Dear Mason Music Family,

Please purchase your tickets now for our stunning Mason Opera production of Johann Strauss' Die Fledermaus with our Mason Symphony Orchestra tomorrow, Saturday at 8 pm and this Sunday at 3 pm in the beautifully renovated Harris Theater on our Fairfax campus. Professor Patricia Miller, Director-Producer and Dr. Gene Galvin, Mason Opera Stage Director lead the dramatic action with a marvelous group of singers, conducted by Dr. Soo Han, Director of Orchestral Studies. Mason Opera dedicates the performances of Die Fledermaus to the memory of Prof. John Aler, Artistic Director of Mason Opera 2012-2022. 

It is not too late to purchase your tickets for a thrilling International Jazz Day Concert this Sunday at 7 pm in the Center for the Arts Concert Hall featuring our Mason Jazz Ensemble, Latin American Ensemble, Mason Steel Pan Ensemble, Mason Jazz Vocal Ensemble, and special guests, "Positive Vibrations Youth Steel Orchestra."  

We are pleased to also present two free non-ticketed concerts this weekend in deLaski 3001 including New Sound Collective tonight (Friday) at 8 pm in a concert featuring eleven premieres by Mason student composers!  The Mason Guitar Ensemble performs tomorrow (Saturday) at 7 pm in deLaski 3001.  

We invite you to purchase your tickets now for our University Chamber Singers Concert on Tuesday, May 2 featuring Gabriel Fauré's Choral Requiem, Pavane, and Cantique de Jean Racine. Conducted by Dr. Lisa Billingham, this is a not to be missed choral concert.  We are eagerly anticipating our Mason Symphony Orchestra Concerto Winners Concert on Sunday, May 7 with works by Beethoven, Séjourné, Prokofiev, Strauss, Jr., and Márquez featuring concerto soloists Hao Zhang, piano; Elliot Godinez, marimba; and Yechan Enoch Lim, piano.  

Many additional chamber concerts, student degree recitals, and student departmental recitals are highlighted throughout this newsletter.  Please come support our Dewberry School of Music students and enjoy magnificent music by our talented artists.  

Join us on Thursday, May 4 at 5:30 pm for Dr. Glenn Smith's Retirement Ceremony and Reception in the Center for the Arts Concert Hall and Lobby. Our Mason Wind Symphony, conducted by Dr. William Lake, Jr., will perform "Release the Balloons" composed by Glenn Smith. We invite you to join us as we thank and honor our devoted colleague, Dr. Glenn Smith, for 47 years of teaching, artistry, and service at George Mason University.

A memorial service/celebration of life will be held for Professor John Aler on Wednesday, May 17 at 3 pm in Harris Theater. Join together with us to honor his memory, his gift for music, and his compassionate and joyous heart.

May the music continue to inspire and uplift,

Dr. Linda A. Monson, Director

Reva and Sid Dewberry Family School of Music

Retirement Ceremony & Reception for Dr. Glenn Smith, composer

Thursday, May 4 at 5:30 p.m.

Center for the Arts Concert Hall and Lobby

Join us as we celebrate Dr. Glenn Smith who has dedicated 47 years of teaching, artistry, and service at George Mason University. We are thrilled to feature our Mason Wind Symphony performing Dr. Smith's composition, "Release the Balloons" as part of the Retirement Celebration at 5:30 pm in the Center for the Arts.  

On Wednesday, May 17 we will be Celebrating the Life of our beloved Professor John Aler here at Mason. The memorial service will held at 3:00 p.m. in Harris Theatre on George Mason University's Fairfax Campus. Join together with us to honor his memory, his gift for music, and his compassionate and joyous heart.

Mason Opera presents Johann Strauss II's "Die Fledermaus" in our beautifully renovated Harris Theatre on Mason's Fairfax Campus on April 29 at 8 p.m. and April 30 at 3 p.m.

Since its 1874 premiere at the Theater an der Wien in Vienna, Austria, this tale of comical antics and mistaken identities has delighted audiences all over the world, remaining a constant favorite across the decades. This semi-staged presentation will see the interior of Mason’s own Harris Theatre transformed to evoke the glorious style of Theater an der Wien, with the Mason Symphony Orchestra performing live with the talented young artists of Mason Opera with a special appearance by Dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts, Rick Davis, serving as the production’s Narrator. Dr. Gene Galvin, Mason Opera Stage Director, and Professor Patricia Miller, Director-Producer lead the dramatic action with a spirited cast of talented vocalists, conducted by Dr. Soo Han, Director of Orchestral Studies. Set and Lighting Design is by Sean Cox, Set Production by Carrie Cox and Costume Design by Laurel Dunayer. Join us and experience this limited run of this production for an enchanting and exciting evening to remember!

Tickets: $20 adult; $15 senior; $5 youth (through Grade 12)

INTERNATIONAL JAZZ DAY 

Sunday, April 30 at 7:00 p.m. 

Center for the Arts Concert Hall 

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. School of Music ensembles performing will be the Mason Jazz Ensemble (director, Jim Carroll), Latin American Ensemble (director, Juan Megna), Mason Steel Pan Ensemble (director, Victor Provost), Mason Jazz Vocal Ensemble (director, Darden Purcell) and very special guests, "Positive Vibrations Youth Steel Orchestra" (directors, Khandeya Sheppard, Domenic Lewis and Ronald Lee Jr.)! 

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

University Chamber Singers Concert

Featuring Gabriel Fauré's Choral Requiem

Tuesday, May 2 at 8:00 p.m.

Center for the Arts Concert Hall

The University Chamber Singers will present choral works from French composer Gabriel Fauré. The works presented will include his Requiem, Pavane, and the popular Cantique de Jean Racine. Fauré’s music is known for its luscious treatment of melody and skillful use of modulations and chromaticism in his harmonic style. Student soloists Juliana Cardine, Sammy Flamenco, and Daniel Olenick will be featured in the Requiem. Join us for an elegant evening of choral music, Tuesday, May 2 at 8 p.m. in the Center for the Performing Arts.



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

Mason Symphony Orchestra Concerto Winners Concert

Sunday, May 7 at 7 p.m.

Center for the Arts Concert Hall

Directed by Dr. Soo Han with Guest Conductor Olivia Jihyun Choi featuring works by Beethoven, Prokofiev, Strauss Jr., Séjourné, and Márquez with Concerto Competition soloists Elliot Moises Godinez (marimba), Hao Zhang (pianist), and Enoch Yechan Lim (pianist).

New Sound Collective Spring Student Composer Concert

Friday, April 28 at 8:00 p.m.

deLaski 3001

Join New Sound Collective tonight, Friday April 28 for our Spring Student Composer Concert! This concert features eleven premieres by Mason student composers.

Free and Open to the Public

The Fairfax Muster

Saturday, April 29 at 2:00 p.m.

Veterans Amphitheater in Fairfax, VA

Enjoy an afternoon of music with the George Mason University Irish Ensemble, 8th Green Machine Regiment Band, Patriots Fife and Drum Corps along with Monumental City Fife and Drum Corps, The Fort Myer Fire Department Fife and Drum Corps and Colonial Williamsburg Fife and Drum Core.

Join us for the Guitar Ensemble Concert, directed by Prof. Matt Trkula, on Saturday, April 29 at 7 pm in deLaski 3001.

Noche Fantastica – Mason Community Arts Academy Music Faculty Showcase

Sunday, April 30, 7:00 pm

Old Town Hall

FREE and open to the public

Join Mason Community Arts Academy for a fantastic night of music performed by a vibrant selection of our wonderful Academy music faculty. The diverse program will highlight fun and relatable contemporary instrumental chamber music, featuring creative combinations of piano, flute, saxophone, guitar, cello, oboe, and more.

Healing Arts Ensemble Spring Recital

Wednesday, May 3 at 5:00 p.m. 

Harris Amphitheatre outside Harris Theatre

*Rain Check Location: Choral Room

Experience original conceptual compositions created and performed with healing, uplifting, intention. Allow your mind and body the opportunity to unwind and center with meditative soundscapes using crystal bowls, exotic percussion instruments, voice, and bells tones. MUSI 300 Credit offered.

STEEL PAN ENSEMBLE | LATIN AMERICAN ENSEMBLE | BRADDOCK ROAD BRASS BAND 

May 3, 2023, 8pm 

deLaski Performing Arts Building, 3001 

Free and Open to the Public

MUSI 300 Credit 

The Steel Pan Ensemble, directed by Victor Provost, Braddock Road Brass Band, directed by Graham Breedlove, and Latin American Ensemble, directed by Juan Megna, perform their spring concert. These specialty groups, within the Jazz Studies department, allow students to focus on genre-specific music from around the world. From traditional brass bands of New Orleans, to musics of the Caribbean, including Calypso and Soka, to the Brazilian sounds of Bossa Nova and Samba, these ensembles showcase the beauty and breadth of global artistry.  

Vocal Art Song Recital

Thursday, May 4 at 3:00 p.m.

Monson Grand Tier III

Center for the Arts

Join us for the Vocal Art Song Recital featuring songs by Schubert, Schumann, Fauré, and Debussy. MUSI 300 Credit offered.

Mason Electronic Music Ensemble Concert

Friday, May 5 at 8 pm

deLaski Performing Arts Building 3001

The Mason Electronic Music Ensemble will be presenting an eclectic concert of video game soundtracks, EDM, improvisation, and pop music. Students will be performing on a variety of electronic instruments including synthesizers, computers, electric guitars, and DJ equipment.

Dewberry School of Music Honors Recital

Saturday, May 13 at 7:00 p.m.

Harris Theatre

Free Admission

An auditioned recital featuring extraordinary student performers as soloists and chamber musicians.

Saturday, April 29 at 11 AM

Elliott Moises Godinez, Percussion

Doctoral Recital

deLaski 3001

Saturday, April 29 at 1 PM

Jack Howley, Piano

Non-Degree Recital

deLaski 3001

Sunday, April 30 at 6 PM

Catherine Fields, Composition

Senior Recital

deLaski 3001

Sunday, May 7 at 12 PM

Paul Bratcher, Jazz Piano

Doctoral Recital

Harris Theatre

Sunday, May 7 at 3 PM

Michael Huffman, Jazz Trumpet

Doctoral Recital

Harris Theatre

Monday, May 8 at 5 PM

Anh Nguyen, Piano

Doctoral Recital

Harris Theatre

Monday, May 8 at 7 PM

Megan Slay, Piano

Doctoral Recital

Harris Theatre

Tuesday, May 9 at 5 PM

Yao Pang, Piano

Doctoral Recital

Harris Theatre

Tuesday, May 9 at 7 PM

Yiran He, Piano

Doctoral Recital

Harris Theatre

Tuesday, May 9 at 8 PM

J.P. Allgood, Composition

Master's Recital

deLaski 3001

Wednesday, May 10 at 8 PM

Rui Tang, Piano

Doctoral Recital

Harris Theatre

Friday, May 12 at 8 PM

Madeline Manaker, Voice

Master's Recital

Harris Theatre

Sunday, May 14 at 5 PM

Hao Zhang, Piano

Doctoral Recital

Harris Theatre

Monday, May 15 at 5 PM

Daniela Acosta Rodriguez, Piano

Master's Recital

Harris Theatre

Monday, May 15 at 7 PM

Yue Wu, Piano

Doctoral Recital

Harris Theatre

Tuesday, May 16 at 7:00 PM

John Sutherland Earle

Piano Recital

Harris Theatre

All student recitals are both live in-person performances

and live-streamed.

MUSI 300 Credit given for attendance

Friday, April 28 at 12:30 PM Flute Departmental in deLaski 3001

Monday, May 1 at 12:30 PM Strings Departmental in Jazz Room

Wednesday, May 3 at 12:30 PM Trumpet Departmental in deLaski 3001

All departmental recitals are free, open to the public, and will occur in-person.

MUSI 300 Credit given for attendance

Congratulations to Prof. Victor Provost who was awarded a highly competitive, university-wide Adjunct Faculty Teaching Excellence Award by the Peter Stearns Center for Teaching and Learning. Prof. Provost was honored at the Teaching Excellence Ceremony on April 17 and presented a plaque by Provost Mark Ginsberg (pictured above). 

GaYoung Lee, a doctoral piano student of Dr. Linda A. Monson, performed at the Kennedy Center on April 26 with members of the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra. She played Johannes Brahms - Sonata No. 1 in G Major, Op. 78, “Regensonate”, for Violin and Piano with Najin Kim (Assistant Principal Second Violin of the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra/Washington National Opera Orchestra). She also performed Gustav Mahler- Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen from Rückert Lieder and Luigi Cherubini - Ah, nos peines serront communes from Medea with Joseph Grimmer (Principal Bassoon of the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra/Washington National Opera Orchestra) and Hannah Shea (mezzo-soprano, Cafritz Young Artist at Washington National Opera (WNO).