Dear Students, Colleagues, Alumni, and Friends,

At this mid-way point of the Fall semester, we have made such remarkable progress together! Despite considerable initial trepidation about the daunting challenges, we are grateful to report that our students and faculty are having wonderful musical experiences with live instruction on campus while strict safety protocols are being followed. We are also conducting virtual music instruction for both applied lessons and academic classes via remote delivery format. We are so proud of our music faculty and students for the incredibly effective and inspiring music teaching, learning, and performances that are happening during this challenging time of Covid 19.

We invite you to join us for our talented students' live-streamed degree recitals from Harris Theater. We encourage your participation in the Dewberry School of Music Black Artist Series featuring Shawn Okpebholo, composer; Wycliffe Gordon, trombonist; and Dr. Louise Toppin, soprano.  We are thrilled to host outstanding masterclasses, concerts, lectures, and instrument days, which you may stream as outlined in this newsletter.  

We are grateful to our Friends of Music at Mason (FOMM) for their continuous marvelous support of our music students. New Friends are always welcomed! Please contact Linda Harber, President of FOMM [lharber@gmu.edu] with any questions.  We would love to have you join us.

And now...let the music continue! 

Warmest regards,

Dr. Linda A. Monson, Director

Read more about Mr. Okpebholo here.

Read about Mr. Gordon here.

Learn more about Dr. Toppin here.

The Mason School of Theater presents Gaining Ground, a virtual musical revue presented through the auspices of our Musical Theater program and Mason Arts at Home on Friday, October 23 at 8pm. Gaining Ground is part of the School of Theater’s year-long Jubilee celebration designed to feature works generated by those who have historically been underserved---including black, indigenous people of color (BIPOC), women and members of the LGBTQIA2+ communities.  The program features Dewberry School of Music artists Drummer Michael Barranco, Electric and Acoustic Bass player Brian Bera and Music Director Joe Walsh on piano and keys.

Read more about Dr. Adkins here.

Assistant Director Major Ryan J. Nowlin joined “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band in August 2010 as staff arranger. He was appointed Assistant Director and commissioned a first lieutenant in July 2014, earned the rank of captain in July 2016, and was promoted to his current rank in January 2020. He was appointed Executive Officer and Senior Assistant Director in May 2018. With “The President’s Own,” Maj. Nowlin has arranged and composed a variety of music for the Marine Band, Marine Chamber Orchestra, brass ensembles, and various small ensembles.

Jazz 4 Justice™

Established in 2001 by Fairfax, Virginia attorney Edward L. Weiner, Esq. and Founder of Mason Jazz Studies, Jim Carroll, Jazz4Justice™ is an award-winning annual concert presented by Legal Services of Northern Virginia (LSNV) and Mason Jazz Studies. This year's celebration concert will be a virtual highlight of Mason Jazz students and faculty. Proceeds from the evening benefit LSNV to continue its mission of service to the Northern Virginia community as well as providing financial support for the Mason Jazz Studies area for trips, recordings and student projects.

Our talented student artists will be presenting their recitals this semester virtually. View upcoming recitals here.

Coming soon:

Ryan Salak, Senior Trumpet Music Education Recital

Saturday, Oct 24, 2020 5:30pm

Michael Barranco, Doctoral Percussion Recital

Friday, Oct 30, 2020 5:30pm

Yechan Lim, Senior Piano Recital

Friday, Nov 06, 2020 8:00pm

Ricardo Nuñez, Senior Percussion Music Education Recital

Saturday, Nov 07, 2020 2:00pm

Megan Slay, Graduate Piano Recital

Sunday, Nov 08, 2020 5:30pm

We are thrilled to welcome a new group of Mason Music Ambassadors for the 2020-2021 year, as well as our continuing Ambassadors! The Mason Music Ambassadors are a group of student leaders who have been selected by our faculty to represent their performance and academic areas with distinction. The ambassadors serve as student liaisons for incoming music students. Click here to read about all of our wonderful Student Ambassadors.

Dr. Emily Green (Professor of Music History) recently had her article "How to Read a Rondeau" published in the Journal of the American Musicological Society! Read about her publication here.

Dr. Charles Ciorba (Director of Music Education) recently had an article accepted for publication! His article, "The Creation and Validation of a Jazz Theory Measure: Implications for Improvisation Education" will soon be published in the International Journal of Music Education.