Notes from the Director
Linda A. Monson
Dear School of Music Family,

What a wonderful and busy September we have been enjoying here at Mason's School of Music! I was thrilled to see so many of our Friends at our Grand Piano Celebration on September 17th and Arts by George on September 24th. We are incredibly proud of our music students who performed so beautifully at these events. We are excited about our upcoming Alumni Weekend and are thrilled to present our School of Music Faculty Artist Showcase Recital on Sunday, October 15th with an alumni reception following the concert. We hope you will join us for our many wonderful upcoming events highlighted throughout this newsletter.

Warm regards,

Dr. Linda Apple Mo nson
Director, School of Music
lmonson@gmu.edu
A Note from the Dean
Dear Friends,

Thank you so much for joining us at the Grand Piano Celebration Concert! It was a thrill to share an afternoon of beautiful music with you as well as to celebrate Sid and Reva Dewberry's transformational gift to the School of Music.  Read more about this incredible gift here.  We are so grateful to the Dewberrys for their investment in the next generation of musicians! We invite you to view the inspirational video above to learn more about Sid Dewberry and his relationship to the School of Music.

 
Thank you for supporting our students!

Sincerely,

Rick Davis
Dean, College of Visual and Performing Arts
George Mason University
Welcome Back Alumni!
2017 Mason Alumni Weekend
Thursday, Oct. 12 - Sunday, Oct. 15

Haven't been on campus in a while? Thinking about reconnecting with your Mason friends? Come to Alumni Weekend! 

Tour campus, get together at the Green and Gold Bash, or attend any number of alumni events being held at various locations.
Don't Miss Our
Alumni Weekend Concert!
Support our School of Music faculty in our annual Faculty Artist Showcase Recital . Afterwards, School of Music alumni are invited to join faculty in a reception. Catch up with professors you had as students and meet new ones as well!
Upcoming School of Music Events
Beyond the Notes Lecture Series
Led by Dr. Charles Ciorba, Director of Music Education
Music Education in the United States: Perceptions from the K-12 Educational Community

Monday, October 2 at 12:30 PM
de Laski Performing Arts Bldg 3001
Free & open to the public!
Mason Jazz Ensemble
Jazz Master Class
Mason Symphonic Band &
Percussion Ensemble Concert
Wednesday, October 4
Harris Theatre | 8:00PM
Under the direction of Professors John Kilkenny & Denton Stokes
Free admission
Repertoire:
John Philip Sousa - El Capitan
Steven Snowden - A Man with a Gun Lives Here
John Mackey - Sheltering Sky
Nathan Daughtrey - Duo for Two Marimbas
Therry de May - Musique de Table 
Percy Fletcher/Karrick - Vanity Fair
Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra
Saturday, October 7 at 8:00 PM
Hylton Performing Arts Center's Merchant Hall
Led by Musical Director & Mason Faculty Prof. Jim Carroll
Featuring Bria Skonberg, trumpet/singer
Mason Madness
Friday, October 13
8:00 PM | EagleBank Arena

The George Mason University men's and women's basketball programs will tipoff the 2017-18 season at the 2017 Mason Madness. The annual tipoff to the basketball season will begin at 8 p.m. with doors opening at 7:30 p.m. and will feature 
performances from the No. 1 pep band in the U.S. – Doc Nix and the Green Machine!

Free admission
CVPA Prospective Student Open House
Saturday, October 14
1:30 - 3:30 PM
de Laski Performing
Arts Building, Room 3001

Nervous about upcoming college auditions? Get some expert advice from Mason faculty. Led by Dr. Linda Monson (piano), Professor Patricia Miller (voice), and Professor June Huang (strings), the School of Music invites students to participate in a workshop focused on the process and preparation of audition material for competitions and auditions. Students will work in a master class setting with our outstanding Mason faculty and learn more about the opportunities for study in the School of Music at Mason. 
Mason Wind Symphony Concert
Monday, October 16 | 8 PM | Concert Hall
Featuring the Fairfax Wind Symphony
Alumni Spotlight
Ocie Banks
Mason Alumnus, Ocie S. Banks, was nominated by his principal, Mrs. Rashida Edwards, as a recipient of the Male Educator Network of Prince George's County Public Schools (Men Of PGCPS) Award. He was honored with this award on June 19, 2017. His consistent professionalism with parents, commitment to his school & students, and innovation in education are some of the key characteristics that made him worthy to receive this award.

Ocie is the Vocal & General Music teacher and chorus director at Rosaryville Elementary School in Upper Marlboro, Maryland where he is building a music program and assisting his colleagues to incorporate Music and the Arts into the daily curriculum. Rosaryville Elementary school is one of the arts-integration schools within Prince George's County.
 
Ocie graduated from George Mason University with his Bachelor of Music Education degree in May 2016. He studied voice with Prof. John S. Aler. His Music Ed. Mentor was Dr. Lisa A. Billingham.
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