Dear Mason Music Family,

I wish each of you a very Happy Thanksgiving filled with family, friends, great food, and fantastic music! Thank you for sharing the joy of music with us at George Mason University. We are so proud of our amazing School of Music students, faculty, staff, and alumni!  

Our music education students and faculty were well-represented last week at the Virginia Music Educators' Association (VMEA) Conference. We are grateful for our many music alumni who are making a difference as awesome instrumental and choral music teachers throughout the commonwealth!  

Our Mason Jazz Ensemble presented Jazz 4 Justice™ concerts last weekend in partnership with Legal Services of Northern Virginia, in which funds were raised to support vital legal services as well as Mason Jazz Studies. Our Mason Percussion Ensemble performed at the Percussive Arts Society International Conference (PASIC) last week in Indianapolis. I just returned from the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) conference for music executives where I am honored to serve as a member of the Commission. It gives me great joy to report that Mason's School of Music continues to shine...locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally!

We hope to see you next week at our School of Music special performances, including the Mason Jazz Vocal Night, Purcell's Dido and Aeneas performed by Mason Opera, and the Mason Guitar Ensemble concert.

We are thankful for your support of our Mason School of Music students and programs. Happy Thanksgiving!

Warmest regards,  

Dr. Linda A. Monson

Director, School of Music

[email protected]

Musical Mentorship Leads to

National Prominence for Mason Student

Last week, graduate student Crystal Golden was featured in News at Mason. Read the article here.

Pictured above, from left: Dr. Linda Monson, Prof. James Nickel, Dr. Paul Ebert, and Dr. Amy Horn

The Mason School of Music hosted Horn Day on November 10th, in which we had over 80 horn students participating! Dr. Monson was thrilled to announce the Paul and Jenny Ebert Scholarship Endowment for Horn Studies on this special day. Dr. Paul Ebert, a physicist and horn student of Dr. Amy Horn, is a member of the Capital Horn Club, which was a featured performing ensemble at Horn Day.

Chanticleer Vocal Masterclass

Monday, November 26th, 12:30 pm - 2:00 pm

Choral Room (A323)

Free admission

Mason Jazz Vocal Night

Wednesday, November 28th, 8:00 pm

Center for the Arts

Dido and Aeneas

Friday, November 30th - Sunday, December 2nd

Henry Purcell's compelling opera, Dido and Aeneas , brings to life the powerful and complex story of Dido, an ancient, mythological Queen of Carthage, and her love for the Trojan warrior, Aeneas. This beautiful but tragic love story is brought to life by an outstanding cast of exceptional young voices with rich period costumes, period Baroque instruments, and contemporary sets.

Harris Theatre

Friday, November 30th, 8:00PM

Saturday, December 1st, 8:00PM

Old Town Hall Fairfax

Sunday, December 2nd, 2:00PM & 5:00PM

Guitar Ensemble Concert

directed by Professor Matt Trkula

Saturday, December 1st, 8:00pm

deLaski 3001

Free admission

Healing Arts Ensemble Concert

Wednesday, December 5th, 5:00pm

Choral Room (A323)

Free admission

New Sound Collective Concert

Contemporary Music Ensemble

Wednesday, December 5th, 8:00pm

deLaski 3001

Free admission

Sing Noel!

Choral Concert and Silent Auction

Friday, December 7th

Silent Auction at 7:00 pm

Concert at 8:00 pm

Falls Church Presbyterian Church

225 E. Broad St, Falls Church 22046

Featuring University Singers directed by Dr. Stan Engebretson, University Chorale directed by Dr. Lisa Billingham, Soundcheque directed by Dr. Stan Engebretson, and Jane Kaye, collaborative pianist.

Mason Symphony Orchestra and

Jazz Holiday Concert

Sunday, December 9th, 7:00pm

Center for the Arts

Canadian Brass Masterclass

Saturday, December 15th, 4:30pm

Monson Grand Tier

Free Admission

Followed by the Canadian Brass in Concert

Saturday, December 15th, 8:00pm

Center for the Arts

Front Row (left to right): Melissa Torres, Momina Di Blasio, Fiona Madigan, JR Jeerakul, Danny Cabrejos,

Helen Landers

Back Row (left to right): Dr. Ciorba, Brendan Henry, Ken Pham, Erie Liang, Cory Haley, Glenn Turner

The School of Music was proud to have Music Education students and faculty representing us at the annual Virginia Music Educators Association (VMEA) Conference this past weekend!

Pictured above: Zachary Strickland (5th from left) and Professor John Kilkenny (far right).

We are extremely proud of Zachary Strickland (Junior, Percussion Performance) for placing 3rd in the mock auditions at this year's Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC)! Percussionists went through a rigorous audition process with multiple rounds, and Zachary made it all the way to the finals. Congratulations!