It’s no secret to students at Ohio State that our faculty is of the highest caliber. But it’s nice when the rest of the country and the world takes notice.Steven Glaser, associate professor of piano at the OSU School of Music, was recently selected as an artistic ambassador for the United States government. Glaser is a pianist for the Con Fuoco Duo, a two-member group that also includes clarinetist Robert Walzel. The duo was selected to the Artistic Ambassador Program under the authorization of the United States Information Agency for 1997.’This is an honor for him and an honor for the school,’ said William Conable, head of keyboard and strings in the School of Music. ‘But unfortunately, this is the last year for the Artistic Ambassador Program because funding has been cut.’ The Con Fuoco Duo is one of three groups chosen for the program this year. They competed against more than 70 other wind/piano duos from all over the United States for the position last July. The two have been sent on a concert tour of Africa for six weeks and return in mid-April. The goal of the Artistic Ambassador Program is to introduce foreign audiences to American classical music performed by America’s most talented musicians. For more than 20 years, the program has facilitated exchanges of music and culture by sending American musicians all over the world.The Con Fuoco Duo released its first compact disc, ‘Con Fuoco: Duos for Clarinet and Piano’ in 1996.Glaser joined the OSU School of Music faculty in 1994. He has won several piano competitions throughout his career, including the 1994 New York Chopin International Competition. He has also appeared with orchestras in North America, the Middle East and Far East.Apparently his musical talent isn’t his only positive attribute.’Professor Glaser is a very nice guy and he really cares about his students,’ said Chiann-Yi Liao, piano graduate teaching assistant.’He’s been very supportive of me, both in studies and performances,’ said Alan Ling, a senior majoring in piano performance. ‘He’s almost more like a friend than a teacher.’