Dear Mason Music Family,

How thrilled we are to welcome American Composer Ricky Ian Gordon to our Fairfax campus April 14-17 as Artist in Residence! Mason Opera presents "27", an opera by Ricky Ian Gordon, from April 25-27 in Mason's Harris Theater. Please purchase your tickets now for this memorable Mason Opera production, accompanied by our Mason Symphony Orchestra.

Our Mason Choirs are performing at the Music Center at Strathmore this Sunday, April 6, at 5 pm in a concert featuring youth voices and the power of global harmony. Dr. Lisa Billingham will conduct John Rutter's deeply moving Mass of the Children. Our Mason Choirs are also performing on the Fairfax Campus on April 11-12 in a Chorale Broadway Showcase: A Choral Tribute to Disney Magic.  

Congratulations to Dr. Darden Purcell and the Mason Jazz Vocal Ensemble for their featured presentation at the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) national conference 2025 held in Dallas, Texas last month. You have the opportunity to hear the Mason Jazz Vocal Ensemble on Monday, April 14 in Mason's Center for the Arts.  

Join us for Legends and Dreams presented by the Symphonic Band on April 16. Mark your calendars now for Mason's Wind Symphony, directed by Dr. William Lake, Jr., on April 24 in Mason's Center for the Arts: Niagara Falls-- A Journey through Power, Reflection, and Motion.  

April is Jazz Appreciation Month and we invite you to join us for many outstanding jazz concerts including the Jazz Workshop concert on April 9 in Harris Theater and our International Jazz Day Concert on April 30 at the Hylton Performing Arts Center. 

April is an intensely busy month for the Dewberry School of Music as we feature our students in performance throughout every area of the school.  Please come experience the diverse array of musical offerings that are highlighted throughout this newsletter. Thank you for your ongoing support of our marvelous Mason Music artists. 

May the music continue to inspire and uplift!

Dr. Linda A. Monson, Director

Reva and Sid Dewberry Family School of Music

Students and Mason Arts’ audiences have a rare opportunity to experience the music and creative insights of one of America’s most successful and prolific composers of art song, opera, and musical theater, Ricky Ian Gordon. 

Gordon will be an artist-in-residence with Mason Opera, within George Mason University's Reva and Sid Dewberry Family School of Music from April 14-17, 2025.

During this week-long residency, Gordon will work with the school’s voice, musical theater, and composition students in class and individual sessions, many of which will be open to the public. Students will work with him on pieces from his extensive catalog of vocal music, and Mason Opera will present the first university production of his stunning opera “27”.

Mason Choirs

Voices United: A Celebration of Global Harmony

Sunday, April 6 at 5:00 p.m.

Music Center at Strathmore

Experience an extraordinary evening of music at the Music Center at Strathmore. The performance celebrates youth voices and the power of global harmony. This concert will feature the Strathmore Children's Chorus, the University Chorale and University Singers of George Mason University and Washington Adventist University, and the New England Youth Symphony. Together, they will present John Rutter's deeply moving Mass of the Children, a piece that blends the innocence of children's voices with the rich tones of adult singers conducted by Dr. Lisa Billingham, Director of Choral Activities at Geoge Mason University.

Derick Etale, the founder and director of the Angaza Choir, who perform literature from various African countries will lead performances of vibrant African choral music with the University Singers of George Mason University and Strathmore Children's Chorus. This blend of classical and traditional sounds promises to be a joyous and uplifting experience. 

This performance will be at the Music Center at Strathmore (5301 Tuckerman Lane North Bethesda, Maryland, 20852. Tickets are $25 for general public.

Spring 2025 Concert Series

Mason Jazz Workshop Concert

Changing of the Guard

Wednesday, April 9 at 8:00 p.m.

Harris Theatre

The Jazz Workshop explores the intersection of improvisation and composition in a medium-size jazz ensemble. The group’s name pays tribute to the adventurous ensembles led by jazz greats Charles Mingus and George Russell. Enjoy a night of modern jazz music written for ensemble configurations other than the typical “big band." This program will focus on developments in jazz since the 1960s, such as modality, modern grooves, novel orchestrations, and contemporary harmonies. You will hear compositions by innovative jazz composers Kamasi Washington, Laila Biali, Freddie Hubbard, Chick Corea, and Wayne Shorter in up-to-date arrangements by Bob Mintzer, Dan Pugach, and Will Clements. Come experience a taste of 21st-century jazz by the next generation of jazz musicians in the “Changing of the Guard.” This concert is free and open to the public.

Chorale Broadway Showcase:

A Choral Tribute to Disney Magic

Friday, April 11 at 8:00 p.m.

Saturday, April 12 at 2:00 p.m.

Center for the Arts Concert Hall

Join the University Chorale for our annual Broadway Showcase under the direction of Dr. Lisa Billingham, Director of Choral Activities. Immerse yourself in the enchanting world of Disney classics and the vibrant spirit of Broadway. This concert features everything from heartwarming ballads to exhilarating showstoppers from Frozen, The Princess and the Frog, The Greatest Showman, Lion King, Aladdin, and more! 

Experience the magic of timeless Disney melodies, reimagined with the dynamic energy of Broadway, as our University Chorale delivers a performance that promises to entertain audiences of all ages.

Tickets: $20 General Public, $15 Seniors, $5 Students

Mason Jazz Vocal Night

Monday, April 14 at 8:00 p.m.

Center for the Arts Concert Hall

Join Dr. Darden Purcell, the Mason Jazz Voice Studio and the DOWNBEAT award-winning Mason Jazz Vocal Ensemble for an evening of swinging standards, Latin American songs and classic hits from the Great American Songbook. Featuring our rhythm section of Paul Bratcher (piano), Nareg Boghosian (guitar), Ponenya Min (bass), Clay Cottis (drums) and Raven Wilson (percussion)! 

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

Mason Symphonic Band Concert

Wednesday, April 16 at 8:00 p.m.

Center for the Arts Concert Hall

Join the Mason Symphonic Band for an unforgettable concert featuring a diverse and emotionally charged program. Highlights include Carol Brittin Chambers' Fearless, a bold and invigorating piece that captures the essence of courage and determination, and Brian Balmages' How Sweet the Sound, which offers a beautiful and uplifting interpretation of timeless hymns. Experience Adrian B. Simms' Lucid Dreams, an evocative journey that explores the boundary between dreams and reality, and Robert Sheldon's A Longford Legend, a captivating suite inspired by the rich folklore and musical heritage of Ireland.

Rounding out the program is Claude T. Smith's Anthem for Winds and Percussion, a dynamic and stirring composition that showcases the full power and brilliance of the wind ensemble. This program promises an intense and captivating exploration of sound and emotion. Conducted by Dr. William L. Lake, Jr., Director of Bands and Mr. Derik Wright, graduate conductor.

FREE Admission.

Mason Wind Symphony Concert

Niagara Falls: A Journey Through Power,

Reflection and Motion

Thursday, April 24 at 8:00 p.m.

Center for the Arts Concert Hall

Embark on a musical journey through both natural and emotional forces at Niagara Falls, a program capturing the boundless energy of human expression and the unstoppable power of nature.

The evening begins with "Shoutout" by Roshanne Etezady, an exhilarating fanfare that bursts onto the stage with vibrant energy. Built around a rhythmic motif that mimics the articulation of its title, this piece celebrates motion, community, and momentum, setting an electrifying tone for the concert.

Vittorio Giannini’s Symphony No. 3 follows, a masterwork that bridges neoclassical tradition with the expressive depth of the modern wind ensemble. Rich in sweeping lyricism and intricate motivic development, the symphony moves through moments of elegance, intensity, and brilliance, culminating in a dazzling finale that demands virtuosity from every musician.

John Mackey’s "Some Treasures Are Heavy with Human Tears" shifts the program’s tone to one of deep introspection. Written in response to the 2019 Dayton, Ohio tragedy, this poignant work is not a literal retelling but rather an abstract meditation on grief, loss, and resilience. Through delicate oscillations, haunting melodies, and a powerful emotional climax, Mackey’s music offers a moving reflection on how we process and cope with unimaginable sorrow.

Closing the concert is "Niagara Falls" by Michael Daugherty, a whirlwind of sound inspired by the iconic waterfall’s sheer force and its surrounding tourist spectacle. This cinematic work surges with pulsing rhythms, gothic chromaticism, and blues-infused counterpoint, propelling listeners on a thrilling musical ride that mirrors the power and grandeur of the falls themselves.

Join us for an unforgettable evening as we traverse landscapes of energy, introspection, and unrelenting motion at Niagara Falls—a concert that surges with life.

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

Mason Opera presents "27",

An Opera by Ricky Ian Gordon

Friday, April 25 at 8:00 p.m.

Saturday, April 26 at 2:00 and 8:00 p.m.

Sunday, April 27 at 3:00 p.m.

Harris Theatre

SAVE THE DATE! Mason Opera presents "27" An Opera by American Composer Ricky Ian Gordon from April 25-27. "American Writer, Gertrude Stein and her wife, Alice B. Toklas weather two wars in their famed Paris at 27 Rue de Fleurus. As the paintings sing, we meet Picasso, Matisse, Hemingway, Fitzgerald, and others among the great artists and writers that Stein hosted and mentored." We are thrilled to announce that composer Ricky Ian Gordan will be joining us for the performances! This is a performance you won't want to miss!

Professor Patricia Miller, Producer; Professor Richard Leech, Director;

Dr. Soo Han, Music Director

Tickets: $20 General public, $15 Seniors, and $5 Students

International Jazz Day Concert

Wednesday, April 30 at 8:00 p.m.

Hylton Performing Arts Center

Share the vibrancy and vitality of jazz music with Mason Jazz students and faculty on April 30! George Mason University, Jazz Studies celebrates International Jazz Day with performances by the Mason Jazz Ensemble (Jim Carroll) and The Jazz Workshop (John Kocur).

The Mason Jazz Ensemble, directed by Jim Carroll, offers opportunities for improvisation, performance, recording, writing, leadership and service. This ensemble has performed at venues including the Shanghai Concert Hall (Beijing, China), Center for the Arts, Hylton Performing Arts Center, Jazz4Justice™ concerts, Blues Alley, Chantilly Jazz Festival, Law Day and the Jazz Education Network/ JENerations Jazz Festival (New Orleans, LA and Orlando, FL).

The Jazz Workshop explores the intersection of improvisation and composition in an atypical jazz ensemble. The Jazz Workshop big band, directed by John Kocur, performs music by Charles Mingus, Horace Silver, Billie Holiday, John Coltrane, Thad Jones, Benny Carter, Mike Tomaro, Alan Baylock, Duke Ellington, Buddy Rich, Burt Bacharach, Count Basie, Neal Hefti and many others.

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

Mason Symphony Orchestra

Concerto Competition Winners

Monday, May 5 at 8:00 p.m.

Center for the Arts Concert Hall

The Mason Orchestras are proud to present the final performance of the 24-25 season. The Mason Concert Orchestra will perform a variety of works ranging from a classical era symphony composed by Joseph Bologne to a Swedish contemporary vocal tune learned by rote. The Mason Symphony Orchestra will feature three winners of the 2025 Mason Concerto Competition: Bolun Zhang (piano) will perform the third movement of Saint-Saëns' Piano Concerto No. 2 in G minor; Nathan Plapinger (euphonium) will perform the first movement of Cosma's Euphonium Concerto; and Kai Shi (piano) will perform the first movement of Ravel's Piano Concerto in G Major.

The MSO will conclude the season with the brilliantly entertaining Capriccio Espangol by Rimsky-Korsakov. We're excited to share one more evening celebrating the hard work of our students to conclude the 24-25 academic year!

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

Concerto Competition Winners for May 5 Concert

Bolun Zhang, pianist, is pursuing the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Piano Performance in the Dewberry School of Music at George Mason University, under the tutelage of Dr. Linda Apple Monson, International Steinway Artist. Bolun serves as a Graduate Assistant in Collaborative Piano at Mason, where he works with many singers and instrumentalists throughout the Dewberry School. He has enjoyed many solo piano performance opportunities at Mason, including the Grand Piano Celebration, Arts by George, Dewberry School of Music Honors Recital, and Friends of Music at Mason Musicales. Bolun is particularly thrilled to perform as soloist with the Mason Symphony Orchestra in Saint-Saens Piano Concerto No. 2 in G Minor. 

Bolun earned his master’s degree in piano performance in the Boyer College of Music at Temple University, Philadelphia. He was invited to participate in an interview on Channel 6 ABC as a graduate student of Dr. Charles Abramovic, Chair of Keyboard Studies at Temple University. A native of Inner Mongolia, Bolun earned his bachelor’s degree in piano performance at Tianjin Conservatory of Music. He won second prize in the Hong Kong International Piano Invitation Competition, second prize in the Macao-Asia Pacific Youth Piano Competition, and second prize in the International Piano/Voice Point Festival Competition in Westminster Choir College in recent years. 

Nathaniel Plapinger, euphoniumist, is pursuing a master's degree in performance at the Dewberry School of Music of George Mason University, where he is a student of Dr. Mark Jenkins, Principal Euphonium of the United States Marine Band. Nate's most recent accomplishments include winning the GMU Orchestra Concerto Competition, semifinalist at the U.S. Marine Band audition, finalist at the U.S. Coast Guard Band audition, and finalist at the U.S. Army Field Band audition.

A native of Portland, Oregon, Nate earned his bachelor’s degree at The University of North Texas, where he studied with Dr. Brian Bowman, former euphonium soloist with the Air Force Band, Navy Band, and Bicentennial Band. His other influential teachers include Fred Sautter, Dr. Patrick Nyren, Thomas Ruedi, and Timothy Heichelheim. In his final year at UNT, he was the youngest semifinalist at the 2016 Army Ceremonial Band audition. Following his graduation from UNT, Nate was a euphoniumist in the U.S. Navy Fleet Bands, where he was stationed in Naples, Italy, and Newport Rhode Island. During his time in the U.S. Navy Fleet Band, he performed in over 15 countries.

Kai Shi, pianist, is a second-year Doctor of Musical Arts candidate in Piano Performance at George Mason University, where he is privileged to be taught and mentored by Dr. Linda Apple Monson, Steinway Artist and Director of the Dewberry School of Music. Kai also serves as a Collaborative Piano Graduate Assistant at Mason, working closely with vocalists and instrumentalists in the Dewberry School of Music. Kai holds a Master of Music degree in Piano Performance from the University of South Florida and a Bachelor’s degree in Piano Performance from Shandong Normal University.

During his time at George Mason University, he has performed at prestigious venues and events such as the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage, the Chinese Embassy Spring Festival Gala, the Grand Piano Celebration in Mason's Center for the Arts, 2024 Dewberry School of Music Honors Recital, Arts by George, and musicales for the Friends of Music at Mason. He has also participated in master classes with Christopher O’Riley, Jeffrey Siegel, Brian Ganz, and Jeremy Denk while at Mason. He is particularly thankful to have the opportunity to perform Ravel's Piano Concerto in G Major with the Mason Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Dr. Soo Han. 

Kai’s dedication and talent have earned him numerous honors and awards, including recognition in the Shandong Province Piano Competition, the Qilu Instruments Competition, and the Prime Golden Bell Awards in Shandong Province. His piano performances have taken him to multiple cities in Asia and throughout the United States, showcasing his solo piano and collaborative piano artistry to diverse audiences.

Honors Recital

Solo and Chamber Student Artists

Saturday, May 10 at 8:00 p.m.

The Honors Recital is a premier recital opportunity for Dewberry School of Music exceptional student performers in the vocal, instrumental, and piano areas. These outstanding student artists (soloists and chamber musicians) have been selected for this prestigious Honors Recital by audition.

Free and open to the public.

MUSI 300 Credit offered.

Small Ensemble Concerts

New Sound Collective Concert

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

deLaski 3001PAB

The New Sound Collective will present premiere performances of solo through full ensemble works by student composers. Dr. Jennifer Jolley's Flexible Ensemble Piece "Ash" will be conducted by Derik Wright, MM Conducting (2025).

The ensemble specializes in the performance of music by living composers and is directed by Dr. Andrea Reinkemeyer, Director of Composition. This concert is free and open to the public. MUSI 300 credit offered.

Mason Jazz Combos

Tuesday, April 15 at 8:00 p.m.

Center for the Arts Concert Hall

Combo Italia/Combo 336 (directed by Dr. Shawn Purcell, Professor of Jazz Guitar) and the Braddock Road Brass Band (directed by Graham Breedlove, Professor of Jazz Trumpet) perform their spring 2025 concert on

Tuesday, April 15 at 8:00 p.m. in the Center for the Arts Concert Hall.

This performance features three Mason Jazz Ensembles with instrumental and vocal Mason Music students and is free and

open to the public.

MUSI 300 Credit offered.

Brass and Wind Chamber Concert

Thursday, April 17 at 8:00 p.m.

deLaski 3001 PAB

This performance will feature a woodwind trio, a reed trio, clarinet quartet, sax quartet along with the Trumpet Ensemble and George Mason Tuba Euphonium Ensemble.

This concert is on Thursday, April 17 at 8:00 p.m. in deLaski Performing Arts Building Room 3001 and is free and open to the public. MUSI 300 credit offered.

Healing Arts Ensemble Program

Monday, April 21 at 8:00 p.m.

deLaski 3001 PAB

The Center for the Advancement in Well-Being will join us in collaboration for an hour long sound journey featuring original student compositions by: Gage Jones, Santhoshi Kavali, Amelia Morrow, Sonja Phillips-Thomas, Anna Stock, and Yang Yuzheng. The Healing Arts Ensemble is directed by Rita Gigliotti. Free and Open to the Public. MUSI 300 credit.

Spheres of Engagement Collaboration Premiere

Tuesday, April 22 at 7:00 p.m.

Fenwick Library Reading Room

New student compositions, inspired by the Special Collections Research Center, performed by the spheres project, a collaborative music ensemble

The Spheres of Engagement is coordinated by Prof. June Huang, Violin and Director of the Spheres Project, Prof. Cindy Badilla-Meléndez, Music, Films Studies, Video Collections Librarian, and Dr. Andrea Reinkemeyer, Director of Composition. Reception to follow. Free admission, MUSI 300 credit. Images sourced from SCRC, GMU.

Mason Jazz Combos Concert

Wednesday, April 23 at 8:00 p.m.

Center for the Arts Concert Hall



Combo 338/Combo 217 (directed by Wade Beach) and the Steel Pan Ensemble (directed by Victor Provost) perform their spring 2025 concert!

Wednesday, April 23 at 8:00 p.m. in the Center for the Arts Concert Hall.

This performance is free and open to the public. MUSI 300 Credit offered.

Guitar Ensemble Concert

Sunday, April 27 at 2:00 p.m.

deLaski 3001

Our Dewberry School of Music Guitar Ensemble Concert will be on Sunday, April 27 at 2:00 p.m. featuring Mason Music Guitar Students. The Guitar Ensemble is directed by Prof. Matt Trkula, Professor of Classical Guitar. Free and Open to the Public. MUSI 300 credit offered.

Community Events

Flute Day

Saturday, April 5 at 9:00 a.m. - 2:15 p.m.

deLaski Performing Arts Building

Flute Day will feature guest artist Aaron Goldman, Principal flute of the National Symphony Orchestra. This event is free and all ages are welcome. Participants should bring their flutes.

Participants will have the opportunity to experience:

• Masterclasses and performances with Aaron Goldman, Dr. Laura Kaufman Mowry, and Professor Thomas Wible
• Flute exhibition with the opportunity to try new flutes and piccolos
• Opportunity for participants to play in a chamber music group with other flutists of similar levels
• Free mini-lesson with Dr. Mowry or Prof. Wible

Registration will remain OPEN up until April 5th at 9:00am, however, masterclass slots are full.

Mason Jazz Vocal Ensemble

Monday, April 21 at 7:00 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.

Blues Alley, Washington D.C.

The Mason Jazz Vocal Ensemble, directed by Darden Purcell, performs at Washington DC historic Jazz club, BLUES ALLEY as part of the Ella Fitzgerald Vocal Competition educational week! The performances are on Monday, April 21 at 7:00 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. at Blues Alley and tickets are available to the public.

Mason Jazz Ensemble

Tuesday, April 29 at 7:00 p.m.

Blues Alley, Washington D.C.

The Mason Jazz Ensemble, directed by Jim Carroll, performs at Washington D.C. historic Jazz club, BLUES ALLEY as part of the Big Band Jam educational week! The performance is on Tuesday, April 29 at 7:00 p.m. at Blues Alley and tickets are available to the public.

George Mason University Tuba/Euphonium and Mason Percussion Ensembles:

Saturday, April 26 at 8:00 p.m.

Stacy C. Sherwood Community Center

The George Mason University Tuba Euphonium and Percussion Ensembles collaboration will feature music from the World War II Era. Including: Hollywood influential tunes, ragtime, swing, patriotic, and two special selections--one by a prisoner of war and another by a new age composer.

This performance is part of Fairfax Spotlight on the Arts.

Free and open to the public.

Dewberry School of Music

Spring 2025 Concert Series

Departmental Recitals and Events

Student Kudos

Mason Jazz Vocal Ensemble performs at the

American Choral Directors Association

National Conference

Congratulations to Dr. Darden Purcell and the Mason Jazz Vocal Ensemble for their presentation "Shaping the Sound: Attaining Authenticity in your Jazz Vocal Ensemble" at the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) national conference 2025 held in Dallas, TX. The group flew to Dallas on Thursday, March 20th, presented on Friday, March 21st at the beautiful Moody Performance Hall auditorium to an enthusiastic audience and returned on Saturday, March 22nd. Traveling with the group to run sound at the conference was Center for the Arts Audio Supervisor, Billy Kessinger and Dr. Shawn Purcell. Dr. Lisa Billingham, George Mason University Director of Choral Studies was the presider. They are grateful to George Mason University OSCAR for the generous funding of this important trip, representing the Reva and Sid Dewberry Family School of Music at the national level.