Our Band
DR. STEPHEN L. GAGE
Conductor
Stephen L. Gage has served as Professor of Conducting and Director of Bands at Youngstown State University's Dana School of Music since 1993. He holds degrees from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, the Eastman School of Music, and the State University of New York at Fredonia where he also earned the Performers Certificate.
Stephen studied conducting with Harry John Brown, Donald Hunsberger, David Effron, Roy Ernst, James Keene, H. Robert Reynolds, and Paul Vermel. In September 2012, Dr. Gage was appointed as the Conductor of the W. D. Packard Concert Band in Warren. Stephen begins his 21st season as the Edward Zacharias Memorial Chair/Conductor of the Youngstown Symphony Youth Orchestra. In 2008-09, he served as the principal conductor of the Dana Symphony Orchestra. Previous teaching positions include serving as Director of Bands at Emporia State University (KS) and as Director of Bands at Auburn High School (NY).
Professor Gage has written numerous published articles on conducting, rehearsal techniques, and wind band literature, and he is an active wind band and orchestral guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator of international repute. Stephen has guest conducted and cliniced high school honor bands and orchestras as well as a number of university wind bands throughout the United States. His list of guest conducting appearances includes the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra, the U.S. Army Band: “Pershing’s Own”, and the U.S. Army Field Band & Chorus among others. The list also includes experiences in Canada, Ireland, and in 34 states. Dr. Gage has received critical acclaim from a number of distinguished composers, including Joseph Schwanter, Carter Pann, John Mackey, Samuel Adler, Karel Husa, Frank Ticheli, John Mackey, Michael Colgrass, Donald Grantham, D.J. Sparr, Jerry Ascione, and David Gillingham for his interpretation and recordings of their music. Stephen’s professional affiliations include memberships in the CBDNA, NBA, OMEA/MENC, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Kappa Delta Pi, Phi Beta Mu, Sigma Alpha Iota, and Phi Kappa Phi. Dr. Gage has been inducted into the prestigious American Bandmasters and was named as both *Distinguished Professor* and *Faculty Mentor of the Year* at YSU, and he is currently on the NBA Foundation Board of Directors. In 2012, Gage was awarded the *Marty Manning Faculty Mentor Award *at YSU. Stephen and the YSU Wind Ensemble made their Carnegie Hall debut in 2005 and the group has produced seven CD recordings. The sixth CD in this series, "Urban Requiem", was released on the NAXOS International Recording Label in June 2008 and the seventh, "Old Wine In New Bottles" was released by NAXOS in August 2012. Both of these NAXOS recordings have earned praise from many critics and represented composers for their artistically convincing performances and musical quality.
Stephen lives in Poland, Oh with his wife, Stephanie, and two of his three children, Claudia and Brendan; son, Matthew, and granddaughter, Zoey, lives in Austin, TX.