Dear Mason Music Family,

As we approach the season of Thanksgiving, please know how grateful I am to each of you for your support of our wonderful students in the Dewberry School of Music.  We invite you to join us for the music!  We are honored and thrilled to host Renée Fleming, soprano, today at 3 pm in a vocal masterclass and artist roundtable.  

We are excited to have our Mason Jazz Vocal Ensemble featured at VMEA (Virginia Music Educators Association) in Richmond and we are thrilled to have Mason faculty and graduate students presenting their research this weekend. Our VMEA Mason Alumni Reception is this Friday at 6.30 pm...we hope to see many of you there! 

How pleased we are to present our New Sound Collective Composer Concert on Monday evening, November 20.  Check out our many fabulous concerts following our Thanksgiving break, including Healing Arts Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Wind Symphony, and Electronic Composition. 

Please purchase your tickets now for Mason Opera (an evening of Gilbert and Sullivan) on December 1 and 2 at the Hylton Performing Arts Center.  Save the date of Sunday, December 3 for our Winter Festival Holiday Concert featuring our Mason Choirs and Mason Symphony Orchestra. 

How grateful we are for the gift of music and for the opportunity to share this music with you!  

With gratitude,

Dr. Linda A. Monson, Director

Reva and Sid Dewberry Family School of Music

The George Mason University Trumpet Ensemble presents America the Beautiful, in honor and memory of those who have given the ultimate sacrifice defending our nation.  Special thanks to our GMU Trumpet Ensemble, Dr. Dennis Edelbrock, Director/Arranger, and Alexander Gay, producer.

Vocal Masterclass: Renée Fleming, Soprano

Thursday, November 16 | 3 p.m.

Center for the Arts Concert Hall

Free Admission and open to the public

New Sound Collective, Composer Concert

Monday, November 20 | 7 p.m.

Harris Theatre

Free Admission

Healing Arts Ensemble

Wednesday, November 29 | 5 p.m.

Linda Apple Monson Grand Tier

Free Admission and open to the public

Symphonic Band Concert

Wednesday, November 29 | 8 p.m.

Center for the Arts Concert Hall

The Mason Symphonic Band is excited to present its second concert of the 2023-24 performance season presenting traditional and contemporary works for wind bands composed by a variety of composers. This ensemble is comprised of both music majors and non-majors from a myriad of academic disciplines. Conducted by Director of Concert Bands, Dr. William L. Lake, Jr., and Graduate Conducting Student, Mr. Derik Wright, this concert will be both inspiring artistically and entertaining.

Wind Symphony Concert

Thursday, November 30 | 8:00 pm

Center for the Arts Concert Hall

The Mason Wind Symphony concludes the Fall 2023 portion of the 2023-23 season with Edward Elgar’s beautiful yet mysterious composition, Enigma Variations, transcribed for wind band. In this work, Elgar included a theme that he referred to as the “enigma” theme, which he never revealed its title. He offered several clues and hints over the years; however, despite numerous attempts, the mystery melody remains unsolved. The Mason Wind Symphony will complement this work with a premiere of Hilary Purrington’s latest composition, and Florence Price’s Adoration, transcribed for wind band by Sheldon Williams.

Electronic Composition Concert

Friday, December 1 | 8:00 p.m.

deLaski 3001

Free Admission

Mason Opera

December 1-2 | 8:00 p.m.

Hylton Performing Arts Center

The Dewberry School of Music’s Mason Opera presents its Fall 2023 performance. Featuring Mason’s talented vocal students in collaboration with an instrumental chamber ensemble, these live, in-person performances will showcase great vocal skill and dramatic ability and deeply immerse the audience in the action of the story.

Holiday Concert: Winter Festival

Sunday, December 3 | 7:00 p.m.

Center for the Arts Concert Hall

The Mason Choirs and Mason Orchestras are joining forces to celebrate the changing of the seasons! Their upcoming performance, “A Winter Festival”, will feature the University Chorale, University Singers, and Alumni Choir led by Dr. Lisa Billingham, as well as the Mason Concert Orchestra and Mason Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Dr. Soo Han. This pops-style concert will also welcome guest conductors Rita Gigliotti, Olivia Choi, Clem Pearson, and Michael Stern to the stage. The program will conclude with a collaboration between the Mason Choirs and Symphony Orchestra as they perform John Rutter’s “What Sweeter Music” as well as “Magnificat anima mea” from Taylor Scott Davis’ Magnificat. 



This performance will take place in the George Mason University Center for the Arts Concert Hall on Sunday, December 3 at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are available online and at the door. 

String Chamber Ensembles Concert

Tuesday, December 5

5:00 p.m. | Harris Theatre

The American Festival Pops Orchestra (AFPO) presents Holiday Pops: Songs of the Season, a cherished tradition with Hylton Center audiences. This annual concert is sure to warm hearts and spread cheer. Now in his second season, Artistic Director and Conductor Peter Wilson welcomes old and new friends to the stage for a festive, family-friendly program of musical favorites.

This performance is appropriate for all ages.



Our student recitals are available for you to view in person and also via live stream.

https://music.calendar.gmu.edu/performances/student-degree-recitals/

Paige Sharkey has been selected as this year's recipient of the Virginia String Teachers Association's Future Music Educator of the Year Award! Through Paige's hard work, and dedication to the field of String Music Education, so many young students and educators alike have already been positively impacted by her ongoing efforts to reach students.