Paschal Yao Younge
Professor of Music Education
Professor of Music- Ohio University; Author, Multicultural Music Educator, Multi-talented Musician, African Musical Arts Specialist, Ghanaian Traditional Music, and Dance Historian & Executive/ Music Director - Azaguno, Inc.
Short Bio
Dr. Paschal Yao Younge is the Ohio Arts Council, 2020 Ohio Heritage Fellowship Awardee and Carnegie African Diaspora Fellow, 2019. The sights and sounds of Africa fill the air. Dr. Younge, a multi-talented and interdisciplinary musician, scholar, composer, author, and performer, presents world music and dance forms internationally, focusing on African and African Diaspora styles. Dr. Younge, Professor of Music at Ohio University, is the Executive and Music Director of Azaguno, Inc., a multi-ethnic ensemble based in Athens, Ohio, that focuses on research, preservation, and performance of African, African American, Caribbean, and Latin American Music and Dance. www.azaguno.com
Paschal was born at Dzodze, a village in the Volta Region of Ghana, to Augustine Kwasigah Younge and Catherine Younge, both musicians. His parents introduced him to western and traditional Ghanaian musical instruments at an early age of 3. It was no surprise that by age 8, Paschal had learned to play the organ and violin, accompanied the church choir with traditional African instruments, and participated in community cultural groups. Throughout his life, Paschal has continued studying and teaching other western musical instruments such as the trumpet, horn, trombone, tuba, alto saxophone, and clarinet, and various traditional Ghanaian musical types and instruments. He further expands his understanding and knowledge of African cultural heritage through drumming, dancing, and research.
As a specialist in African choral and brass band music, a clinician in other sub-Saharan African musical arts, world percussion, and advocate of intercultural, interdisciplinary, and multicultural music, Younge has presented and performed at several festivals, concerts, and conferences internationally in over 45 States/Provinces in the US/Canada and 25 countries internationally. Before coming to Ohio University, Younge taught at WVU. He served as Director of the World Music Center and at the University of Ghana as Principal Music Instructor and director of several ensembles, including brass bands, choirs, and other instrumental groups.
Educational Background:
1998 • EdD. Curriculum and Instruction. West Virginia University, Dissertation Topic: Enhancing Global Understanding Through Traditional African Music and Dance: A Multicultural Music Education Curriculum for American Middle Schools
1995 • Master of Music, Music Education, and West Virginia University Research Project: Adowa music and dance of the Akan of Ghana
1989 • Advanced Studies in Ethnomusicology - Special Diploma in African Music
University of Ghana, Legon, Distinction. Research Area: Atrikpui: War Music
and Dance of the Southern Ewes of Ghana
1983 • Professional Music Education Diploma PMED, Second Class Upper
Division, Distinction in Practical Teaching, National Academy of Music,
Winneba, Ghana
Areas of Expertise
• Multicultural and Global Education
• Intercultural and Multicultural Music Education Curricula Development
• Interdisciplinary Musical Arts of Africa
• African Brass Band Music
• African and World Choral Music
• Musical Traditions of Ghana: History, Performance, and Teaching
• Diversity and the Arts
• World Music and Dance Consultancy
• Non-western Percussion Pedagogy
• Performance Practices of Black Atlantic Music
• Creativity, Dialogue, and Interaction in World Art Cultures: sub-Saharan Africa, Black America, and Asia
https://www.ohio.edu/experts/expert/paschal-yao-younge
Publication Highlights
i. Music and Dance Traditions of Ghana: History, Performance and Teaching: Forewords by Daniel Avorgbedor, Komla Amoaku and Francis Nii-Yartey, Print ISBN: 978-0-7864-4992-7; ii. Dance-Drumming Ceremonies of Ghana: a 10-DVD set of Field Recordings of Ghana's Four Main Ethnic Groups, by Paschal Yao Younge. Publisher, Dance-Drumming.com; iii. "Ghana: Rhythms of the People": Traditional music and dance of the Ewe, Dagbamba, Fante, and Ga People, published under the Music of the Earth Series - CD by Multicultural Media, MCM 2000; iv. "Mano Efe Dusime," Choral work for Treble Voices, published by World Music Press, Danbury, 2002; v. Yeve: Ritual Music and Dance of a Secret Society, MSFS Volume One, published by Prizm Media Group, 2002 and vi. "Four Choruses from Ghana," Treble Voices with Percussion Accompaniment, published under Henry Leck Choral Series by Colla Voce Music, Inc., 2003.
Forthcoming Publications
- I AM A GHANAIAN CULTURAL AMBASSADOR
A Manual for Traditional Drumming and Dance Groups of Ghana - TRADITIONAL AFRICAN MUSIC IS A TOTAL WORK OF ART
The Interdisciplinary Musical Arts of Ghana - AUGUSTINE KWASIGA YOUNGE
The Pioneer in Revitalization and Africanization of the Catholic Liturgy and Mass in Ghana