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

We hope you will join us this Sunday, September 17 at 3 pm for our  Grand Piano Celebration ,  the opening concert of our School of Music 2017-18 season.  Featuring outstanding students and faculty artists, this Sunday's concert highlights dramatic and engaging works by Beethoven, Liszt, Chopin, Rachmaninoff, Prokofiev, and other wonderful composers.  We also hope you will join us on Saturday, September 23, for  Arts by George!  You are also invited to attend our numerous daytime events including student departmental recitals and faculty lectures which are free of charge. Your support of our various School of Music performances is always deeply appreciated by our students and faculty. 

Warm regards,

Dr. Linda Apple Mo nson
Director, School of Music
lmonson@gmu.edu
A Grand Piano Celebration
Celebrating Sid and Reva Dewberry's Generosity in Establishing the Dr. Linda Apple Monson Scholars Fund
Sunday, September 17 at 3:00 PM
Concert Hall

Featuring the artistry of Linda Apple Monson in collaboration with Julianna Nickel, flute; Harold Summey, drums; & Kris Monson, bass
Pianists Anna Balakerskaia, John Healey, and Wade Beach
And Outstanding Student Piano Artists
Proceeds support student scholarships for Mason's School of Music
ARTS! by George
Saturday, September 23 at 5:00 PM

Join us for a benefit in support of student scholarships at George Mason University’s College of Visual and Performing Arts and the Great Performances at Mason season at the Center for the Arts. The evening begins by showcasing the remarkable talents of Mason students amid an array of spectacular food and beverages, and culminates in the Concert Hall when Tony Award winner and Broadway star Kelli O’Hara takes the stage to perform a radiant concert of Broadway favorites, pop classics, and great American standards. In addition, a talented student vocal ensemble from George Mason University’s School of Music will join O’Hara on stage for a number or two.
Potomac Academy Concert Featuring
the Mason Wind Symphony
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 Concert
Stay tuned for...
Symphonic Band &
Percussion Ensemble
Wednesday, October 4 at 8:00 PM
Harris Theatre
Conducted by Profs. John Kilkenny & Denton Stokes
Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra with
Bria Skonberg, trumpet/singer
Saturday, October 7 at 8:00 PM Hylton Performing Arts Center's Merchant Hall
Faculty Spotlight
The Fairfax Symphony Orchestra will premiere a new composition on Saturday, Sept. 16 at 8:00 PM, that was commissioned to mark the county’s 275th anniversary. The orchestra approached the county to find a way to participate in this year’s anniversary celebrations, and Board of Supervisors Chairman Sharon Bulova commissioned the new work titled “Resolutions.”
Mark Camphouse, a George Mason University faculty composer, wrote the seven-minute piece.
Welcome to our New Auditions Coordinator & Recruitment Assistant
Andrew Comparin
Andrew is a recent graduate of the James Madison University School of Music (MM '17) and an alumnus of the Mason School of Music (BM '15). During his time at JMU, Andrew served as a Music Admissions Graduate Assistant for two years where he coordinated logistics for audition days and recruitment events and assisted in processing applications, decision letters, and scholarship letters. We are confident that Andrew will be a great new addition to the Mason School of Music staff! 
Summer 2017 Highlights
Potomac Arts Academy
Potomac Arts Academy began a music-packed “Summer Arts at Mason 2017” with Ovations Chamber Music Academy, bringing just under 80 middle and high school students to campus to work with area string teachers and guest conductors. Other string offerings happened at the end of the summer with two weeks of Violin Bootcamp featuring our Potomac string faculty and guest artists for masterclasses and special sessions. Three weeks of Orff and Kodaly Teacher Training Programs followed close behind with 164 teachers from around the country coming to work with our nationally recognized Orff and Kodaly faculty. Musical Theater Bootcamp then brought 40 kids to Harris Theater for a week of song and dance ending with a vibrant showcase. The end of July started our Music Intensive Week and featured Mason School of Music Faculty working with over 70 high school students in a recruitment focused week including programs in Percussion, Trumpet, Clarinet, Recording and Composition. August included Piano Academy and Piano Adventures with over 50 for kids and adults in its varied programs. This along with Beginning Guitar Workshop, Singer/Songwriter Workshop, Music Sampler for kids, and others made up the over 500 participants filling the School of Music and Potomac spaces.  Adding in the 240 private lessons made for a very busy and music filled summer. We want to thank everyone in the School of Music for their valuable contributions and support making this one of the best “Summer Arts at Mason” yet!
National Jazz Workshop
The National Jazz Workshop 2017 at Mason was our best yet! Over seventy-five people (attendees, Jazz faculty and Mason Jazz student staff) participated in a week of Jazz education and concerts. Each day consisted of theory and improvisation classes, small and large ensemble rehearsals, and masterclasses with faculty and guest artists.

A highlight of the workshop included FREE performances and guest artists, including the U.S. Army Blues Jazz Ensemble featuring Darden Purcell, the NJW All-Stars featuring Graham Breedlove, the U.S. Army Blues Swamp Romp with Mason Jazz faculty Xavier Perez, Matt Niess, Regan Brough and Harold Summey, Mason Jazz Faculty group (Shawn Purcell, Wade Beach, Jim Carroll), featuring Kenny Rittenhouse, and Mason Jazz Faculty group featuring Victor Provost.  A huge thanks goes out to Dr. Matt Niess (mniess@gmu.edu) for organizing another successful workshop!
Photos by Suzette Niess.
Laban Movement
Dr. Lisa Billingham and Dr. Amanda Huntleigh (School of Music Mason Alumna) have been working to develop a YouTube Channel devoted to conducting pedagogy and Laban Movement Theory. As the only two choral music Certified Laban/Bartenieff Movement Analysts in the United States, they are working to further design live and virtual instruction in choral conducting. Dr. Billingham is a Professor of Choral Music Education at Mason, and Dr. Huntleigh is a recent DMA Choral Conducting graduate from The University of Washington who currently serves as the Assistant Director of Choral Activities and Lecturer at Smith College.
Upcoming Events