Dear Mason Music Family,
Please join us for our Dewberry School of Music outstanding student performances during this busy month of April! We hope to see you this Saturday night, April 9, at the Hylton Performing Arts Center for our University Chorale's highly anticipated Broadway Showcase under the direction of Dr. Lisa Billingham.
April is Jazz Appreciation Month and our Mason students and faculty are celebrating the extraordinary heritage and history of jazz throughout the entire month, as highlighted in this newsletter. Please purchase your tickets now for Grammy Award winning composer, conductor, and Mason Artist in Residence Maria Schneider with the Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra on Saturday, April 16, in Mason's Center for the Arts. Additional April jazz concerts on campus include Mason Jazz Combos, Mason Jazz Vocal Night, Jazz Workshop, and the International Jazz Day concert on April 30.
We invite you to support our Mason Symphonic Band on April 20 and our Mason Wind Symphony on April 28 in Mason's Center for the Arts. The Wind Symphony concert on April 28 features concerto winners Teresa Jenkins, clarinetist, and euphonium duo Michael Baker and Hunter Swanson, under the direction of Professor Mark Camphouse.
Mason Opera is thrilled to present Giacomo Rossini's La Cenerentola on April 29, 30, and May 1st in Harris Theater (Fairfax campus). Mason’s exciting spring opera production will feature the talents of the vocal and instrumental students from the Mason Opera and the Mason Symphony Orchestra.
April promises to be a glorious month of music at Mason--with Guitar Ensemble, Piano Chamber Concerts, guest artist masterclasses and lectures, and our amazing student degree recitals (also live-streamed to our audiences). And now...let the music continue!
Warmest regards,
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Dr. Linda A. Monson, Director
Reva and Sid Dewberry Family School of Music
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Upcoming Ensemble Concerts |
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Chorale Broadway Showcase
Directed by Dr. Lisa Billingham
Saturday, April 9, 8pm
The University Chorale presents a series of Broadway classics for their 2022 showcase at the Hylton Performing Arts Center, featuring favorites from Pippin, Dear Evan Hansen, Hadestown, Beetlejuice, Once On This Island, Mamma Mia!, and more!
Tickets: $20 General Public, $15 Seniors, $5 Students
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Jazz Combos Concert
Directed by Prof. Wade Beach
Wednesday, April 13, 8pm
Free Admission
The Mason Jazz Combos, under the direction of Wade Beach, perform their spring 2022 concert! This concert will feature three groups, Combo 327, Combo 336 and Combo 338 performing original compositions and arrangements of Jazz standards.
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Maria Schneider
with The Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra
Saturday, April 16, 8pm
GRAMMY Award-winning composer, conductor, and Mason Artist-in-Residence Maria Schneider conducts Northern Virginia’s own Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra in a night of cool, expressive jazz. Witness jazz perfection with NEA Jazz Master, Schneider, and the Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra, comprised of the most remarkable jazz performers in the metro region, in this highly anticipated event. “To call Schneider the most important woman in jazz is missing the point...She’s a major composer–period” (TIME Magazine). Founded and led by virtuoso saxophonist Jim Carroll, the Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra is comprised of the most remarkable jazz performers in the metro region.
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Symphonic Band Concert
featuring Samantha Clarke,
Doctoral Conducting Recital
Wednesday, April 20, 8pm
Come watch the Mason Symphonic Band present its spring concert, conducted by doctoral student Samantha Clarke, in her final conducting recital. This concert will include works by Ticheli, Arnold, Parker, and more.
Tickets: $12 General Public, $8 Seniors, $5 Students
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Mason Jazz Vocal Night
Directed by Dr. Darden Purcell
Monday, April 25, 8pm
Join Dr. Darden Purcell, the Mason Jazz Voice Studio, and Mason Jazz Vocal Ensemble for an evening of swinging standards and classic hits from the Great American Songbook! With special guests, Forest Park High School Platinum Vocal Jazz, directed by Lara Brittain.
Tickets: $12 General Public, $8 Seniors, $5 Students
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Piano Chamber Concert
Directed by Dr. Eunae Ko Han
Wednesday, April 27, 6:30pm
Free Admission
Piano Chamber Ensembles under the direction of Dr. Eunae Ko Han perform duo piano and trio piano repertoire they have studied this semester including works by Faure, Brahms, Beethoven, Milhaud, and CPE Bach.
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Jazz Workshop Concert
Directed by Prof. John Kocur
Wednesday, April 27, 8pm
Free Admission
The Jazz Workshop explores the intersection of improvisation and composition in an atypical jazz ensemble. Directed by John Kocur, Jazz Workshop reimagines the sound of the jazz big band by welcoming all instruments and embracing the entire history of jazz, including the present. The Jazz Workshop will perform music by Charles Mingus, Horace Silver, Count Basie, John Coltrane, and others.
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Wind Symphony Concert
Directed by Prof. Mark Camphouse
Thursday, April 28, 8pm
Come watch the Mason Wind Symphony present its spring concert, conducted by Professor Mark Camphouse. This performance will feature the three student winners of the Wind Symphony Solo Competition: Teresa Jenkins (clarinet), Michael Baker (euphonium), and Hunter Swanson (euphonium). This concert also includes premieres by Mason’s own Mark Camphouse, composition student Catherine Fields, and alumnus Kent Baker.
Tickets: $12 General Public, $8 Seniors, $5 Students
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Spring Opera
Giacomo Rossini's La Cenerentola
Friday, April 29, 8pm
Saturday, April 30, 2pm
Sunday, May 1, 2pm
This spring, Mason Opera is delighted to bring Giacomo Rossini’s La Cenerentola to vibrant and sparkling life! Composed in 1817, Rossini’s La Cenerentola, ossia La bontà in trionfo (Cinderella or Goodness Triumphant), is a charming, operatic dramma giocoso in two acts, which premiered at the Teatro Valle in Rome on January 25, 1817, and features the spirited ensembles and florid, bel canto style of singing made famous by Rossini as the leading composer of his day. In addition to the beautiful music and the exquisite sets, costumes, and lighting, Mason’s exciting spring opera production will feature the talents of the vocal and instrumental students from the Mason Opera and the Mason Symphony Orchestra. Bring your friends and family and join us for an evening of exciting artistry as we retell the beautiful Cinderella story, La Cenerentola!
Tickets: $20 General Public, $15 Seniors, $5 Students
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Guitar Ensemble Concert
Directed by Prof. Matt Trkula
Saturday, April 30, 7pm
Free Admission
Join Mason's guitar students for an evening of guitar works by Telemann, Mozart, Mertz, and more.
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International Jazz Day Concert
Saturday, April 30, 8pm
Share the vibrancy and vitality of jazz music with Mason Jazz students and faculty on April 30! International Jazz Day brings together communities, schools, artists, historians, academics, and jazz enthusiasts on all continents to celebrate and learn about jazz and its roots, future, and impact. Groups featured in this concert will be the Mason Jazz Ensemble (Jim Carroll), Mason Jazz Vocal Ensemble (Darden Purcell), District PANTET (Victor Provost), Latin American Ensemble (Dr. Juan Megna) and Braddock Road Brass Band (Graham Breedlove)!
Tickets: $12 General Public, $8 Seniors, $5 Students
Join us in the CFA lobby for a special showcase of posters by students in the Mason School of Art Advanced Typography Class, instructed by Professor Juana Medina Rosas!
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Darden Purcell & Shawn Purcell
LIVE at BLUES ALLEY
Wednesday, April 20, 8pm & 10pm shows
1073 Wisconsin Ave, Washington, DC 20007
Darden Purcell & Shawn Purcell return LIVE to Blues Alley for their first show in two years at Washington DC's most historic Jazz Club, Blues Alley! Joining them will be Eric Harper (bass), Kevin McDonald (drums) and very special guests from Mason Jazz Studies!
Tickets: $25
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Latin American Ensemble
LIVE at BLUES ALLEY
Tuesday, April 26, 8pm
1073 Wisconsin Ave, Washington, DC 20007
The Three-Time Down Beat Award-winning Mason Latin American Ensemble, directed by Dr. Juan Megna will share the stage with the NOVA Big Band, directed by Mason alumnus, Shannon Gunn at Washington DC's historic Jazz club, Blues Alley! Shows are 8pm and 10pm. (Photo by Joyce Boghosian)
Tickets: $25 Adults, $15 Students
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Beyond the Notes:
Scoring the History, Part I
Early Black Film Composer
Presented by Calvin Duane Evans, Jr.
Monday, April 11, 12:30-1:20pm
On Zoom (ID: 970 5008 7375)
The history and impact that people of African descent had and continue to have on the genre of international and domestic film music. Black musicians defined some of the iconic scores and sounds in the history of film, and yet their work often went uncredited by the industry and neglected by scholars of both film and music. In Hollywood, African Americans have served as musical directors, orchestrators, arrangers, and many other distinct roles that are pivotal to the success of many well-known pictures and musical scores. “Scoring The History, Part I” is a presentation that will focus on the impactful presence of Black musicians working as composers, arrangers, and orchestrators in the film industry from the 1920’s to the late 1950’s. Well-known scores composed by Miles Davis and Duke Ellington will be discussed but also newly discovered film music research will be unveiled to possibly establish the new pioneers of Black composers working in the film industry during the infancy of Hollywood. Also, an argument will be made that Black composers over the course of film music history have been type casted to only score for movies that need music that would be considered stereotypically “Black” and therefore has been ignored or denied the opportunity to score for major motion pictures.
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Read more about Calvin Duane Evans Jr. here!
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Alisa Jordheim
Voice Masterclass
Monday, April 11, 5pm
CFA Monson Grand Tier III
Open to current Mason students, faculty, and staff
Join us for a masterclass on Monday, April 11th at 5:00pm-7:00pm with Virginia Opera vocalist Dr. Alisa Jordheim.
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Simone Dinnerstein
Piano Masterclass
Friday, April 22, 10am
CFA Concert Hall
Open to current Mason students, faculty, and staff
Join us for a masterclass on Friday, April 22nd at 10:00am-12:00pm with renowned pianist Simone Dinnerstein.
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Leah Barrick
Flute Masterclass
Friday, April 22, 6pm
deLaski 3001
Open to current Mason students, faculty, and staff
Join us for a masterclass on Friday, April 22nd at 6:00pm-8:00pm with National Symphony Orchestra flautist Leah Arsenault Barrick.
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Spring 2022 Concert Series |
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Upcoming Student Recitals |
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Josias Ventura, Senior Tuba Recital
April 9, 4pm
Hylton Recital Hall
Andrew Sharrock, Master's Composition Recital
April 9, 6pm
Hylton Recital Hall
Brian Bera, Senior Double Bass Recital
April 10, 5pm
Hylton Recital Hall
Terrian Jennings, Senior Vocal Music Education Recital
April 10, 7pm
Hylton Recital Hall
Matthew Hoffmann, Senior Horn Recital
April 16, 12pm
Harris Theatre
Teresa Jenkins, Senior Clarinet Recital
April 16, 2pm
Harris Theatre
Yao Pang, Master's Piano Recital
April 18, 5pm
Harris Theatre
Allan Fogelson, Senior Jazz Guitar Recital
April 18, 6pm
CFA Concert Hall
Faith Zuniga, Doctoral Piano Lecture Recital
April 18, 7pm
Harris Theatre
Ray Mason, Master's Steel Pan Recital
April 18, 8pm
CFA Concert Hall
Sabrina Ramirez, Violin, Non-Degree Recital
April 23, 11am
deLaski 3001
Edward Wisniewski & Ian Takacs, Trumpet, Non-Degree Recital
April 24, 2pm
deLaski 3001
Julie McDonald, Doctoral Flute Recital
April 24, 4pm
deLaski 3001
Joseph Fogleson, Senior Percussion Music Education Recital
April 24, 8pm
deLaski 3001
Ali Rezaeipour, Senior Jazz Guitar Recital
April 29, 6pm
CFA Concert Hall
Dominique Bianco, Senior Vocal Jazz Recital
April 29, 8pm
CFA Concert Hall
All student recitals will occur live and in-person. A live-stream link will be available as the recital date approaches.
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Congratulations to the Mason Vocal Studies student winners in the 2022 Virginia State Virtual NATS Vocal Competition! Our student winners included: Case Hope, Rosemary Wright, Mary Morgan Elder, Nairobi King, and Juliana Cardine (students of Prof. Patricia Miller); Benjamin Goodrich and Nelly Solares (students of Dr. Elissa Alvarez); Jonathan Heins and Rosalind Chan (students of Prof. Kerry Wilkerson); and Grace Elizabeth Arruda (student of Dr. Mira Yang).
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This past Tuesday, April 5, Mason vocal students attended a masterclass with Dr. Patricia Caicedo, a multifacted artist-scholar, soprano, and musicologist who is one of the leading interpreters of Latin American and Iberian Art Song. Each student singer grew noticeably and impressively under her masterful guidance and instruction. |
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