Dear Mason Music Family,

We look forward to sharing marvelous music featuring our students, faculty, and guest artists. We invite you to join us next week for the Big Band Showdown on Monday March 27 and the Percussion Ensemble Concert on Wednesday March 29. Our Dewberry Faculty Artist Series concludes with Dr. Anna Balakerskaia and Friends on Sunday April 2 at 7 pm at the Hylton Recital Hall in Manassas with beautiful trios by Brahms and Schumann.  

We are pleased to present Carlos Marín Rayo, Spanish pianist, on Tuesday, April 4 at 8 pm in the Center for the Arts Concert Hall, Fairfax campus, with solo piano repertoire of Albéniz, Granados, Soler, Guerrero, and Schumann. Dewberry School of Music Guest Artist-in-Residence Carlos Marín Rayo will also present a Lecture on Monday, April 3 on Isaac Albéniz - In Pursuit of Transcendence and a piano masterclass on Wednesday, April 5. These events are free and open to the public. 

Please take note of the many outstanding concerts, including the Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra on April 8, Mason Concert Orchestra on April 11, University Chorale Broadway Showcase on April 15, Tuba-Euphonium Ensemble on April 16, Jazz Workshop on April 17, Mason Symphonic Band on April 18, and Mason Jazz Vocal Ensemble at Blues Alley on April 19. You are also invited to join us on campus for our Student Departmental Recitals, masterclasses, and student degree recitals.  

Be sure to check out the Kudos section of this newsletter. Five of our vocalists have recently been chosen as winners of the Mid-Atlantic Regional NATS (National Association of Teachers of Singing) Competition. Two of our strings students have been selected as winners of the NSO Summer Music Institute. Three of our music technology students have received the NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) President's Innovation Award. Congratulations to all!   

Join us at Mason during this busy spring concert season and enjoy the magnificent music!

Warm regards,

Dr. Linda A. Monson, Director

Reva and Sid Dewberry Family School of Music

BIG BAND SHOWDOWN

March 27 at 8 pm

Center for the Arts Concert Hall

Tickets: $12 General Public, $8 Seniors, $5 Students

Join the Mason Jazz Ensemble (directed by Prof. Jim Carroll) and the Jazz Workshop (directed by Prof. John Kocur) for an evening that celebrates the hot sounds and swinging beats of the Big Band era!

Mason Percussion Ensemble Concert Atmospheres

Directed by Jonathan Bisesi and Kanako Chikami

Wednesday, March 29 at 8:00 p.m.

deLaski Performing Arts Building | Room 3001

Mason Percussion Group presents their Spring Concert Atmospheres. The concert will include percussive works that represent the varying landscapes from around the world featuring works by John Luther Adams, Guo Wenjing, Ellen Reid, John Cage, Cecilia Livingston, Emmanuel Séjourné and Edgard Varèse.

Concert is Free and Open to the Public

Dewberry Faculty Artist Series:

Anna Balakerskaia and Friends



Anna Balakerskaia, piano

Ricardo Cyncynates, violin

Claire Eichorn, clarinet

Works by Brahms and Schumann

Sunday, April 2 at 7 pm in Hylton Recital Hall in Manassas

Free Admission

Come see Spanish pianist Carlos Marín Rayo perform at the Center for the Arts at George Mason University on Tuesday, April 4th. His program will feature the repertoire of Antonio Soler, Miguel Bustamante Guerrero, Enric Granados, Isaac Albéniz, and Robert Schumann. This performance is free and open to the public.

Carlos Marín Rayo will also give a Lecture-Recital on on Monday, April 3 at 12:30-1:30 pm in deLaski 3001 titled Isaac Albéniz - In Pursuit of Transcendence: A performance study focusing on the use of regional folklore and his Romantic aspirations in his piano music.

Carlos Marín Rayo will also present a Piano Master class on Wednesday, April 5 at 11:30 am-1:30 pm in the Choral Room A323 deLaski Performing Arts Building.

METROPOLITAN JAZZ ORCHESTRA with BOBBY FLOYD

April 8, 2023, 8 pm 

Center for the Arts 

Head to the Center for the Arts for a swinging evening of jazz with Northern Virginia’s own Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra, featuring keyboardist/organist Bobby Floyd on the Hammond organ and led by Founder, Artistic Director, and virtuoso saxophonist Jim Carroll. The organ has played a distinctive, albeit niche, part of jazz since the early days, and under Floyd’s gifted fingers, you’ll never think of the instrument in quite the same light again. Floyd’s long and illustrious career as a jazz keyboardist/organist has led him to tour with Ray Charles, Rusty Bryant, Jeff Tyzik, Chris Howes, Byron Stripling, and Sarah Morrow. In addition to playing in his hometown with the Columbus Jazz Orchestra and the Columbus Symphony, he has traveled the continent, performing as a featured soloist with the Rochester Philharmonic, Vancouver Symphony, Edmonton Symphony, Detroit Symphony, and many others. 

Come experience the Mason Concert Orchestra on April 11, conducted by Dr. Soo Han and Olivia Choi, DMA Conducting Candidate.

The Mason University Chorale presents its annual Broadway Showcase: Broadway Lights on Saturday, April 15 at 2 and 8 pm. University Chorale will perform at the stunning Hylton Performing Arts Center in Manassas directed by Dr. Lisa Billingham.

Chorale will present inspiring music from Sondheim's Sweeney Todd, Motown the Musical and will feature small group and solo moments with music from Damn Yankees, Young Frankenstein, Next to Normal, Newsies, and many more! Join us for an uplifting Broadway experience with students from across Mason's campus.

Tickets: $20 Adult, $15 Senior, $5 Students

GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY TUBA-EUPHONIUM ENSEMBLE

Sunday, April 16 at 1:30 pm

Fairlington United Methodist Church

Free and Open to the Public

The George Mason University Tuba and Euphonium Ensemble has been in existence for over 15 years. It draws from a diversified student population of music majors, music minors, and non-majors. They have performed at five regional conferences, and six international conferences as well as appearances on and off the local Mason campus. They were recently recognized by composer Kevin Day on his piece “Ignition” as his group of choice for their exhilarating video of the music. The group remains as a front runner of the low brass department for recruiting students to enjoy and play chamber music and is co-directed by Mason Adjunct Tuba Professors Dr. David Porter and Dr. Mark Jenkins. 

MASON JAZZ WORKSHOP 

Monday, April 17, 2023 at 8 pm 

Harris Theatre 

Free and Open to the Public 

The Jazz Workshop, directed by John Kocur, explores the intersection of improvisation and composition in the traditions of the great dance and studio jazz bands. The concert will feature compositions by jazz musicians such as Duke Ellington, Charles Mingus, Bobby Watson, Freddie Hubbard, and Michael Phillip Mossman.

Come experience the Mason Symphonic Band Concert on Tuesday, April 18 at 8 pm in the beautiful Center for the Arts Concert Hall.

DARDEN PURCELL & THE MASON JAZZ VOCAL ENSEMBLE at BLUES ALLEY

April 19, 2023, 7 pm & 9 pm shows 

BLUES ALLEY 

The Mason Jazz Vocal Jazz Ensemble, directed by Darden Purcell, performs for the first time at America's oldest, continuing Jazz supper club, Blues Alley! Blues Alley has showcased internationally renowned artists such as Dizzy Gillespie, Sarah Vaughan, Nancy Wilson, Kenny Garrett, Maynard Ferguson, the Yellowjackets and more. Located in the heart of historic Georgetown in an 18th century red brick carriage house, Blues Alley offers its patrons a unique ambiance, reminiscent of the jazz clubs of the 1920's and 30's.

Saturday, March 25 at 5 PM

Gregory Freeman, Trombone

Doctoral Lecture Recital*

deLaski 3001

Sunday, March 26 at 8 PM

Trip Nguyen, Clarinet

Non-Degree Recital*

deLaski 3001

Tuesday, March 28 at 8 PM

Charlie Murdock, Jazz Voice

Senior Recital*

Concert Hall

Saturday, April 1 at 12 PM

Carlos Figueroa Dasilva, Cello

Master's Recital*

Hylton Recital Hall

Saturday, April 1 at 6 PM

Juliana Cardine, Voice

Junior Recital*

Hylton Recital Hall

Wednesday, April 12 at 5 PM

Evelyn Curenton, Composition

Master's Recital*

Harris Theatre

Wednesday April 12 at 7 PM

Xinyu Zhang, Piano

Doctoral Lecture Recital*

Harris Theatre

Wednesday, April 12 at 8 PM

Tim Despard, Vocal Jazz

Non-Degree Recital*

deLaski 3001

Friday, April 14 at 5 PM

Emma Stewart, Percussion

Junior Recital*

Harris Theatre

Friday, April 14 at 7 PM

Martha Molinaro, Flute

Junior Recital*

Harris Theatre

Saturday, April 15 at 12 PM

Calvin Evans, Jr., Composition

Doctoral Recital*

Harris Theatre

Saturday, April 15 at 1 PM

Olivia Sudweeks, Flute

Junior Recital*

deLaski 3001

Saturday, April 15 at 6 PM

Hunter Swanson, Euphonium

Senior Recital*

Harris Theatre

All student recitals are both live in-person performances and live-streamed.

* indicates MUSI 300 Credit given for attendance

Additional Departmental Student Recitals

Friday, April 7 at 12:30 PM Vocal Departmental in deLaski 3001

Wednesday, April 12 at 12:30 PM Trombone & Horn Departmental in deLaski 3001

Wednesday, April 12 at 12:30 PM Saxophone Departmental in Harris Theatre

Friday, April 14 at 12:30 PM Strings Departmental in deLaski 3001

Friday, April 14 at 12:30 PM Vocal Departmental in Harris Theatre

Upcoming Mason Jazz Mondays

Monday, March 27 at 12:30 PM Latin American Ensemble in Jazz Room

Monday, April 3 at 12:30 PM Steel Pan Ensemble in Jazz Room

Monday, April 10 at 12:30 PM Jazz Workshop in Jazz Room

All departmental recitals are free and open to the public.

Departmental recitals will occur in-person. 

Congratulations to Mason Vocal Studies Student Winners who competed in the 2023 Mid-Atlantic Regional Competition of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) at Liberty University March 10 and 11.

Annette Lee, violin and Alyssa Cabassa, viola (pictured left to right) were selected to be participants in the 2023 National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) Summer Music Institute. Selection for this tuition-free program is nationally competitive. Annette and Alyssa will have the opportunity to take lessons, play in master classes and chamber ensembles, and participate in side-by-side orchestra rehearsals with NSO members.

On April 13–15, 2023, three students from the Mason Music Technology program will travel to Anaheim, CA to attend the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) show, the annual global music products trade show. This year, Ben Freedman, An Tran, and Will Zuniga (pictured above) have the opportunity to attend professional development sessions, concerts, industry panels, networking sessions and visit more than 7,000 music products, pro-audio, and live event technology exhibits. For many students, attending the NAMM show is the first step in the door to a career in the music products industry.

In addition, Ben Freedman, An Tran, and Will Zuniga will be awarded the NAMM President’s Innovation Award which honors college students who demonstrate excellence in the field of music technology and who are interested in pursuing a career in the music industry.

Article Published in "The George" on March 7, 2023 

By Lakin Raybuck and Emily Schneider

Photo Credit Will Martinez

"After hearing Come Sunday by composer Omar Thomas, Dr. William L. Lake, Jr. dreamed of bringing this work to life with movement, bringing together the George Mason University Bands and the School of Dance. Working on such a project would not only expand his students' musical vocabulary but also create an authentic and expansive cultural experience for the Mason community. Associate Professor of Dance, Lawrence M. Jackson, had similar experiences, growing up in “the southern Black church, a very charismatic church” and reflected on his own upbringing and research into African diasporic dance forms. This collaboration came to life onstage in the Center for the Arts on Mason’s Fairfax Campus on February 28."

Prof. June Huang (top left) and Dr. Angela Ammerman (bottom left) presented several sessions at the American String Teachers Association National Conference in Florida in March. Dr. Ammerman accepted on behalf of VASTA (Virginia String Teacher Association), the Most Improved Chapter Award. Mason string students assisted with the presentations.

Dr. Bryan Stenson (DMA 2022) presented his doctoral research at The American Choral Directors Association National Conference (ACDA) in Cincinnati, Ohio in February 2023. His doctoral dissertation was "The Treatment of Japanese Traditional Music in the Choral Works Ko Matsushita." Dr. Stenson is currently an Assistant Professor at Columbia College in Columbia, Missouri.

Brandon Showell (BA English 2014 and BA Music 2014) is a Singer/Songwriter and is currently a finalist in the Best R&B/Soul Artist category for the 35th Annual Wammie Awards that will be held in Washington, DC on April 1, 2023. He already has won two Wammie Awards for Best Pop Artist and Best Pop Album. Before this current nomination, Brandon was a contestant on NBC’s “The Voice” Season 13 and joined Adam Levine’s team.