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YSU Band Staff 

Dr. Stephen L. Gage, Director of Bands

Stephen L. Gage has served as Professor of Music and Director of Bands at Youngstown State University and as the Edward Zacharias Memorial Chair/Conductor of the Youngstown Symphony Youth Orchestra since 1993, and he began serving as assistant conductor of the YSU/Dana Symphony Orchestra in 2006.  For the academic year 2008-09, Dr. Gage was the principal conductor of the YSU/Dana Symphony Orchestra. He holds degrees from the University of Illinois, the Eastman School of Music, and State University of New York at Fredonia where he also earned the Performers Certificate in Percussion.  Stephen has studied conducting with Harry John Brown, Donald Hunsberger, David Effron, Roy Ernst, James Keene, H. Robert Reynolds, and Paul Vermel.

In addition to his conducting career, Dr. Gage has performed with the Erie Philharmonic (PA), the Champaign-Urbana Symphony Orchestra (IL), the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra, and the Jimmy Dorsey Jazz Orchestra; and he was a marimba concerto soloist with the Fredonia Symphony Orchestra. He served a four-year term on the Board of Advisors for the St. Patrick's Day Festival in Dublin, Ireland.  Ensembles under his direction have performed at state music conventions in New York, Kansas, and Ohio, for the MENC Biennial Convention in Nashville, for CBDNA Conventions, and in NYC’s acclaimed Carnegie Hall.

Stephen has written numerous publications on conducting, rehearsal techniques, and literature, and is an active wind band and orchestral guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator of international repute having guest conducted and cliniced throughout the United States, and in Canada and Ireland. Dr. Gage has recently served as a guest conductor for the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra, the W.D. Packard Concert Band, the U.S. Army Band: Pershing’s Own, the U.S. Army Field Band, the University of Miami (FL) Wind Ensemble, the University of Nebraska: Omaha Wind Ensemble, and for numerous all-state and regional honors orchestras and wind bands. 

Professor Gage has received critical acclaim from a number of distinguished composers, including Joseph Schwanter, Samuel Adler, Karel Husa, Donald Grantham, Frank Ticheli, and David Gillingham, for his interpretation, performance and recordings of their music. Dr. Gage’s professional affiliations include memberships in the CBDNA, NBA, OMEA/MENC, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Sigma Alpha Iota, Conductors Guild, Kappa Delta Pi, Phi Beta Mu, and Phi Kappa Phi. In 1999, Stephen was inducted into the prestigious American Bandmasters Association and was named Distinguished Professor at YSU. He and the YSU Wind Ensemble made their NYC Carnegie Hall debut in 2005.  With the YSU Wind Ensemble, Gage has released and produced six CD’s since 1998.  The last of these, Urban Requiem, was issued in June 2008 by the NAXOS Recording Label; NAXOS is considered the world’s largest classical on-line recording label and distributor. 

Stephen lives in Poland with his wife, Stephanie. and two of his three children, Claudia and Brendan. His son, Matthew, lives in Austin, Texas. 

dr. brandt payne, director of athletic bands

Brandt Payne is Director of Athletic Bands and Assistant Professor of Music for the Dana School of Music at Youngstown State University. Dr. Payne’s previous academic appointments include Associate Director of Bands at the University of Hawai’i and interim Associate Director of Bands and studio trombone teacher for one year at the University of Wyoming. Payne also taught in the Red Oak Public Schools in Red Oak, Iowa.

At the University of Hawaii, he directed the Warrior Marching Band and the Symphonic Band, and taught courses in conducting, and music education. In 2006, under Payne’s direction, the University of Hawaii Marching Band was one of five marching bands from across the country selected for presentation at the College Band Director’s National Association National Conference. Also in 2008, for the second time in school history the University of Hawaii Marching Band performed on the mainland U.S. at the 2008 Sugar Bowl as part of the Bowl Championship Series. At Wyoming, Payne took the Western Thunder Marching Band to the 2004 Pioneer PureVision Las Vegas Bowl.

A native of Iowa, Dr. Payne holds a Bachelor of Music degree in trombone performance and
teacher certification from the University of Iowa and a Master of Music degree in trombone
performance from Arizona State University. He recently completed the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in conducting at Arizona State University.

Active as a guest conductor, adjudicator and clinician, Payne is also the author of several
literature and recording reviews that have been published in the International Trombone
Association Journal. Dr. Payne’s articles have also appeared in music education journals as well.

DAVID M. BLON, GRADUATE CONDUCTING ASSISTANT

David M. Blon is pursuing the MM in conducting degree at YSU and is a student of Stephen Gage.  As a percussionist and pianist, David is an educator throughout western Pennsylvania. He is also currently serving as Assistant Director of Bands at Mercer Jr./Sr. High School in Mercer Township, PA.  David earned his Bachelor's Degree in Music Education in 2009 from Slippery Rock University, where his primary professors were Stephen Hawk, Mechelle Hawk, James Berry, Brian Meixner, and David Glover.

David's primary responsibilities at YSU include assisting the director of the YSU Marching Pride, co-conducting the Basketball Bands, and guest conducting all three of the YSU concert ensembles as well as the Dana Chamber Winds.  He also serves  as webmaster for the YSU Bands Website and regularly updates the YSU Bands Facebook Page.

David is active as a conductor, educator, and performer, and is also a member of the Ohio Music Educators' Association, Pennsylvania Music Educators' Association, the Percussive Arts Society, the Music Education National Conference, and the National Band Association.

 CHAD A. GUESS, GRADUATE CONDUCTING ASSISTANT

Chad A. Guess is beginning his first year at Youngstown State University studying conducting with Dr. Stephen Gage.  He is also Assistant Band Director at Lakeview High School in Cortland, Ohio.   Prior to his appointment at YSU he served as Associate Director of Bands at Lakewood Ranch High School in Bradenton Florida. His responsibilities included directing Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Jazz band II, Guitar, and other small ensembles.  Before moving to Florida, Chad worked in the private sector for a number of years in other career fields.   

In addition to his teaching in Florida, Chad was Director of Bands for Oberlin City Schools in Oberlin, OH.  He taught in all facets of the music program including Bands grades 5-12, third and fourth grade general music, marching band, pep band, small ensembles, and advised Tri-M Music Honor Society.  He has also held positions in Stow-Munroe Falls City Schools in Stow, OH as Associate Band Director, and Coordinator of Instrumental Music for a Home schooled organization based out of Berea, OH. 

Chad received his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from The University of Akron in 2000.  He studied flute with Mr. George Pope and Mrs. Jane Berkner.  He also studied wind conducting with Dr. Michael Golemo and Mr. Robert Jorgensen.  During this time he served as President of the Ohio Collegiate Music Educators Association chapter at The University of Akron.   He was also a student conductor of the Concert Band and was an Assistant Director of a junior flute ensemble through Northeastern Ohio Flute Association. 

Chad has held professional memberships with Ohio Music Education Association, Music Educators National Conference, Northeastern Ohio Flute Association, Florida Music Educators Association, Florida Bandmaster’s Association, and Florida Marching Band Coalition.