Chamber music is at the core of our percussion students’ education. Through the deep and focused study of chamber music we can develop the necessary skills to become total percussionists.
All students participate in one of two types of ensembles:
- Mason Percussion Group is the premiere performance ensemble of the percussion program. Comprised of the most accomplished graduate and undergraduate performers, the group regularly performs the highest caliber percussion chamber music.
- Mason Percussion Ensemble is comprised of all percussion majors and is open to members of the larger university community. Repertoire includes both large conducted works and smaller works of chamber music performed without a conductor. Qualified Master's of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts students participate in this group as ensemble coaches and conductors.
The Mason Percussion Group has appeared at the Virginia Music Educators Conference, the Western International Band Conference, the College Music Society Mid Atlantic Conference, and the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. The Group has toured Costa Rica and presented clinics and performances at the National Conservatory in San Jose.
The percussion studies program at George Mason University provides aspiring students a comprehensive educational experience. All students study with a percussion faculty who possess impressive performance and educational credentials. Students are trained in virtually every aspect of percussion performance, including orchestral and solo percussion, chamber music, timpani, drumset, steel pan, afro cuban, and marching percussion. Students eventually rotate through every professor's studio, thus providing a complete and well-rounded educational experience. Major renovations and a substantial investment in new facilities and equipment offer ample instruments and practice facilities.
In addition, students can perform in a variety of mixed chamber groups, steel pan, and Afro-Cuban ensembles.
Percussion Masterclasses:
George Mason Percussion students have learned from guest artists in masterclasses with Silk Road Ensemble, The Innocents, Stuart and Silvia Smith, Pathos Trios and Third Coast Percussion.
Performance Opportunities:
Our students and alumni have performed with numerous ensembles including the Kennedy Center Opera House Orhestra, Washington National Opera, Cleveland Orchestra, Rhode Island Philharmonic, Hartford Symphony and Fairfax Symphony.
Alumni Success:
-Principal Timpani, Ft. Wayne Phillharmonic
-Fulbright Scholar
-Assistant Professor of Percussion at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
-Assistant Professor of Music at University of Northern Colorado
-Civic Orchestra of Chicago
-Orchestra Now
-Matchstick Percussion Ensemble
-Virginia Military Institute
-Secondary School Music Educator
Graduate Schools Attended:
Our Alumni have continued their studies by pursuing graduate degrees at Cleveland Institute of Music, Cleveland State University, Manhattan School of Music, Boston Conservatory at Berklee, Eastman School of Music, Northwestern, Lynn Conservatory of Music, Temple University, Boston University, University of Northern Florida and University of Texas at Austin.
Summer Festival Participation:
Our percussion students have participated in summer music festivals including Brevard Music Center, Wintergreen Music Festival, National Music Festival, National Orchestral Institute + Festival, Sewanee Summer Music Festival, Yellow Barn, Aspen Music Festival, Chautauqua Music Festival, SÖSI, and Tanglewood Music Festival.
Our prime location, minutes from Washington D.C., allows students a chance to hear the very best of live music, from Blues Alley to the Kennedy Center, every day.
Performance opportunities for percussion students include:
- Symphony Orchestra
- Wind Symphony
- Symphonic Band
- Percussion Ensemble
- Contemporary Music group
- Big Band
- Jazz Combos
- Steel Pan Ensemble
- Green Machine and Indoor Drumline
For prospective percussion students, please visit our apply and audition information to view the audition requirements.
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