is on display inside Solomon Gallery now through January 25th. Students will receive recognition on January 25th during a ceremony inside YSU’s Ford Theater.

Photos from YSU Cliffe College of Creative Arts's post 01/06/2025

Starting the semester with good vibes and snowy views 🐧☃️ It's wonderful having our students back in Bliss Hall, and we're excited to see what they accomplish this semester!!

Photos from YSU University Theatre's post 01/02/2025

In December 2023, Lacey Farina earned her BFA in Musical Theatre from YSU. This past December, Farina earned her first professional regional credit in “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”, working alongside Tony Award nominee Mary Bridget Davis.

After graduation, Lacey Farina stayed busy working as a vocal instructor at School of Rock Cleveland and as a dance instructor at Fred Astaire Dance. These roles allowed Farina to continue fine-tuning her craft while teaching others. Consistently practicing and auditioning with her “master list” of songs helped her land her most recent role at Beck Center for the Arts.

Lacey Farina credits YSU for helping her elevate her skillset. Farina says people like Professor Dugan helped her regain confidence in her voice and taught principles she teaches to her students today. Learning skills such as audition etiquette and time management helped her successfully transition to a professional theatre environment. Her advice for current theatre students is to “...be honest about who you are, that’s really what the ‘real world’ casting directors and agencies want to see”.

Now approaching her final weekend of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”, Lacey Farina says this show is “the first major and pivotal step” towards her long-time goal of acting on Broadway. You can see Lacey Farina and the cast of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” perform at Beck Center for the Arts now through January 5th. ✨

Photos from Dana School of Music's post 12/20/2024

Earlier this month, we presented our annual Carols & Cocoa and the Dana Holiday Concert, continuing our 40+ year holiday tradition. Thank you to everyone who joined us to celebrate Dana School of Music and our vibrant music community here in Youngstown, Ohio. We wish everyone a happy and safe holiday season, and we’re excited to see you soon for the Spring 2025 semester! ✨🎄

As a reminder, the university is closed on December 24-25th and January 1st. The Spring 2025 semester will begin Monday, January 6th.

Photos from YSU Cliffe College of Creative Arts's post 12/18/2024

The future is looking bright for our newest CCCA alumni! Congratulations to the class of 2024 ✨🎓

Photos from YSU Cliffe College of Creative Arts's post 12/13/2024

Congratulations to our Cliffe College of Creative Arts Fall 2024 graduates!! 🎓🐧 Pictured here are just a few of our many art, music, and theatre graduates. This weekend, these graduates will join a remarkable group of alumni who spread their creativity all around the world. We are proud of our Fall 2024 graduates, and we’re excited to watch them flourish throughout their postgraduate journey!

Photos from Dana School of Music's post 12/12/2024

Congratulations to our Fall 2024 Graduates! 🎓 To celebrate their upcoming graduation, five Dana School of Music students shared their experiences at Cliffe College of Creative Arts and advice for future students in their program. ✨

Photos from Department of Art • YSU's post 12/12/2024

Congratulations to our Fall 2024 Graduates! 🎓 To celebrate their upcoming graduation, six Department of Art students shared their experiences at Cliffe College of Creative Arts and advice for future students in their program. ✨

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Location

Telephone

Website

https://linktr.ee/ysucliffe

Address


547 Wick Avenue
Youngstown, OH
44502

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm