Dear Mason Music Family,

We are eagerly anticipating the spectacular CVPA Arts event tomorrow evening, September 28, Arts by George!   A variety of Dewberry School of Music student showcase performances will be featured in the deLaski performing arts building, including Percussion Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, Opera, and Piano. Additionally, classical guitarists will be heard in Horizon Hall and the Green Machine Ensembles will be performing outdoors.  Do not miss this awesome arts event highlighting our College of Visual and Performing Arts amazing student artists in dance, music, theater, film, game design, visual arts, and arts management! 

We hope you will join us for our Dewberry School of Music Fall 2024 Concert Series.  We are thrilled to present our Mason Concert Bands with U.S. Army "Pershing's Own" on Tuesday, October 1. We are eagerly anticipating our Mason Symphony Orchestra's performance of Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 5 on Monday October 7. We are looking forward to our Mason Choirs concert on Tuesday, October 8, including folk songs from Britain to Brazil, and works by Lauridsen, Rheinberger, Billy Joel, and others. 

Please purchase your tickets for the Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra on Saturday, October 5 at 8:00 p.m. at the Hylton Performing Arts Center featuring Jeff Hamilton. Faculty from the Differdange School of Music in Luxembourg team up with the George Mason University Jazz faculty for an unforgettable evening of Jazz standards on Thursday, October 10 at 8 pm for a free concert in the Center for the Arts. 

Congratulations to Professor John Kocur and Dr. Charles Ciorba, faculty members from the Dewberry School of Music, who have released a new book, Straight from the Source, that delves into the art of jazz improvisation.

We invite you to join us for concerts and events during the month of October as we share the amazing artistry of our Dewberry School of Music students and faculty. 

Warmest regards,

Dr. Linda A. Monson, Director

Reva and Sid Dewberry Family School of Music

ARTS by George!

Saturday, September 28 at 5:00 p.m.

The annual ARTS by George! is this Saturday, September 28, 2024! This annual benefit event supports student scholarships for George Mason University’s College of Visual and Performing Arts, Mason Community Arts Academy, Green Machine Ensembles, and the Great Performances at Mason season at the Center for the Arts. ARTS by George! has raised more than $4.1 million since it began in 2006. The evening begins by showcasing the remarkable talents of Mason Arts students throughout our studio and performance spaces while enjoying a buffet dinner and culminates with an exciting performance by Lea Salonga in the Center for the Arts Concert Hall, followed by a dessert reception and champagne toast onstage with the artist.

Mason Bands and U.S. Army Band "Pershing's Own"

Tuesday, October 1 at 8:00 p.m.

Join the Mason Bands for an unforgettable evening as we kick off the 2024-25 performance season with a spectacular concert! The Mason Symphonic Band and Mason Wind Symphony are proud to present their inaugural concert, featuring a special guest—the United States Army Band "Pershing's Own."

The Mason Bands' featured repertoire includes Viet Cuong, a Vietnamese-American composer’s “Sound and Smoke,” William Schuman’s transcription of Charles Ives’ “Variations on America” in celebration of his 150^th birthday, and Canadian composer Jonathan Dagenais’ “Mouvement Frénétique.

This concert marks the second appearance of the United States Army Band in collaboration with the Mason Band program.  The United States Army Band "Pershing's Own" is one of America's most prestigious and distinguished military ensembles. The concert ends with the Mason Bands and the United States Army Band performing side-by-side as an encore.

Mason Symphony Orchestra

Monday, October 7 at 8:00 p.m.

The Mason Symphony Orchestra proudly invites you to their first concert of the Fall 2024 season! Conducted by Dr. Soo Han and Michael Stern, Tchaikovsky's legendary Symphony No. 5 stands alone as the sole centerpiece of the evening, depicting humankind's futile struggle with and ultimate triumph over fate. We hope you'll join us for an incredible performance!

This performance will take place in the George Mason University Center for the Arts Concert Hall on Monday, October 7 at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are available online and at the door. Additional information and tickets are available at music.calendar.gmu.edu. 

$15 General, $10 Senior, $5 Student 

Mason Choirs Concert

Tuesday, October 8 at 8:00 p.m.

Join the Mason Choirs, led by Guest Conductor Thomas Colohan, in their annual fall concert on Tuesday, October 8 at 8:00 p.m. in the Center for the Arts featuring fun folk songs from Britain to Brazil, popular American favorites, and choral classics. The performance will include works by Lauridsen, Rheinberger, Billy Joel, and others.

Tickets: $15 General Public, $10 Seniors, $5 Students

Mason Jazz Faculty/Luxembourg Concert

Friday, October 10 at 8:00 p.m.

Mason Jazz Faculty/Luxembourg

Thursday, October 10 at 8:00 p.m.

Center for the Arts

Free & Open to the Public

MUSI 300

Faculty from the Differdange School of Music in Luxembourg team up with the George Mason University Jazz faculty for an unforgettable evening of Jazz standards and beyond. This is the culmination of a cultural exchange between these two institutions of higher learning, celebrating music education and performance. 

Dewberry School of Music

Fall 2024 Concert Series

Faculty Kudos

Professor John Kocur and Dr. Charles Ciorba released a new Jazz Improvisation book,

 "Straight from the Source"

Professor John Kocur and Dr. Charles Ciorba, faculty members from the Reva and Sid Dewberry Family School of Music, have released a new book that delves into the art of jazz improvisation. This new publication is unique in that most improvisation methods on the market lack the cultural context of the eras, artists, and communities from which this music comes. “Straight from the Source” offers an authentic example of how to learn music theory, jazz history, and culture while digging into the music one tune at a time. The authors suggest that great jazz recordings and the tunes themselves should be the primary source material for the beginning and novice improviser. Straight from the Source: A Tune-Based Approach to Learning Jazz Improvisation offers a comprehensive guide for all instrumentalists to learn how to improvise.

Departmental Recitals and Events

Masterclass With Jeff Hamilton, Jazz

Friday, October 4 at 3:00 p.m.

Jeff Hamilton Masterclass

Friday, October 4 at 3:00 p.m. deLaski Performing Arts Building Jazz Room

MUSI 300 Credit

Free & Open to the Public

Jeff Hamilton is a versatile, in demand, and has an enviable career where he has shared the stage with Oscar Peterson, Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Brown, Diana Krall, Woody Herman, Monty Alexandrer, Frank Sinatra, Natalie Cole, and More. Equally at home playing in small groups as well as larger ensembles, Hamilton co-leads the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra and Jeff Hamilton Trio.

See Jeff perform with the Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra on Saturday, October 5 at 8:00 p.m. at the Hylton Performing Arts Center.

Differdange School of Music Panel Discussion:

Jazz in Europe - From Luxembourg's Point of View

Wednesday, October 9 at 12:30 p.m.

Harris Theatre 

Free and Open to the Public 

MUSI 300 Credit - Open to ALL music students

The Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg is a tiny country in the heart of Europe, easily overseen due to its small size and population (670,000 inhabitants). But it also boasts a flourishing music scene as well as a very central location, keeping it well connected with Germany, France, Belgium and the Netherlands. Learn about the experience of living in Central Europe as a musician: the pros and cons, the music, the backgrounds, the anecdotes, expectation versus reality… all told from the perspective of the Differdange music school faculty, whose members have studied jazz in European cities like Brussels, Amsterdam or others and are now based in Luxembourg.

Announcing new Recruitment and Auditions Coordinator,

Christina Ortiz

Christina Ortiz is the newly appointed Recruitment and Auditions Coordinator of the Dewberry School of Music of George Mason University. Christina earned her MM degree in Vocal Performance from George Mason University and a BM degree from Texas State University in Music Education with a Kodály certification.

After graduating from Texas State University, Christina worked as a music teacher and founded an after-school choral program. She received an Innovative Teaching Grant from Dripping Springs Independent School District. 

Originally from Austin, Texas, Christina moved to Virginia in 2019 to pursue an MM in Vocal Performance at George Mason University. After graduation, Christina worked as a private voice and piano teacher in Northern Virginia, a role she passionately continues today.

Christina is a resident artist for The Garden Party Collective and enjoys creating art in many different mediums. She is also a member of the Northern Virginia based band Everyday People.