Greg Yasinitsky

Flattening the curve with jazz

The WSU Jazz Big Band isn’t letting the global pandemic get in the way of delivering excellent big band entertainment. The award-winning group, directed by Regents Professor Greg Yasinitsky, put technology to the test to produce a video of the aptly titled composition, “Flatten That Curve.” In addition to the quality of the music, what […]

Professor composes soundtrack for new film

“The Cross-Up” — a short comedy film about a mafia-like character receiving a visit from God to turn his life around — features music composed and performed by WSU’s Greg Yasinitsky, Regents professor of music, saxophone, composition, and jazz studies. The entire process for creating the soundtrack took approximately a year, Yasinitsky said. This involved […]

Music professor wins American Prize for jazz composition

Greg Yasinitsky, Regents professor and director of the WSU School of Music is the winner of the 2017-18 The American Prize in Composition in the pops/light music division. Yasinitsky’s composition “Jazz Concerto for Piano and Orchestra” was selected over applications from across the United States. It is a “third stream work which blends classical music […]

Music educator, choral director Luethi to succeed Yasinitsky as music school director

Dean Luethi, associate professor and coordinator of music education in the School of Music, will begin serving as director of the vibrant and diverse school on April 1. Greg Yasinitsky, Regents professor and school director since 2011, will resume his faculty position and award-winning work in the jazz studies program, teaching saxophone, composition, arranging, and […]

WSU music director, Greg Yasinitsky, nominated for Pulitzer Prize

Greg Yasinitsky, Regents professor and director of the WSU School of Music, has been nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in Music for his composition Jazz Concerto for Piano and Orchestra. “There is almost no way to describe it,” Yasinitsky said of his nomination by two independent musicians. “For me, it’s the biggest, most important musical […]

Arts and music academic programs continue to thrive at WSU

The recent announcement that WSU will no longer subsidize a performing arts program that brings traveling concerts and other performances to the Pullman community has led to confusion regarding the impact of the decision on the School of Music and other arts programs across the University. The discontinuation of WSU Performing Arts in 2018 will not impact […]

Ensemble premieres ‘Drive’ in honor of WSU president

PULLMAN, Wash. — The Washington State University Symphonic Wind Ensemble premiered “Drive” at a campus concert April 13, music written to honor the appointment of Kirk Schulz as WSU’s 11th president. Greg Yasinitsky, Regents professor and director of the WSU School of Music, composed “Drive” to capture the optimism of the university community about the […]

Jazz fest draws high school students

Area schools, musicians hold day of music, learning Rich golden notes and glints of similarly colored instruments lit up Bryan Hall Theatre at WSU Pullman on Wednesday during the School of Music’s Jazz Festival Gala Concert. The day-long music festival has taken place each autumn for at least the past 22 years, according to Greg […]

WSU jazz studies earns honors at Hampton jazz festival

The WSU jazz studies program in the School of Music was recognized at the recent 2014 Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival at the University of Idaho. WSU saxophonist Michado Mijiga was selected from soloists on the festival’s College Day to perform at Hamp’s Club that evening. He also competed and was chosen as a featured soloist […]

Yasinitsky inducted into state music educators hall of fame

Greg Yasinitsky, Regents professor and director of the WSU School of Music, recently was inducted into the Washington Music Educators Hall of Fame, part of the national organization. The honor recognizes exceptional support, inspiration and contribution to the growth and development of music education, both public and private, in the state. Yasinitsky is also recipient […]