Notes from the Director
Dr. Linda A. Monson
Dear Mason School of Music Family, 
 
Greetings from sunny Scottsdale, Arizona where I am representing our Mason School of Music at the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) Commission meeting and annual conference. As an elected NASM Commission member, I have the privilege and responsibility of serving as an evaluator of requests submitted by doctoral institutions throughout the country for national accreditation of their music programs. 

Our Mason School of Music is also represented this weekend by our music education faculty, students, and alumni at the Virginia Music Educators Association (VMEA) Conference in Hot Springs, Virginia. Meanwhile in Fairfax, Virginia we have an outstanding lineup of School of Music concerts and events that we want to share with you.  Please join us at Mason and know that we are incredibly grateful for your support of our awesome music students. We wish for you and your families a very Happy Thanksgiving!

With much gratitude,

Dr. Linda A. Monson
Director, School of Music
lmonson@gmu.edu 
Upcoming Events
Hurricane Relief Benefit Concert
Sunday, November 19 at 6:30 PM
de Laski Performing Arts Building 3001
Tickets $7 at the door or $5 online (link below)

The music student organizations of George Mason University (Kappa Kappa Psi, Phi Mu Alpha, and Sigma Alpha Iota) will perform a concert in support of the hurricane relief efforts. In light of the recent tragedies, many students felt there was an opportunity to use their talents to serve those in need. Students and faculty have prepared performances with a wide variety of instrumentation, genres, and backgrounds to contribute to the cause. Your purchase of a ticket goes directly to Habitat for Humanity and will help the victims of hurricanes.
Mason Jazz Vocal Night
Join us for an evening of of music dedicated to Jazz Vocals! Performances by Mason Jazz Studio soloists and the Mason Jazz Vocal Ensemble, directed by Dr. Darden Purcell and special guests, Herndon High School Jazz Choir, directed by Dana Van Slyke and Jim Van Slyke. This performance will debut six world premieres by the Mason Jazz Vocal Ensemble in preparation for their Jazz Education Network (JEN) performance in January!
Jazz Combos/
Latin American Ensemble
Directed by jazz pianist, Wade Beach, the Mason Jazz combos provide students opportunities in improvisation, composition and arranging as well as small group performing experience. Also including our new Latin American Ensemble directed by DMA candidate Juan Megna. Free admission.
Mason Guitar Ensemble with
Robinson Secondary School
Guitar Ensemble
Saturday, December 2 at 8:00 PM
de Laski Performing Arts Bldg 3001
Free Admission

The George Mason University Guitar Ensemble is a performance group playing music written or arranged for multiple guitars. The music spans the entire course of Western music ranging from Renaissance to contemporary composers. In addition to playing as a full company, students are divided into smaller groups; duos, trios and quartets. Their fall concert will be performed with special guest Robinson Secondary School Guitar Ensemble . The concert will include works by Granados, Dyens, Tedesco, and many more.
Holiday Concerts
All Choirs Holiday Concert
Saturday, December 9 at 7:30 PM
Falls Church Presbyterian Church
Holiday Program: Jubilate Deo
Featuring the University Chorale, University Singers, and Soundcheque Vocal Pops Ensemble
Free Admission

Enjoy holiday favorites such as Many Moods of Christmas, Jubilate Deo, Northern Lights, popular jazz arrangements including The Christmas Song, and other seasonal winter music. A candlelit processional and a moving “surround-sound" rendition of Silent Night finishes out the program.
Mason Music Student News
Student Representative
Megan Stallings

Originally from Yorktown, Virginia, Megan Stallings will graduate in Fall 2018 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education. Megan currently serves as principal oboe of George Mason University’s Wind Symphony, Symphony Orchestra, and previously the Symphonic Band. She currently studies oboe and English horn with Dr. Margaret Owens and previously with George Corbett and Sherie Aguirre. She is the School of Music’s student representative for the 2017/2018 academic school year and recently traveled to Costa Rica as an International Teaching Scholar among other selected music students and faculty. She has experience teaching privately and is an oboe instructor for the Potomac Arts Academy. Megan hopes to expand her teaching in the public-school setting upon graduation and is excited to help students find their passion through music.
           As the student representative, Megan attends all School of Music faculty meetings and serves as a liaison to the faculty for any questions, concerns, or suggestions the student body may have. We are thankful for Megan's service!
Peterson Scholar Spotlight
Seon Gyu Park
Masters Candidate in Vocal Performance
It is a great honor for me to attend George Mason University’s School of Music and receive the  Peterson Scholarship to continue my education and advanced training in Vocal Performance. I am honored to study Voice with renowned mezzo-soprano and University Professor Patricia Miller and the world class faculty here in the School of Music at Mason.  

My love for singing began as a young child in South Korea. My parents nurtured my talent and I studied piano, participated in children’s choirs and won numerous singing competitions. I graduated with honors from Hanyang University (BM) and The Manhattan School of Music (MM) In NYC where I was a student of Catherine Malfitano and also took Music Education courses at Columbia University. My love for singing and teaching deepened after moving to the United States. I have sung operatic roles in Smetana’s Bartered Bride , Mozart’s The Magic Flute  and Puccini’s La Boheme , and I am hungry to learn, study and sing more. When my family moved to Virginia, I was pleased to become a part of the Potomac Arts Academy as a teacher in piano and voice.   Last year I won First Place in the National Association of Teachers of Singing Virginia State and Mid-Atlantic Regional Voice Competitions in my category, and I was a semi finalist in the Classical Singer National Voice Competition in Boston. I am deeply grateful for the Peterson Scholarship and I look forward to continuing my growth as an artist and educator and sharing my talent with an international community. 
Mason Music Ambassadors
The Mason Music Ambassadors are a selected group of student leaders who are nominated by our faculty to serve as student liaisons for our prospective and incoming music students. Using their strengths and talents, they build relationships with prospective students, helping each of them become contributing members to our Mason Music community. So far this semester, our Ambassadors have volunteered at our first Audition Day as well as our prospective student Shadow Days.
Ambassadors taking a lunch break with prospective music majors during our November Behind-the-Scenes Shadow Days.
University Singers Take On Iceland
March 2018
“Northern Lights” Global Study/
Cultural Exchange Tour
Under the direction of Dr. Stan Engebretson, the University Singers will present research and performance workshops/concerts in Reykjavik, Iceland over the 2018 spring break! The ensemble will also work with local choirs to create a global exchange, while learning and experiencing Icelandic music and customs. We are grateful for the University's Global Education grant which will provide partial funding for our students towards the university's new initiative of international courses.

Bernstein at 100: The American Voice
The main course of study will be to learn and present music written by Leonard Bernstein, whose centennial will be celebrated in August 2018. His influence on “The American Voice” will also be explored.
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