Dear Mason Music Family,

The Dewberry School of Music is pleased to host the 2025 Virginia State NATS (National Association of Teachers of Singing) Annual Conference and Vocal Auditions/Competition this weekend. You are invited to attend the United State Army Chorus concert (presented in conjunction with the NATS Conference) on Friday, February 21 at 8 pm in Mason's Center for the Arts Concert Hall.   

We hope you will join us for a special "Silver Anniversary" Concert this Sunday, February 23 at 3 pm as Dr. Anna Balakerskaia and I celebrate 25 years of joyous duo-piano performances at Mason! We are very excited to share extraordinary duo-piano works with you.

Please join us for marvelous ensemble concerts on Tuesday February 25 with our Mason Symphonic Band and Wind Symphony and on Monday March 3 with our Mason Symphony Orchestra concert and concerto winners!  

Our Dewberry Faculty Artist Series concludes on Sunday March 2 with two fantastic performances at 3 pm and 7 pm in Harris Theater. Please mark your calendars for our many marvelous events listed throughout this newsletter. 

With gratitude for your enthusiastic support of our Mason Music students and faculty,

Dr. Linda A. Monson, Director

Reva and Sid Dewberry Family School of Music

Dewberry Faculty Artist Series

Monson & Balakerskaia Piano Duo

Silver Anniversary Concert

Sunday, February 23 at 3 pm in Harris Theatre

Join us for a celebratory "Silver Anniversary" concert featuring duo- pianists Dr. Linda Apple Monson and Dr. Anna Balakerskaia this Sunday, February 23 at 3:00 p.m. in Harris Theatre! 

This free concert on February 23 is part of the Dewberry Faculty Artist Series and will feature stunning works of Bach, Brahms, Khachaturian, Gershwin, Piazzolla, and Glenn Smith performed by the Monson & Balakerskaia Piano Duo.

If you love thrilling piano music, this is a concert you won't want to miss! 

National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS)

Virginia Conference February 21-22

United States Army Chorus

Friday, February 21 at 8:00 p.m.

Center for the Arts Concert Hall

Join us for a spectacular evening of world-class music, presented in conjunction with the Virginia Chapter of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) Annual Conference! Featuring the extraordinary United States Army Chorus, this concert promises breathtaking performances, powerful harmonies, and an electrifying atmosphere. This concert is free and open to the public.

Mason Symphonic Band and Wind Symphony

Suite Dreams

Tuesday, February 25 at 8:00 p.m.

Center for the Arts Concert Hall

Join the Mason Symphonic Band and Wind Symphony for "Suite Dreams," a concert inspired by the unique compositional genre of the suite, a musical form that brings together a collection of distinct movements or sections, often reflecting a variety of moods, themes, or styles. This concert explores the versatility and depth of the suite, featuring works that range from lively, rhythmic energy to contemplative, lyrical beauty. Through the performance of compositions that blend diverse cultural influences, historical significance, and creative innovation, the evening offers a vivid showcase of how the suite genre allows composers to express a broad spectrum of emotions and ideas. From powerful overtures to delicate folk melodies, the program invites you to experience the timeless appeal of the suite in a concert that promises to be as dynamic as it is captivating.

Dr. William L. Lake, Jr., Director

Mr. Derik Wright, graduate conductor

$15 General Public | $10 Seniors

$5 Students

Dewberry Faculty Artist Series

Dr. Kathleen Gardiner Mulcahy, clarinet

. Sunday, March 2 at 3 pm in Harris Theatre

The Dewberry Faculty Artist Series showcases the talents of our Dewberry School of Music artist faculty.

This faculty recital presents repertoire that showcases collaboration between Dewberry School of Music faculty members, featuring Dr. Kathleen Gardiner Mulcahy, Director of Woodwinds, (clarinet) and with Dr. Caroline Steiger, Director of Brass (horn) and Dr. Eunae Ko Han, Professor of Collaborative Piano (piano).

This free performance will be held Sunday, March 2 at 3:00 p.m. and will include works by George Rochberg; Dr. Robert Gillam, Director of Music Technology; and Paquito D'Rivera. MUSI 300 credit is offered.

Dewberry Faculty Artist Series

The Songs of Jesse Guessford

with Sally Freeland, voice and guests

The Sunday, March 2 at 7:00 pm in Harris Theatre

This faculty recital is the final performance of the Dewberry Faculty Artist Series for Spring 2025.

The Songs of Dr. Jesse Guessford will be performed by Dr. John Healey, piano with guest vocalist, Sally Freeland on Sunday, March 2 at 7:00 p.m. in Harris Theatre. Dr. Guessford is the Founding Director of Music Technology and Composition at the Dewberry School of Music.

Dr. Guessford's program includes Selections from Queen of Heaven, Mother of the Earth for Voice, Violin fixed and interactive Media and River House, for Voice and Piano.

This performance is free and MUSI 300 credit is offered.

Mason Symphony Orchestra

Concerto Competition Winners

Monday, March 3 at 8:00 p.m.

Center for the Arts Concert Hall

In its third installment of the 24-25 season, the Mason Symphony Orchestra, led by Dr. Soo Han, is excited to launch the spring semester with Water Sings Fire by Mason's own Director of Composition, Dr. Andrea Reinkemeyer. This concert will also feature two of the 2025 Mason Concerto Competition winners: Jennifer Szabo (flute) performing the first movement of Mozart's Flute Concerto in G Major, and Annie French (soprano) performing V'adoro, pupille from Handel's Giulio Cesare. The evening will conclude with Respighi's thrilling Pines of Rome, featuring members of Mason's Green Machine Ensemble.

We hope you'll join us for this celebration of creativity and expression!

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

Concerto Competition Winners

Jennifer Szabo is a dynamic and versatile flutist, performing as an orchestral musician, chamber artist, soloist, and sought-after freelancer in the Washington, D.C., and New York City metro areas. She currently serves as the Principal Piccolo of the Northern Neck Orchestra and previously held the position of Second Flutist with the McLean Symphony. Jennifer's artistry has been recognized in numerous prestigious competitions, including the Young Artist competitions of the New York Flute Club, the U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own,” and the Flute Society of Washington. Most notably, she earned 2nd prize in the 2024 Mid-Atlantic Flute Convention Young Artist Competition. A frequent collaborator with local orchestras, Jennifer regularly performs with esteemed ensembles such as the Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra, Washington Opera Society, American Pops Orchestra, and Opera Comique de Washington. She has also appeared as Principal Flutist during two consecutive seasons as an Adirondack Performing Arts fellow. She has been featured as a soloist with the Adelphi University Symphony Orchestra and the National Concert Band. Additionally, she has served for three years on the Board of Directors for the New York Flute Club.

Jennifer has degrees in Flute Performance from the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College and George Mason University and is currently earning her Doctorate at George Mason University under the tutelage of Dr. Laura Kaufman Mowry. She resides in Alexandria, VA, with her husband, David, first tenor in the U.S. Army Chorus, “Pershing’s Own.” David is also an alumnus of The Dewberry School of Music (MM voice 2022).

Annie French is a soprano in her junior year at George Mason pursuing her bachelors in Vocal Performance. Annie is a student of Professor Patricia Miller, Director of Vocal Studies at Mason. She has most recently competed in the Mid-Atlantic Regional National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) competition in Greenville, SC. She also advanced to the second round of the Classical Singer Voice Competition held in Washington, DC. She has performed scenes as Marcelline in Fidelio, Countess in Le Nozze di Figaro, Hanna in Die Lustige Witwe, and Fiordiligi in Cosi fan tutte. She is also currently preparing for her first full role as Gertrude Stein in Ricky Ian Gordon's Opera 27. 

Annie French has been chosen to serve as a Mason Music Ambassador. Along with her passion for music, Annie is a well-travelled military child, and spent two years living abroad in Bayern, Germany from 2012 to 2014. After graduation, she hopes to get her Masters in Vocal Performance and begin her career singing with operatic choirs around the world.

Music in the Library "The Spheres Project"

Tuesday, March 4 at 4:30 p.m.

Fenwick Lobby

Experience a musical collaboration between Mason string faculty and students, embracing both the differences and commonalities of our lived experiences featuring

Prof. June Huang and Suyuan Carrasco, violins; Alyssa Cabassa, viola; Prof. Gerald Fowkes, cello.

The Spheres Project will perform Excerpts from String Quartet in A Major, No. 9 by Sergei Taneyev and String Quartet No. 2, Op. 92 “Kabardinian” by Sergei Prokofiev in Fenwick Lobby on Tuesday, March 4 at 4:30 p.m. This performance is free and open to the public.

Percussion Ensemble Concert

Thursday, March 6 at 8:00 p.m.

PAB deLaski 3001

The Percussion Ensemble proudly presents their Spring Concert "Percussion Chamber Music Spanning 1936-2019" on Thursday, March 6 at 8:00 p.m. in the deLaski 3001 Performing Arts Building. This free concert will showcase the many voices in Percussion writing. You'll hear Lion's Roars, Quijada (Jawbone of a Donkey!), Conch Shell, and a whole array of amazing sounds.

Dewberry School of Music

Spring 2025 Concert Series

Departmental Recitals and Events

Student Kudos

Mason Music Students perform at

 Mason Arts Elevated

Kudos to the Dewberry School of Music students who had the honor of performing at Mason Arts Elevated, a College of Visual and Performing Arts event held in the Center for the Arts Concert Hall. Performers included Annette Lee, violin, GaYoung Lee, collaborative piano, and Kai Shi, piano.

Alumni Kudos

Michael Secchi recognized as

FCPS CARES of the Month Recipient

Kudos to Michael Secchi who was recognized as Fairfax County Public Schools CARES Employee of the Month for Region Two.

"Mr. Secchi is a kind-hearted teacher who strives to instill a love of musical learning in his band students. My son, who practices trombone at home, was offered a chance to learn and play the tuba at school. He's been struggling a bit with it and feeling very down, so Mr. Secchi offered an extra before-school, one-on-one jam session to make sure my son not only was able to get back on track with playing the tuba but also to find his joy in music again. Kudos to Mr. Secchi for his help!" -a Woodburn ES parent

Michael Secchi

Woodburn ES Band Teacher