Campus News

A Contemporary Composer Fuels a New Mason Collaboration

Emily Schneider — Tue, 07 Mar 2023 19:19:10 +0000

A Contemporary Composer Fuels a New Mason Collaboration Emily Schneider Tue, 03/07/2023 - 14:19

In This Story

Growing up in the Black church, Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Concert Bands, Dr. William Lake, Jr., deeply understands the power of music and movement.

After hearing Come Sunday by composer Omar Thomas, Lake dreamed of bringing this work to life with movement, bringing together the George Mason University Bands and the School of Dance. Working on such a project would not only expand his students' musical vocabulary but also create an authentic and expansive cultural experience for the Mason community. Associate Professor of Dance, Lawrence M. Jackson, had similar experiences, growing up in “the southern Black church, a very charismatic church” and reflected on his own upbringing and research into African diasporic dance forms. This collaboration came to life onstage in the Center for the Arts on Mason’s Fairfax Campus on February 28.

Students from Mason's School of Dance performing with the Mason Wind Symphony to Omar Thomas's Come Sunday on February 28. Photo by Will Martinez.

As a composer, arranger, and educator, Omar Thomas works with some of the most respected names in composition and education, including multiple GRAMMY-winning composer and bandleader Maria Schneider, Ken Schaphorst, and Frank Carlberg. Born to Guyanese parents in Brooklyn, New York, Thomas pursued music diligently, completing his Master of Music at Berklee College of Music and becoming the first Black composer to ever receive the National Bandmasters Association/Revelli Award for Come Sunday. His compositions are described as “thought-provoking, multi-layered masterpiece[s],” which made embarking on a partnership around this piece even more exciting for Jackson and Lake.

“I really hold dear my experiences as a musician in the Black church (I started playing the piano for my children’s choir around age 6) to my musical upbringing. Since I know gospel and other sacred music intimately, I can infuse the music with the extra nuances that can’t be described using notation but are true to the style. This piece has been performed by many great ensembles across the country… however, there hasn’t been a performance that centers movement and these great sounds.” said Lake.

Professor Jackson’s career often includes collaborations, a hallmark of his practice at other universities before coming to Mason in the fall of 2022. While the invitation to work with Dr. Lake at the end of the fall semester was a surprise, it also felt reassuring to find this partnership so early on and to begin exploring what this experience would mean for Mason students from both the School of Dance and the Dewberry School of Music.

A student from the School of Dance smiles at the audience during the performance of "Come Sunday" by Omar Thomas, performed by the Mason Wind Symphony. Photo by Will Martinez.

Building a vocabulary for the dancers was an opportunity for Jackson’s students to explore the storied culture of the Black church's sacred space and develop an understanding of the types of movement vocabulary that would reflect the energy and history of these spaces and traditions. From watching Alvin Ailey’s Revelations and clips of a particular scene from the movie Blues Brothers, Jackson offered context to his creative process, “blending contemporary dance forms, African diasporic dance forms, and pedestrian movement that is derived from the Black church, all merged into an amalgamation of movement vocabulary uniquely designed for this work.”

“The Mason School of Dance students are excited to work with the musicians,” said Jackson. “These dancers, most of them, if not all of them, have never had the experience of working alongside a symphony or a band. I’m excited for them to experience the unique energy of the symphony and adapt in the moment.” All of the dancers performing in this piece are seniors in their final semester with the School of Dance, which made Jackson that much more eager to share this experience with them before they embark on the next stage of their careers.

The dancers are not the only ones expanding their understanding and skills with this performance. “The jazz and gospel musical vocabulary is foreign to my students,” said Dr. Lake.

“It’s inspiring to see how invested our students are in something that they realize is new and different. My hope is that through music and collaborations, my students have a gateway to appreciate cultures different than their own,” Lake adds.

Dancers from Mason's School of Dance perform Professor Lawrence M. Jackson's original choreography to Come Sunday by Omar Thomas, performed by the Mason Wind Symphony on February 28. Photo by Will Martinez.

Unlike most concerts, the Wind Symphony will be moved further upstage than normal and without the acoustic shell to allow for the choreography to be presented downstage. This has resulted in the assistance of the Center for the Arts Artistic Staff to add audio, lighting, and stage-managing support. This unique concert has been chosen as one of the Mason Arts at Home features that will be captured via six cameras in the hall and even GoPros! Dr. Lake shared, “I’m jealous of the audience, I won’t get to experience the concert from their vantage point – I’m thankful that the School of Music and the College of Visual and Performing Arts have agreed to record, edit, and professionally mix our hard work”.

The duo is optimistic that this is just the beginning of collaborations between the Mason School of Dance and the Dewberry School of Music.

You can watch an in-depth interview with Jackson and Lake on the College of Visual and Performing Arts YouTube channel, including behind-the-scenes footage of rehearsals leading up to the performance.

The Wind Symphony’s performance from February 28, 2023, including Come Sunday featuring the School of Dance, will be available to watch from March 28 through April 28, 2023 exclusively through Mason Arts at Home.

Topics

College of Visual and Performing Arts

Mason Arts

Dewberry School of Music

College of Visual and Performing Arts School of Dance

Mason remembers the ‘guiding light’ legacy of Sid Dewberry

Colleen Rich — Tue, 19 Jul 2022 21:12:21 +0000

Mason remembers the ‘guiding light’ legacy of Sid Dewberry Colleen Rich Tue, 07/19/2022 - 17:12

At 75 Sid Dewberry began taking piano lessons from Mason Professor Linda Monson, director of what then was called Mason’s School of Music. He is pictured here with Monson at a student scholarship event. Photo by Christopher Bobo

Sid Dewberry, whose advocacy and generosity impacted countless students, and helped transform the entire George Mason University community, died July 16. He was 94.

The commitments from Dewberry and Reva, his wife of 72 years who died June 14, created avenues for expanded student experiences and allowed the university to grow its impact and reputation on several fronts, particularly in the areas of engineering and music.

Dewberry’s commitment to the university extended beyond philanthropy. He was an eight-year member of the Board of Visitors, served as rector from 2004-07, and was a member of the George Mason University Foundation. He received the Mason Medal, the university’s highest honor, in 1997.

Hallmarks of Dewberry’s legacy can be seen throughout the university.

Dewberry Hall in the Johnson Center on the Fairfax Campus is named for the family, as is the Sid and Reva Dewberry Civil, Environmental, and Infrastructure Engineering Department, and the Reva and Sid Dewberry Family School of Music.

“George Mason University has been privileged to have Sid Dewberry as one of its champions,” Mason President Gregory Washington said. “His contributions to Mason have supported our students, enhanced our research and helped to transform our campus. We are grateful for Sid’s contributions and are proud of our association with the Dewberry name, which epitomizes excellence, innovation and scholarship.”

Added Trishana Bowden, vice president for university advancement and alumni relations, and president of the George Mason University Foundation: “He was a remarkable force, a visionary and bold advocate for Mason who put his passions into practice. His impact on our university and students is all around us, and we cannot thank him enough.”

A civil engineer by training and founder of his eponymous engineering firm, Dewberry’s $1 million gift to the Volgenau School of Engineering in 2012 funded a new civil engineering laboratory, which supplements classroom learning with hands-on training in hydraulics, geotechnical and environmental engineering, and the behavior of structural materials.

The Sid and Reva Dewberry Civil, Environmental, and Infrastructure Engineering Department was the first Mason department named for a donor.

“Most people don’t know what a civil engineer does,” Dewberry said at the time of his donation. “When you drive to work, when you flush a toilet, when you get a drink of water—all of those things are the products of civil engineers.”

But Dewberry’s most unique relationship might have been with Mason’s School of Music.

Dewberry always wanted to learn to play the piano. But it wasn’t until he was 75 that he began taking lessons from Linda Monson, director of what then was called Mason’s School of Music.

That relationship led to Dewberry’s 2007 decision to spearhead an initiative to purchase 16 Steinway grand pianos for the school, making it a registered “All-Steinway” university.

“He’s been a guiding light with such a spirit of generosity and kindness,” said Monson, who met with Dewberry weekly for lessons until the end of his life. “He really wanted to help the next generation of artists, and he wanted Mason to have the best and for Mason to be the ‘top of the heap’ in attracting the best students.”

Dewberry’s generous philanthropy funded scholarships for talented artist-scholars who are known as “Linda Apple Monson Scholars.” For his continued support of the school, and for inspiring others to join the cause, the School of Music honored him by becoming the Reva and Sid Dewberry Family School of Music, the first donor-named school within the College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA).

Dewberry is survived by his sons Barry and Thomas, and daughter Karen S. Grand Pré. He was preceded in death by his son, Michael.

Rick Davis, CVPA’s dean, said Dewberry’s joy was making and listening to good music.

“One of his chief goals in life was to make that experience accessible to an ever-expanding circle of humanity,” Davis said. “We at Mason are proud to carry his name as we work on fulfilling that essential mission.”

Topics

Campus News

College of Engineering and Computing

Dewberry School of Music

A Concert with a Cause: Jazz4Justice™ Celebrates 20 Years of Giving back through Music

Kirstin Franko — Wed, 03 Nov 2021 20:32:12 +0000

A Concert with a Cause: Jazz4Justice™ Celebrates 20 Years of Giving back through Music Kirstin Franko Wed, 11/03/2021 - 16:32

Hear members of the Mason Jazz Ensemble and more in Jazz4Justice™ November 20 at 8 p.m. at the Center for the Arts. Photo by Gabriel Rivera-Martinez.

On Saturday, November 20 at 8 p.m., George Mason University’s Reva and Sid Dewberry Family School of Music is proud to present the Jazz4Justice™ 20th Anniversary Concert, a one-of-a-kind event celebrating Northern Virginia’s love of music while raising funds to support legal services for low-income Northern Virginians and the George Mason University Jazz Studies program.

This year, in celebration of Jazz4Justice™’s 20^th anniversary, Professor of Jazz Studies and Mason Jazz Ensemble Director Jim Carroll has assembled a stellar musical program featuring a tribute to the great Duke Ellington. The performance will include world premieres of new music as well as classic jazz standards performed by the Mason Jazz Ensemble and Mason Jazz Vocal Ensemble. To commemorate the special event, George Mason University Provost and Executive Vice President Mark Ginsberg will take the stage as a special guest conductor and lead the Mason Jazz Ensemble in select performances.

“We thought what better person to ask to take the baton as guest conductor for our 20th Anniversary than our Chief Academic Officer, Provost Mark Ginsberg,” Carroll said. “We are grateful he agreed to join us and lead us as Special Guest Conductor.”

Jazz4Justice™ is presented in partnership with Legal Services of Northern Virginia (LSNV), a nonprofit legal aid organization that has assisted thousands of clients in the NOVA region for over 40 years. The services of LSNV in tandem with the musical talents of Mason’s Jazz and Vocal Ensemble has transformed Jazz4Justice™ into a welcoming space where Jazz admirers can congregate and celebrate their love for music. With over 3,000 concert attendees annually and over 50 Jazz4Justice™ concerts held so far, the audience response has been an enthusiastic one, and the event’s reach continues to expand year after year. In celebration of Jazz4Justice™’s incredible impact, alumni from the Dewberry School of Music Jazz program have been invited back to perform during the event’s program.

“Giving back to the community through musical performance is a great opportunity to share the joy and history of Jazz,” shared Tomas Jackson, a Dewberry School of Music alumnus (MA in Music ’20) and six-time Jazz4Justice™ performer. “Those strong relationships have lasted past my graduation and have inspired my peers and I to continue our support of our community and pursuit of Jazz through writing, arranging, recording, and performing. We will always be grateful for the opportunities and inspiration Jazz4Justice™ provided us.”

Professor of Jazz Studies and Mason Jazz Ensemble Director Jim Carroll with the 2021 Jack Wood Award for Town-Gown Relations.

Jazz4Justice™ began in 2000 when Fairfax attorney Edward L. Weiner attended a jazz recital by Mason’s School of Music. Impressed by the music, and reflecting on his work as a past President of the Fairfax Law Foundation (FLF), Weiner saw an opportunity for a new partnership—one in which universities would provide the musical talent and the local legal community would provide the audience and sponsors.

Today, this breakthrough idea has grown into a symphonic, celebratory event with over $500,000 raised for music scholarships, educational aid, and charitable legal services for Virginians in need of civic resources. Due to its astounding impact, Jazz4Justice™ has received awards from the American Bar Association and the Virginia State Bar, and has most recently received the 2021 Jack Wood Award for Town-Gown Relations, a coveted award recognizing leadership in fostering beneficial relationships between George Mason University and the community during the past year.

“This year’s Jazz4Justice is especially important as so many people in our community are hurting,” Carroll added. “That we can use Jazz, a true metaphor for democracy and teach our students to be “Artists as Citizens”' is truly a blessing.”

Tickets to the concert at the Center for the Arts are available at the Ticket Office (open Tuesday–Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.), by calling at 703-993-2787, or at cfa.gmu.edu.

Topics

College of Visual and Performing Arts

Center for the Arts

Campus News

Jack Wood Award for Town Gown Relations

Dewberry School of Music

Mason music students collaborate to inspire others through song

Melanie Balog — Fri, 07 May 2021 01:46:08 +0000

Mason music students collaborate to inspire others through song Melanie Balog Thu, 05/06/2021 - 21:46

Stanley Engebretson, center, directs students in a performance of "I'll be on my way" for the Song of Freedom concert. Provided photo

Approximately 120 Mason music students recorded a digital concert to celebrate unity and resilience in the face of division and uncertainty. The concert, “A Song of Freedom,” presented by Mason’s Reva and Sid Dewberry Family School of Music, showcases works by Black composers as well as selections inspired by the African-American experience.

Cynthia Davis. Photo provided

The program, which debuts Saturday, May 8 as part of Mason Arts at Home, features two world premieres commissioned by the Dewberry School of Music from renowned composer Evelyn Simpson-Curenton and Michael W. Nickens, aka Doc Nix, Associate Professor of Music and Director of the Green Machines Ensembles.

“This magnificent concert is a true collaboration across our Dewberry School of Music students, faculty, and staff and is a celebratory finale to an unparalleled year,” said Linda A. Monson, Dewberry School of Music Director.

The performance includes students from the Mason Symphony Orchestra, University Choirs, Wind Symphony, Green Machine, Trombone Choir, Percussion Ensemble, and Tuba/Euphonium Ensemble. Alumnus Mike Vitale Mike Vitale ('10 music education) made a guest appearance on baritone saxophone on the recording.

Cynthia Davis created this colorized version of a portrait of Frederick Douglass. Image provided.

Master of Music Composition student Andrew Sharrock ('16 bachelor's of music education), played trumpet for the concert, and praised Nickens for his attention to detail in the composition. "I have loved getting to work with Dr. Nickens and hearing about the influences he had when writing his piece. He was so incredibly intentional with every note and marking. When it came time to record my part I was able to do so in a musically fulfilling manner."

Andrew Sharrock. Provided photo

Musicians received backing tracks of 2-8 measures which they recorded and sent back to Nickens, who edited the recordings together said Sharrock, band director at Glasgow Middle School

Mason students were also involved in crafting the artwork and audio-editing the program.

Rosie G. Wright, a junior majoring in vocal performance, sang in the ensemble pieces and was a featured soloist for the commissioned piece "Passages" and "Light Of a Clear Blue Morning."

"Recording parts for all the choral pieces was a bit of a challenge," Wright said. "It’s nothing like being in person especially since you can’t hear the ensemble around you, but after much trial and error we made it work. It was very rewarding to hear our final products after only singing by ourselves into a computer for 3 months."

Rosie Wright. Photo provided

Wright also enjoyed the opportunity to hear directly from Evelyn Simpson Currenton about how she made her musical choices when composing "Passages."

Cynthia “CJ” Davis, a junior majoring in government and international politics with minors ins psychology and studio art, colorized a black and white original picture of Frederick Douglas, and took pictures of the process. “I chose purple for royalty and strength, and maroon to symbolize empowerment.” Nickens then put the artwork in a video to match the musical composition.

"No matter how far we are from each other, music and technology will always bind us together," said Grayson Crouch, a junior music major who served as an audio editor and vocalist for all of the songs in this program.

Simpson-Curenton’s world premiere of “Passages” features students from across the University Choirs, a guest solo appearance by School of Music alumna and Metropolitan Opera artist Aundi Marie Moore, as well as solos by current students Rosie Wright, Case Hope, and Eliyahu Young. Stanley Engebretson, director of choral studies, said “Passages” uses phrases from the Bible and other sources and lifts up the ideals of justice and of loving the common good.

“I have known Evelyn Simpson Curenton’s fine work for many years, so we were elated when she agreed to write a special commission,” said Engebretson, who added that the concert is special to him since he’s retiring June 1.

Nickens’ original work, “The Orator, The Abolitionist, The Man: Frederick Douglass” is based on the 1893 biography written by his great-great grandfather James Monroe Gregory, a contemporary of Douglass. His piece features the Mason Wind Symphony, members of the Green Machine, and spoken word derived directly from the biography and Douglass’ speeches, delivered as narration by Nickens himself. Around 30 musicians, and one visual artist, participate in this performance.

Grayson Crouch. Photo provided

“This project presented many opportunities to problem solve and reimagine my process,” said Nickens. “Two things that helped immensely were watching how students that have worked with closely continued to deliver for me, and getting to interact with students with whom I hadn’t ever worked or socialized.”

“Expect to witness the resilience of the collaborators,” Nickens added. “The bonds of our community transcend the limitation of the pandemic the same way Douglass’s clear message transcends time.”

Topics

College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA)

Campus News

Students

Free Student Tickets

Stacey Schwartz — Mon, 14 Sep 2020 18:49:47 +0000

Free Student Tickets Stacey Schwartz Mon, 09/14/2020 - 14:49

Learn More About Free Tickets For Students

Venues

CH: Center for the Arts Concert Hall
DPS: Dance Performance Studio
HC: Hylton Center (SciTech Campus)
HT: Harris Theatre
TS: TheaterSpace

Most ticketed in-person events presented by the Center for the Arts, the Hylton Center, or the College of Visual and Performing Arts will have a set quantity of free student tickets available. Free student tickets will be offered online through the Mason360 platform to any eligible Mason student beginning two Tuesdays prior to each event. For full details, visit the Free Student Tickets page.

Student Tickets for Spring 2023

The Acting Company
THE THREE MUSKETEERS
Jan. 28 at 8 p.m.
The Originals! offers talented student playwrights and creative artists the chance to share their work in a variety of forms.

Mason Artist-in-Residence
SILKROAD ENSEMBLE
Uplifted Voices
Jan. 29 at 4 p.m.
Championing women and non-binary members of the Silkroad Ensemble alongside special guest Tuscarora/Taíno musician Pura Fé, Uplifted Voices weaves a musical tapestry connecting the sounds and rhythms of indigenous North America to the World.

School of Theater
MASON CABARET 2023
Feb. 3*–4 at 8 p.m.
Feb. 4 at 2 p.m.
A perennial favorite, our Musical Theater ambassadors, The Mason Cabaret, return with a fresh line up of stellar vocalists offering showstoppers, ballads, and duets.

MACHINE DE CIRQUE
La Galerie
Feb. 4 at 8 p.m.
Feb. 5 at 2 p.m.
What happens when a well-intentioned circus invades a serious, monochromatic museum exhibit? Hilarious, high-flying, color-filled pandemonium, of course!

Virginia Opera
FELLOW TRAVELERS
Feb. 4 at 8 p.m.
Feb. 5 at 2 p.m.
In a commitment to share contemporary opera experiences with its audiences, Virginia Opera presents Fellow Travelers by New York-based composer Gregory Spears and librettist Greg Pierce.

MARK MORRIS DANCE GROUP AND MUSIC ENSEMBLE
Pepperland
Feb. 11 at 8 p.m.
Legendary choreographer Mark Morris celebrates The Beatles in his critically acclaimed Pepperland!

Bay Area Children’s Theatre
LLAMA LLAMA LIVE
Feb. 12 at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.
Bedtime has never been so exciting in this clever, imaginative, and heartwarming musical!

CZECH NATIONAL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Robert McDuffie, violin
Feb. 12 at 2 p.m.
The acclaimed Czech National Symphony Orchestra (CNSO) returns to the Center with an uplifting program of masterworks and embraces the sheer joy and optimism of Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony.

DOUG VARONE AND DANCERS
Featuring the Mason Dance Company
Feb. 18 at 8 p.m.
Doug Varone and Dancers returns to the Center, bringing a program brimming with the vitality of highly charged choreography which also touches the human heart.

VOCTAVE
The Corner of Broadway and Main Street
Feb. 19 at 4 p.m.
Calling all Disney and Broadway fans! A cappella superstars, Voctave, will transform the Center for the Arts into The Corner of Broadway and Main Street in an “aca-awesome” treat for all ages.

CHLOÉ ARNOLD’S SYNCOPATED LADIES LIVE!
Feb. 25 at 8 p.m.
Viral tap dance phenomenon Syncopated Ladies LIVE! is the brainchild of D.C.-native and Emmy® Award-nominated tap dancer and choreographer Chloé Arnold, who is a protégé of Debbie Allen.

L.A. Theatre Works
LUCY LOVES DESI: A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE SITCOM
Feb. 26 at 4 p.m.
Lucy's biggest scheme ever? Persuading the CBS studio heads to air I Love Lucy in the first place! Stroll down memory lane in this behind-the-scenes look at one of America’s best-loved TV shows of all time.

KEYBOARD CONVERSATIONS® WITH JEFFREY SIEGEL Musical Valentines
Feb. 26 at 7 p.m.
In this stirring Keyboard Conversations® with Jeffrey Siegel, be swept away with music of infinite passion, poetry, and longing by Brahms, Schumann, Liszt, and Chopin, and learn how the composers were inspired by the loves in their own lives.

Dewberry School of Music
MASON WIND SYMPHONY AND SYMPHONIC BAND CONCERT
Feb. 28 at 8 p.m.
Come see the Wind Symphony and the Symphonic Band, directed by Dr. William L. Lake, Jr., perform a variety of band repertoire.

VICTOR PROVOST: STEELPAN RHYTHMS & MELODIES
Mar. 1 at 1:30 p.m.
Steelpanist Victor Provost presents an eclectic repertoire of music including Folk music of South America and the Caribbean, European Classical Music, American Jazz, and original compositions.

School of Theater
THE NIGHT KNIGHTS
Mar. 3** at 8 p.m.
Mar. 4 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Follow the Night Knights on their quest to put the kingdom to bed. What story will the princess want to hear tonight? Will the dragon need a glass of water? This order of knights is prepared for any bedtime demand. But will they ever get to go to sleep?

Manassas Symphony Orchestra INSPIRATIONS
Mar. 4 at 7:30 p.m.
Joseph Kingma joins the MSO to perform Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor.

JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER PRESENTS
Songs We Love
Mar. 5 at 4 p.m.
You don’t have to take a train to New York City to indulge in the polished brass, spirited improvisation, and syncopated rhythms of Jazz at Lincoln Center.

Dewberry School of Music
UNIVERSITY SINGERS CONCERT
Mar. 5 at 4 p.m.
Under the direction of Dr. Lisa Billingham, the University Singers is a select choral ensemble at Mason dedicated to the performance of advanced vocal chamber music ranging from Renaissance to contemporary and commissioned works.

Dewberry School of Music
MASON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA CONCERT
Mar. 6 at 8 p.m.
The Mason Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Dr. Soo Han, is comprised of outstanding string, wind, and percussion players from throughout the School of Music. This concert features winners of the School of Music’s student concerto competition.

Virginia Opera
LA TRAVIATA
Mar. 11 at 8 p.m.
Mar. 12 at 2 p.m.
Featuring one of the most demanding, sumptuous, and recognizable scores of all time, Virginia Opera concludes its season with Giuseppe Verdi’s tour de force La Traviata.

Manassas Chorale
WITH ONE VOICE
Mar. 18 at 7:30 p.m.
The Chorale joins forces with the Voices United Workshop Choir, a guest clinician, and a lively orchestra to “raise the roof” in this annual concert of sacred music that includes toe-tapping spirituals, beautiful melodies, and stunning arrangements.

KODO
One Earth Tour 2023: Tsuzumi
Mar. 18 at 8 p.m.
Experience the power, grace, and joy that KODO’s athletic percussionists bring to the stage in their much-anticipated 40th anniversary performance: Tsuzumi.

DERVISH
Mar. 19 at 4 p.m.
Take a musical journey along Ireland’s rugged and wild coastline with traditional Irish music icons, Dervish.

School of Dance
2023 MASON DANCE COMPANY GALA CONCERT
Mar. 24–25 at 8 p.m.
The highlight of the Mason Dance Company.

Enchantment Theatre Company
THE ADVENTURES OF HAROLD AND THE PURPLE CRAYON
Mar. 26 at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.
“One evening, after thinking it over for some time, Harold decided to go for a walk in the moonlight.” So begins The Adventures of Harold and the Purple Crayon, which follows the zany adventures of an inventive young boy.

Dewberry School of Music
BIG BAND SHOWDOWN
Mar. 27 at 8 p.m.
Join the Mason Jazz Ensemble (director Jim Carroll) and the Jazz Workshop (director, John Kocur) for an evening that celebrates the hot sounds and swinging beats of the Big Band era!

School of Theater
THE HUNCHBACK OF SEVILLE
Preview: Mar. 29 at 8 p.m.
Mar. 30–31**, Apr. 1, 5–7 at 8 p.m.
Apr. 1, 8 at 2 p.m.
The Hunchback of Seville is presented by special arrangement with Broadway Licensing, LLC, servicing the Dramatists Play Service collection.

CIRQUE FLIP FABRIQUE
Muse
Mar. 31 at 8 p.m.
Apr. 1 at 2 p.m.
In this all-new, high-energy production, the seven acrobats of FLIP Fabrique don high heels, then football shoulder pads to dazzle audiences of all ages.

DANIEL HOPE AND THE ZURICH CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
America
Apr. 2 at 2 p.m.
Violin luminary Daniel Hope returns with the Zurich Chamber Orchestra to reveal the charisma of American music in a program named after his new album, America.

METROPOLITAN JAZZ ORCHESTRA
Bobby Floyd, organ
Apr. 8 at 8 p.m.
Calling all cool cats to head to the Center for the Arts for a swinging evening of jazz with Northern Virginia’s own Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra, featuring keyboardist/organist Bobby Floyd on the Hammond organ and led by Founder, Artistic Director, and virtuoso saxophonist Jim Carroll.

LEO SUSHANSKY AND MICHELLE LUNDY
Apr. 12 at 1:30 p.m.
Strings will sing in this stunning concert pairing with harpist Michelle Lundy and violinist Leo Sushansky.

STATE BALLET OF GEORGIA
Mostly B
Apr. 15 at 8 p.m.
Experience the sleek grace and physicality of neoclassical ballet with the State Ballet of Georgia in a program of works by George Balanchine and Ukrainian choreographer Yuri Possokhov.

KEYBOARD CONVERSATIONS® WITH JEFFREY SIEGEL
Mozart and Friends
Apr. 16 at 7 p.m.
Jeffrey Siegel closes out the Keyboard Conversations® season with a program that celebrates the power and inspiration of friendship.
DISNEY’S WINNIE THE POOH
The New Musical Stage Adaptation
Apr. 16 at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.
Disney's iconic Winnie the Pooh, Christopher Robin and their best friends Piglet, Eeyore, Kanga, Roo, Rabbit, and Owl (oh… and don't forget Tigger, too!) have come to life in a beautifully crafted musical stage adaptation.

Dewberry School of Music
SYMPHONIC BAND CONCERT
Apr. 18 at 8 p.m.
The Mason Symphonic Band invites our dedicated audience to "Songs, Serenades, and Sentiments," the second Mason Bands concert of the Fall Semester.

THE ROAD TO THE END
Preview: Apr. 19 at 8 p.m.
Apr. 20, 21**, 22 at 8 p.m.
Apr. 22–23† at 2 p.m.
The Road to the End is a brand-new, student-written play making its world premiere by The Mason Players and George Mason University’s School of Theater this spring.

FAIRFAX SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
George Li, piano
Apr. 22 at 8 p.m.
The Center for the Arts is proud to co-present a soaring classical music program by the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra, featuring George Li performing Rachmaninoff’s immortal Piano Concerto No. 2.

KEYBOARD CONVERSATIONS® WITH JEFFREY SIEGEL Chopin and Grieg–A Musical Friendship
Apr. 23 at 2 p.m.
Romance is in the air in this Keyboard Conversations® with Jeffrey Siegel concert.

THE PASSING ZONE
The Passing Zone Saves the World!
Apr. 23 at 4 p.m.
In their latest show The Passing Zone Saves the World!, The Passing Zone delivers a pulse-pounding and riotously funny performance, combining juggling, comedy, and daredevil stunts.

Dewberry School of Music
MASON JAZZ VOCAL NIGHT
Apr. 24 at 8 p.m.
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!

Dewberry School of Music
WIND SYMPHONY CONCERT
Apr. 25 at 8 p.m.
The George Mason University Wind Symphony, led by Director of Bands Dr. William L. Lake, Jr., is a select ensemble comprised of outstanding wind, brass, and percussion players in the School of Music and the university.

Dewberry School of Music
MASON OPERA
Apr. 28–29 at 8 p.m.
Apr. 29–30 at 2 p.m.
Join Mason Opera for the second production of their year with a cast of talented vocal students.

Mason Artist-in-Residence
INDIGENOUS ENTERPRISE
Indigenous Liberation
Apr. 29 at 8 p.m.
Indigenous Enterprise is on a mission to proudly share their heritage and culture through explosively joyous authentic dance and song.

Dewberry School of Music
INTERNATIONAL JAZZ
DAY CONCERT
Apr. 30 at 7 p.m.
Share the vibrancy and vitality of jazz music with Mason Jazz students and faculty on April 30!

Dewberry School of Music
UNIVERSITY SINGERS CONCERT
May 2 at 8 p.m.
Under the direction of Dr. Lisa Billingham, the University Singers is a select choral ensemble at Mason dedicated to the performance of advanced vocal chamber music ranging from Renaissance to contemporary and commissioned works.

School of Dance
SPRING: DANCE INNOVATIONS
May 5–6 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Mason choreographers showcase new works performed by the Mason Dance Company.

Manassas Symphony Orchestra
ASPIRATIONS
May 6 at 7:30 p.m.
The Manassas Symphony Orchestra closes its season with internationally acclaimed young pianist Alexander Bernstein, professor of piano at Shenandoah Conservatory.

Dewberry School of Music
MASON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA CONCERT
May 7 at 7 p.m.
Join the Dewberry School of Music for their spring finale concert featuring the Mason Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Dr. Soo Han.

CAMMO VOICES
May 13 at 8 p.m.
CAMMO Voices joins with George Mason University’s Veterans and the Arts Initiative to present a concert that honors our servicemembers, their spouses, and families.

Manassas Chorale
FROM SEA TO SHINING SEA
Jun. 2 at 7:30 p.m.
Take a musical journey with the Chorale, its ensemble, orchestra, and the Greater Manassas Children’s Choir for an evening of patriotic music that honors our country’s Veterans.

(Note: Performance times are different between Mason Opera’s webpage and here.)

ms.

MARK MORRIS DANCE GROUP AND MUSIC ENSEMBLE
Pepperland
Feb. 11 at 8 p.m.
Legendary choreographer Mark Morris celebrates The Beatles in his critically acclaimed Pepperland!

Bay Area Children’s Theatre
LLAMA LLAMA LIVE
Feb. 12 at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.
Bedtime has never been so exciting in this clever, imaginative, and heartwarming musical!

Manassas Symphony Orchestra INSPIRATIONS
Mar. 4 at 7:30 p.m.
Joseph Kingma joins the MSO to perform Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor.

DERVISH
Mar. 19 at 4 p.m.
Take a musical journey along Ireland’s rugged and wild coastline with traditional Irish music icons, Dervish.

School of Dance
2023 MASON DANCE COMPANY GALA CONCERT
Mar. 24–25 at 8 p.m.
The highlight of the Mason Dance Company.

LEO SUSHANSKY AND MICHELLE LUNDY
Apr. 12 at 1:30 p.m.
Strings will sing in this stunning concert pairing with harpist Michelle Lundy and violinist Leo Sushansky.

Dewberry School of Music
SYMPHONIC BAND CONCERT
Apr. 19 at 8 p.m.
The Mason Symphonic Band invites our dedicated audience to "Songs, Serenades, and Sentiments," the second Mason Bands concert of the Fall Semester.

KEYBOARD CONVERSATIONS® WITH JEFFREY SIEGEL Chopin and Grieg–A Musical Friendship
Apr. 23 at 2 p.m.
Romance is in the air in this Keyboard Conversations® with Jeffrey Siegel concert.

Dewberry School of Music
MASON OPERA
Apr. 28–29 at 8 p.m.
Apr. 29–30 at 2 p.m.
Join Mason Opera for the second production of their year with a cast of talented vocal students.

Dewberry School of Music
INTERNATIONAL JAZZ
DAY CONCERT
Apr. 30 at 7 p.m.
Share the vibrancy and vitality of jazz music with Mason Jazz students and faculty on April 30!

School of Dance
SPRING: DANCE INNOVATIONS
May 5–6 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Mason choreographers showcase new works performed by the Mason Dance Company.

CAMMO VOICES
May 13 at 8 p.m.
CAMMO Voices joins with George Mason University’s Veterans and the Arts Initiative to present a concert that honors our servicemembers, their spouses, and families.

Learn more about free tickets for students.

School of Music to be renamed after Reva and Sid Dewberry Family

Mariam Aburdeineh — Tue, 03 Mar 2020 05:00:00 +0000

School of Music to be renamed after Reva and Sid Dewberry Family Mariam Aburdeineh Tue, 03/03/2020 - 00:00

George Mason University’s School of Music will be renamed the Reva and Sid Dewberry Family School of Music, in honor of the Dewberrys’ lifetime legacy of giving and generous support of the school. The decision was approved unanimously at the Feb. 27 Board of Visitors meeting.

“The name Dewberry symbolizes excellence, extraordinary commitment, innovation and long-standing relationships. Our School of Music embraces those same qualities, especially with our goal of excellence in all areas and having a very tangible path to get there,” said Linda Monson, the School of Music director who has been a faculty member at Mason since 1999. “To have our school be named after a benefactor who embodies all of these same qualities is such an honor.”

Sid Dewberry and Linda Monson playing the piano.

In addition to recent and pledged support of $1.8 million that will create a scholarship endowment, prior contributions from the Dewberrys include nearly $1.4 million for the creation of the Linda Apple Monson Scholars Endowed Fund. The family also helped lead the Steinway Initiative, which allowed the school to achieve even higher status as an All-Steinway School in 2007.

“I want the School of Music to be the best school in the United States and the world, not only for [future] teachers but also for performers,” said Sid Dewberry, who began learning piano from Monson at age 75 to fulfill a life goal.

“My dream is to put Mason on the top of the heap,” the now 92-year-old said. “I think we’re well on our way to doing that.”

“[The Dewberrys] have been transformational,” said Rick Davis, dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA). “Because Sid stepped up, we are able to offer even more scholarship support, which allows us to compete for students who would like to come [to Mason] but are also getting major scholarship offers from other great schools.”

The Dewberrys’ gifts will make the School of Music the first donor-named school within the CVPA.

“[Mason is] still practically brand-new on the planet, and we’ve done so much so quickly,” Davis said. “Moments like this are signs of arrival for a college.”

Mason’s institutional maturity is also becoming more widely recognized, Monson and Davis said, adding that students from across the country and around the world are choosing to study here.

“[Mason’s School of Music] trains artists, and artists help make the world a better place,” Monson said. “Mr. Dewberry has experienced this—he has witnessed it himself. He’s seen what our artists here in the School of Music are doing, and he wants to help propel our school to the highest level possible.”

The Dewberry family has a long-standing commitment to Mason. Dewberry Hall within the Johnson Center, as well as the Sid and Reva Dewberry Department of Civil, Environmental, and Infrastructure Engineering within the Volgenau School of Engineering, have also been named in their honor.

Mason’s younger status among universities makes financial support of the college even more impactful, as it creates unprecedented scholarship opportunities for many talented students, Monson and Davis said.

“We are incredibly grateful to the Dewberrys and to our Friends of Music, who support us in all ways in helping us to raise scholarship support,” Monson said. “We want to continue building our music scholarships and endowments and we have many ways in which one can help to be a part of this wonderful legacy to our School of Music.”

The Dewberrys and the renaming will be celebrated at the Sept. 13 Grand Piano Celebration at 3 p.m. The online concert will be open to the public.

College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) School of Music

College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA)

Friends of Music at Mason

Reva and Sid Dewberry Family School of Music

Campus News

Dewberry School of Music

School of Music