Dear Dewberry School of Music Family,

Please join us March 28 - April 13 for our upcoming Global Artist Series, Mason Jazz Mondays, Dewberry Faculty Artist Series, New Sound Collective & Percussion Ensemble concert, and Chorale Broadway Showcase "When You Believe." We are also pleased to present numerous live-streamed student recitals and guest artist masterclasses during these upcoming two weeks.

We want to thank, honor, and celebrate Prof. Lora Ferguson who is retiring after this Spring 2021 term. She has taught applied clarinet at Mason since 1989--a total of 32 years!  We are deeply grateful to Prof. Ferguson for her outstanding teaching, artistry, and service to our School of Music!

We are excited to announce that Dr. Adriana Horne, principal harpist with the National Symphony Orchestra, will be joining our Dewberry School of Music applied harp faculty in the upcoming fall 2021 semester.

We look forward to sharing beautiful and inspiring music with you in the upcoming weeks as we celebrate our fabulous Mason music students and faculty.  And now...let the music continue!

Warmest regards,
Dr. Linda A. Monson, Director
Reva and Sid Dewberry Family School of Music
Upcoming Events
Global Artist Series
Shawn Jones, Bassoon
Monday, March 29th, 12:00 PM

Join Prof. Shawn Jones as he presents a masterclass and a Q&A to our Mason Music students. He is a longstanding member of Quinteto Latino, a woodwind quintet that performs classical and contemporary music by Latino composers. Prof. Shawn Jones is also the bassoon professor at Santa Clara University. Read more about him here.

Contact Prof. Chris Jewell at cjewell2@gmu.edu for Zoom access information.
Kevin McDonald 
"Hearing the American Civil Rights Movement in the Music of Max Roach"
Monday, March 29th, 12:30 PM

Mason Jazz faculty member Kevin McDonald has spent years researching this topic and will present his dissertation.
Meeting ID: 957 2641 7041
Passcode: 640667
Dewberry Artist Series:
Brilliant Brass!
Tuesday, March 30th, 7:00 PM

The Reva and Sid Dewberry Family School of Music faculty resume their free recital series with digital pre-recorded performances as part of Mason Arts at Home. Recorded at the Hylton Performing Arts Center, this performance features the brass faculty including Alan Carr (trombone), Denny Edelbrock (trumpet), Mark Jenkins (euphonium), and Dave Porter (tuba) as well as pianist Ina Mirtcheva Blevins. Repertoire in this concert will include compositions by Franz Joseph Haydn, Eric Ewazen, Robert Thurston, Daniel Schnyder, and more.
New Sound Collective and
Percussion Ensemble Concert
Wednesday, March 31st, 8:00 PM

Join us online for a virtual performance by the Dewberry School of Music's New Sound Collective and Percussion Ensemble. This evening concert will include an eclectic selection of contemporary chamber and percussion works.
Percussion Masterclass with Pablo Rieppi
Mason Alumnus (BM Performance '92)
Wednesday, April 7th, 12:30 PM

A native of Uruguay, Prof. Pablo Rieppi currently serves as the Visiting Associate Professor of Percussion at Oberlin Conservatory. He has also served as a member of The New York City Ballet Orchestra. In the last two decades, Pablo has performed a wide range of music with some of the world's leading artists and ensembles including New York Philharmonic, The Metropolitan Opera, Speculum Musicae, New York New Music Ensemble, Da Capo Chamber Players, American Symphony Orchestra, New York City Opera, Manhattan Sinfonietta, New York Percussion Quartet, Perspectives Ensemble, VisionIntoArt, and numerous others.

Contact Prof. John Kilkenny at jkilken1@gmu.edu for Zoom access information.
Chorale Broadway Showcase
"When You Believe"
Sunday, April 11th, 4:00 PM

The University Chorale presents a series of Broadway classics for their 2021 outdoor showcase on Mason Pond Lawn. These favorites include "Seize the Day" from Newsies, "Circle of Life" from Lion King, "When you Believe" from The Prince of Egypt, and more.

This performance will take place on Mason Pond Lawn.

Tickets for the general public are not available at this time. Free tickets for Mason students will be available through Mason360 beginning on March 30.

This performance is free, but reservations are required.
Dewberry Artist Series:
Musical Theater Voice and Duo-Piano!
Tuesday, April 13th, 7:00 PM

The Reva and Sid Dewberry Family School of Music faculty resume their free recital series with digital pre-recorded performances as part of Mason Arts at Home. Recorded at the Hylton Performing Arts Center, this performance features musical theater faculty vocalist Jim Van Slyke as well as piano faculty members Anna Balakerskaia and Linda Apple Monson playing duo piano works.
Faculty Retirement
Prof. Lora Ferguson, Clarinet

We want to thank, honor, and celebrate Prof. Lora Ferguson who is retiring after this Spring 2021 term. She has taught applied clarinet at Mason since 1989 - a total of 32 years! How grateful we are for Prof. Ferguson's many years of devoted teaching, artistry, and service to our School of Music! 
New Harp Faculty Member
Dr. Adriana Horne, Harp

We are pleased to welcome Dr. Adriana Horne as our new Adjunct Harp Professor for the upcoming academic year. Dr. Horne joined the National Symphony Orchestra in 2013. Prior to joining the NSO, she was the principal harpist of the New World Symphony. Previous teaching experience includes positions at The Catholic University of America, Indiana University, and Texas Tech University.
View Upcoming
Student Recitals
We are proud to present many wonderful virtual student recitals this semester! Be sure to mark your calendars for upcoming recitals, including:


Julianna Williams, Clarinet Music Education Recital - March 27th, 1:00 PM

Hannah Pennisi, Junior Steel Pan Recital - March 28th, 1:00 PM

Ronald Lee, Junior Steel Pan Recital - March 28th, 4:00 PM

Jason Seiler, Senior Jazz Guitar Recital - March 28th, 7:00 PM

Yerin Choi, Doctoral Piano Lecture Recital - April 1st, 4:00 PM

Minne Zhang, Doctoral Piano Lecture Recital - April 3rd, 8:00 AM

Cory Haley, Senior Music Education Percussion Recital - April 3rd, 2:00 PM

Emily Johnson, Senior Clarinet Music Education Recital - April 3rd, 7:00 PM

Brian Bera, Junior Double Bass Recital - April 6th, 7:00 PM


View the full recital calendar here!
Spring 2021 Series
Alumni Kudos
Many of our Music alumnae are featured on our website! Read about their accomplishments, accolades, and favorite Mason Music memories here.
Student Kudos
Congratulations to Mason vocal student Rosemary Wright (student of Prof. Patricia Miller) for winning First Prize at the Friday Morning Music Club Sue Goetz Ross Student Competition for Voice earlier this month! Watch her award-winning performance here.
Mason string professors and students attended the American String Teachers Association virtual conference during the first week of March. Participants attended multiple sessions each day on topics that ranged from instrument specific technique to live chats on how to diversify repertoire. Dr. Angela Ammerman (Mason Music Faculty) gave a presentation on "Recruiting and Mentoring the Next Generation of String Educators".
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