Dear Mason Music Family,
 
Please join us for our Dewberry School of Music outstanding student performances during these final weeks of the spring semester.  April is Jazz Appreciation Month and we are excited to present Jazz Vocal Night on April 25, Jazz Workshop on April 27, and the International Jazz Day Concert on April 30. Join us for three fabulous concerts next week by our incredible jazz artists.

We will be honoring and celebrating Mark Camphouse, esteemed composer-conductor-educator, on April 28 as he retires from Mason after a long and illustrious career. The Mason Wind Symphony concert on April 28, under the direction of Professor Camphouse, features concerto winners Teresa Jenkins, clarinetist, and euphonium duo Michael Baker and Hunter Swanson. This tremendous concert also features two world premieres for our Wind Symphony composed by Catherine Fields (Mason undergraduate composer and pianist) and Kent Baker (Mason alumnus in music composition).   

Mason Opera is thrilled to present Giacomo Rossini's La Cenerentola on April 29 at 8 pm, April 30 at 2 pm, and May 1st at 2 pm in Harris Theater on the Fairfax campus. Mason’s exciting spring opera production will feature the marvelous talents of the vocal and instrumental students from the Mason Opera and the Mason Symphony Orchestra.  Purchase your tickets now and join us for an exciting opera production as we retell the beautiful Cinderella story, La Cenerentola! 

We invite you to hear our talented students perform next week in the Piano Chamber Concert (April 27 at 6.30 pm) and the Guitar Ensemble concert (April 30 at 7 pm).   Additionally, please join us for our many student degree recitals (also live-streamed to our audiences). We look forward to sharing beautiful music with you as we celebrate Mason's amazing students from the Dewberry School of Music!


Warmest regards,
Dr. Linda A. Monson, Director
Reva and Sid Dewberry Family School of Music
Upcoming Concerts & Masterclasses
Mason Jazz Vocal Night
Directed by Dr. Darden Purcell
Monday, April 25, 8pm

Join Dr. Darden Purcell, the Mason Jazz Voice Studio, and Mason Jazz Vocal Ensemble for an evening of swinging standards and classic hits from the Great American Songbook! With special guests, Forest Park High School Platinum Vocal Jazz, directed by Lara Brittain.

Tickets: $12 General Public, $8 Seniors, $5 Students
Piano Chamber Concert
Directed by Dr. Eunae Ko Han
Wednesday, April 27, 6:30pm

Free Admission

Piano Chamber Ensembles under the direction of Dr. Eunae Ko Han perform duo piano and trio piano repertoire they have studied this semester including works by Faure, Brahms, Beethoven, Milhaud, and CPE Bach.
Jazz Workshop Concert
Directed by Prof. John Kocur
Wednesday, April 27, 8pm

Free Admission

The Jazz Workshop explores the intersection of improvisation and composition in an atypical jazz ensemble. Directed by John Kocur, Jazz Workshop reimagines the sound of the jazz big band by welcoming all instruments and embracing the entire history of jazz, including the present. The Jazz Workshop will perform music by Charles Mingus, Horace Silver, Count Basie, John Coltrane, and others. 
Wind Symphony Concert
Directed by Prof. Mark Camphouse
Thursday, April 28, 8pm

Come watch the Mason Wind Symphony present its spring concert, conducted by Professor Mark Camphouse. This performance will feature the three student winners of the Wind Symphony Solo Competition: Teresa Jenkins (clarinet), Michael Baker (euphonium), and Hunter Swanson (euphonium).

This concert also features 2 world premieres composed for the George Mason University Wind Symphony and conductor Prof. Mark Camphouse:

Fantasy for Piano and Wind Symphony by Catherine Fields*
*undergraduate music composition major and piano soloist
Prof. Mark Camphouse, conducting

42 for Narrator and Wind Band by Kent Baker**
this work honors Major League Baseball great Jackie Robinson
conducted by the composer
**Kent Baker is a Dewberry School of Music Alum

The concert will end with a composition by Prof. Mark Camphouse honoring his faculty mentor from Northwestern University, Prof. John Paynter. This piece is titled "Whatsoever Things ..."


Tickets: $12 General Public, $8 Seniors, $5 Students
Spring Opera
Giacomo Rossini's La Cenerentola
Friday, April 29, 8pm
Saturday, April 30, 2pm
Sunday, May 1, 2pm

This spring, Mason Opera is delighted to bring Giacomo Rossini’s La Cenerentola to vibrant and sparkling life! Composed in 1817, Rossini’s La Cenerentola, ossia La bontà in trionfo (Cinderella or Goodness Triumphant), is a charming, operatic dramma giocoso in two acts, which premiered at the Teatro Valle in Rome on January 25, 1817, and features the spirited ensembles and florid, bel canto style of singing made famous by Rossini as the leading composer of his day. In addition to the beautiful music and the exquisite sets, costumes, and lighting, Mason’s exciting spring opera production will feature the talents of the vocal and instrumental students from the Mason Opera and the Mason Symphony Orchestra. Bring your friends and family and join us for an evening of exciting artistry as we retell the beautiful Cinderella story, La Cenerentola!

Tickets: $20 General Public, $15 Seniors, $5 Students
Guitar Ensemble Concert
Directed by Prof. Matt Trkula
Saturday, April 30, 7pm

Free Admission

Join Mason's guitar students for an evening of guitar works by Telemann, Mozart, Mertz, and more.
International Jazz Day Concert
Saturday, April 30, 8pm

Share the vibrancy and vitality of jazz music with Mason Jazz students and faculty on April 30! International Jazz Day brings together communities, schools, artists, historians, academics, and jazz enthusiasts on all continents to celebrate and learn about jazz and its roots, future, and impact. Groups featured in this concert will be the Mason Jazz Ensemble (Jim Carroll), Mason Jazz Vocal Ensemble (Darden Purcell), District PANTET (Victor Provost), Latin American Ensemble (Dr. Juan Megna) and Braddock Road Brass Band (Graham Breedlove)! 

Tickets: $12 General Public, $8 Seniors, $5 Students

Join us in the CFA lobby for a special showcase of posters by students in the Mason School of Art Advanced Typography Class, instructed by Professor Juana Medina Rosas!  
Steel Pan Ensemble, Latin American Ensemble,
& Braddock Road Brass Band Concert
Wednesday, May 4, 8pm

Free Admission

Join the Mason Steel Pan Ensemble (directed by Victor Provost), Latin American Ensemble (directed by Juan Megna) and Braddock Road Brass Band (directed by Graham Breedlove) in their spring concert! This concert will feature the music of the Caribbean, Latin America, and the birthplace of Jazz, New Orleans!
New Sound Collective Concert
Thursday, May 5, 8pm

Free Admission

Join us for a selection of modern and contemporary chamber works presented by the students of the New Sound Collective. The program will showcase the diversity of musical styles in the 20th century as well as unique instrument combinations.
Piano Chamber Concert
Friday, May 6, 8pm

Free Admission

Piano Chamber Ensembles under the direction of Dr. Anna Balakerskaia perform piano chamber repertoire they have studied this semester.
Mason Symphony Orchestra
with Concerto Soloists
and University Choirs
Sunday, May 8, 7pm

Join the Dewberry School of Music for its spring finale concert highlighting the Mason Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Dr. Soo Han and the University Choirs under the direction of Dr. Lisa Billingham.

This concert features solo works performed by three student winners of the Mason Symphony Concerto Competition: Madeline Manaker (soprano), Eduardo Fajardo (flute), and Ethan Walter (violin).

The orchestra's finale will be the thrilling final two movements of Stravinsky's "The Firebird Suite (1919)". The University Choirs will finish the concert with a beautiful arrangement of "Let There Be Peace on Earth" - audience sing-a-long encouraged!

Tickets: $20 General Public, $15 Seniors, $5 Students
Upcoming Masterclasses
Simone Dinnerstein
Piano Masterclass
Friday, April 22, 10am
CFA Concert Hall

Open to current Mason students, faculty, and staff

Join us for a masterclass on Friday, April 22nd at 10:00am-12:00pm with renowned pianist Simone Dinnerstein.
Victor Provost SYNTHESIS Quintet
Jazz Masterclass
Thursday, April 28, 1:30pm
Band Room (PAB A327C)

Open to current Mason students, faculty, and staff

Join us for a masterclass on Thursday, April 28 at 1:30 with GMU faculty steel pan professor Victor Provost and his SYNTHESIS Quintet (Victor Provost - steel pan, Dan Wilson - guitar, Alex Brown - piano, Tony DePaolis - bass, James Jonson III - drums).
Leah Barrick
Flute Masterclass
*DATE CHANGE*
Monday, May 2
Time/Location TBA

Open to current Mason students, faculty, and staff

Join us for a masterclass on Monday, May 2nd with National Symphony Orchestra flautist Leah Arsenault Barrick.
Upcoming Studio Recitals
Trumpet Studio Recital
Sunday, May 1, 6pm

Free Admission

The Trumpet Studio Recital will include music with a wide variety of genres, styles and eras. The Trumpet Ensemble will also perform with some signature works.
Dr. Balakerskaia's Piano Studio Recital
Saturday, May 7, 7pm

Free Admission

Come enjoy some of the fine work of the piano students of Dr. Anna Balakerskaia!
Blues Alley Performances
Latin American Ensemble
LIVE at BLUES ALLEY
Tuesday, April 26, 8pm
1073 Wisconsin Ave, Washington, DC 20007

The Three-Time Down Beat Award-winning Mason Latin American Ensemble, directed by Dr. Juan Megna will share the stage with the NOVA Big Band, directed by Mason alumnus, Shannon Gunn at Washington DC's historic Jazz club, Blues Alley! Shows are 8pm and 10pm. (Photo by Joyce Boghosian)

Tickets: $25 Adults, $15 Students
Spring 2022 Concert Series
Upcoming Student Recitals
Sabrina Ramirez, Violin, Non-Degree Recital
April 23, 11am
deLaski 3001

Edward Wisniewski & Ian Takacs, Trumpet, Non-Degree Recital
April 24, 2pm
deLaski 3001

Julie McDonald, Doctoral Flute Recital
April 24, 4pm
deLaski 3001

Ali Rezaeipour, Senior Jazz Guitar Recital
April 29, 6pm
CFA Concert Hall

Dominique Bianco, Senior Vocal Jazz Recital
April 29, 8pm
CFA Concert Hall

Rita Gigliotti, Graduate Music and Well Being Recital
May 2, 5:30pm
PAB A323 (Choral Room)

Matt May, Master's Collaborative Piano Recital
May 4, 7pm
First Presbyterian Church of Howard County

Kristine Lowkis, Senior Piano Music Education Recital
May 7, 10am
Harris Theatre

Rui Tang, Master's Piano Recital
May 7, 12pm
Harris Theatre

Bronson Rodriguez, Senior Vocal Recital
May 7, 4pm
Harris Theatre

Noah Dengler, Senior Percussion Music Education Recital
May 7, 5pm
deLaski 3001

Yiyao James Hao, Doctoral Piano Recital
May 9, 8am
Video broadcast only - not in-person

Charles Murdock, Junior Vocal Jazz Recital
May 9, 5pm
Harris Theatre

Bryan Dicks, Junior Jazz Guitar Recital
May 9, 7pm
Harris Theatre

Nathan Hockey, Junior Steel Pan Recital
May 10, 5pm
Harris Theatre

Jackson Hollaway, Senior Jazz Guitar Recital
May 10, 7pm
Harris Theatre

Megan Slay, Doctoral Piano Recital
May 13, 7pm
Harris Theatre


All student recitals will occur live and in-person. A live-stream link will be available as the recital date approaches.
Celebrate AANHPI Month
Asian American Native Hawaiian
Pacific Islander Heritage Festival
Sunday, May 1, 4:30pm
Center for the Arts

Free Admission

May is Asian American/Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander (AANHPI) month - come celebrate with the AANHPI Heritage Festival in the Center for the Arts! There will be an Asian Cultural Exhibition in the lobby at 4:00pm and a concert at 4:30pm in the Concert Hall.
Kudos!
Congratulations to the students chosen to perform in this year's Dewberry School of Music Honors Recital on in Harris Theatre on Sunday, May 15th at 3pm!

Eddie Adams, cello; Ethan Walter, violin; GaYoung Lee, piano

Flute Quartet: Sara AlsaadiKaitlyn BurnsSamantha ClarkeEduardo Fajardo

Clarinet Choir: William Aranibar-VargasJulia BriceTeddy DunnNick GrazianoElaine HopkinsTeresa JenkinsTrip Nguyen, and Alana Proctor 

Brice Bach, trumpet 

Jamilah Barnes, voice

Sarah Calvino, voice

Juliana Cardine, voice

Caroline Church, flute

Elliott Godinez, marimba

Saxophone Quartet: Matt GrazianoStellan HinzTala Rouse, and Stephen Sim

Yiran He, piano

Case Hope, voice

Teresa Jenkins, clarinet

Jiye Kim and GaYoung Lee, duo-piano

Nairobi King, voice

Zoey Lamb, flute; Ian Vance, bassoon; Yingfei Li, piano

Annette Lee, violin

Yao Pang, piano

Megan Slay, piano

Nick Vellanikaran, guitar; Eduardo Fajardo, flute

Nicholas Wright, mixed percussion

Summer Programs
Mason Community Arts Academy
Summer Programs

Registration now open!

Mason Community Arts Academy offers enriching and inclusive workshops, programs, and summer camps focused on both artistry and skill-building. The programs connect you with Mason faculty, professional teaching artists, and experienced arts educators.

Summer 2022 adult programs offer Teacher Training Programs & Workshops including:
Summer Conducting Symposium (*New!*)
Led by Dewberry School of Music faculty
Anthony Maiello & Soo Han
July 5-9, 2022
9:00am - 4:00pm
Orff Schulwerk Music Teacher Training
Become certified!
All course levels I-II-II offered
July 18-29, 2022 (two weeks)
8:30am - 4:30pm
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