Dear Mason Music Family,

Please purchase your tickets now for an extraordinary line-up of concerts featuring our Dewberry School of Music artists: Mason Opera with Menotti double-bill this weekend (April 24-26), Mason Choirs (April 28), International Jazz Day (April 30), and Mason Symphony Orchestra with concerto competition winners (May 3). 

Additionally, we have many free events/concerts that feature our terrific music students including New Sound Collective concert tonight at 8 pm, Tuba and Euphonium concert this Saturday, Percussion Group this Sunday, and more!  Please join us for our diverse offerings of free concerts and student recitals as highlighted throughout this newsletter. 

We are grateful to celebrate the Friends of Music at Mason 20th Anniversary throughout this Spring 2026 season of concerts. Thanks to our fabulous Friends of Music at Mason for your enthusiastic support of our students.

We look forward to greeting you at Mason as we share outstanding concerts featuring our Dewberry School of Music artists! We eagerly look forward to seeing you this weekend for our beautiful Mason Opera performances in Harris Theatre! 

Warm regards,

Dr. Linda A. Monson, Director
Reva and Sid Dewberry Family School of Music

MASON OPERA PRESENTS:
Gian Carlo Menotti
The Telephone & The Old Maid and the Thief
Friday, April 24 at 8 p.m.
Saturday, April 25 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Sunday, April 26 at 3 p.m.
All performances in Harris Theatre (Fairfax Campus)

Mason Opera is delighted to showcase our talented vocalists in two comedic one-act operas by Gian Carlo Menotti, one of our most celebrated American operatic composers. In "The Telephone", two young lovers meet with an important question between them. But when the phone will not stop ringing, one of them must find a creative way to break through the noise. In "The Old Maid and The Thief", two women are caught between their façade of social propriety and the allure of a handsome stranger. But can they keep him in town long enough to win him over, AND keep their reputations intact? 

Join George Mason Jazz Studies as we come together with the global community to celebrate International Jazz Day, a worldwide initiative led by UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization). This annual event unites people across cultures, countries, and generations through the power of jazz —honoring its roots, envisioning its future, and recognizing its profound impact on humanity.

Featuring 5 incredible groups: the Steel Pan Ensemble, Jazz Room Combo, Jazz Workshop, Mason Jazz Vocal Ensemble and the Mason Jazz Ensemble.

The Mason Orchestras are proud to present their final performance of the 2025-2026 season, under the direction of Dr. Soo Han. The Mason Symphony Orchestra will feature winners of the 2026 Mason Concerto Competition: Elfa Hassan, violin (student of Professor June Huang); Yanjun Liu, piano (student of Dr. Linda Apple Monson); and Benjamin Lopez, clarinet (student of Dr. Kathleen Mulcahy).

Elfa Hassan is a third-year student at George Mason University pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Music Pedagogy and Psychology. A Northern Virginia native, she graduated from Centreville High School. She is an active performer and freelancer in the DC Metropolitan area. The first in her family to attend university in the United States, she is proud of her Sudanese-American heritage and background. A passionate violinist, her journey with music began long before she picked up any instrument. 

She comes from a family and culture of musicians and artists alike, and she strives to continue spreading hope, peace, and comfort through her music.

Yanjun Liu is a Doctor of Musical Arts student in Piano Performance at the Dewberry School of Music at George Mason University, studying under Dr. Linda Apple Monson. She currently serves as a Graduate Teaching Assistant in Collaborative Piano. Born and raised in China, Yanjun began studying classical piano at the age of four. She received her Master of Music degree from the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music at California State University, Long Beach, where she was awarded the Cole and Music Performance Scholarship for two consecutive years. 

As an active collaborative pianist, she has performed extensively at Mason with vocalists, instrumentalists, and ensembles, including the Mason Wind Symphony.

Benjamin Lopez is a senior pursuing a Bachelor of Music in Clarinet Performance at George Mason University’s Dewberry School of Music, where he studies with Dr. Kathleen Mulcahy. A scholarship recipient of the Monson Artist- Scholar Award, Benjamin has distinguished himself as a versatile soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral performer. At George Mason, Benjamin has served as Assistant and Principal Clarinet with the Symphony Orchestra, Wind Symphony, and Opera Orchestra. 

For the summer of 2026, Benjamin will attend the Aspen Music Festival and School as a 2nd and E-flat Clarinet Fellow. Through his work as both a soloist and orchestral performer, Benjamin continues to pursue artistic excellence while exploring repertoire that spans classical masterworks and contemporary works.

Join us for a selection of modern and contemporary chamber works presented by the students of the New Sound Collective, led by Dr. Andrea Reinkemeyer.

Free and open to the public.

Chakeal Gibson, student president of Groove Theory, invites you to Join us for an evening of a cappella tunes performed by Mason students.

The Mason Electronic Music Ensemble (MEME) will be presenting a dynamic concert of electronic music. This semester’s performance features the music of The Weeknd, Zedd, Deftones, Imogen Heap, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Ariana Grande, and Jamiroquai. Ensemble members Ando White and Angelina Rubi Cisneros will also be presenting original works.

Join us for a high-energy program of electronic arrangements and original student works from an eclectic mix of genres including Japanese City Pop, Indie Rock, Nu-gaze, R&B, Ambient, and Electronic Dance Music!

Students will be performing on a variety of electronic instruments including computers, synthesizers, electric guitars, and drum machines.

Free admission and open to the public!

MUSI 300 credit is available for Mason music students.

The Honors Recital is a premier recital opportunity for Dewberry School of Music exceptional student performers in the vocal, instrumental, and piano areas. These outstanding student soloists and chamber musicians have been selected via audition for this prestigious Dewberry School of Music Honors Recital performance.

Free and open to the public.

Clayton Ives, Piano, Non-Degree Recital
Sunday, April 26 at 8:00 p.m.
deLaski 3001

Hannah Cayem, Voice, Master's Recital
Friday, May 1 at 7:00 p.m.
Hylton Recital Hall

Trey Perry, Percussion, Doctoral Recital
Saturday, May 2 at 2:00 p.m.
deLaski 3001

Jabari deRoux, Cello, Non-Degree Recital
Saturday, May 2 at 5:00 p.m.
deLaski 3001

Li Chang, Piano, Doctoral Recital
Monday, May 4 at 5:00 p.m.

Xuting Zhao, Piano, Doctoral Recital
Monday, May 4 at 7:00 p.m.

Humberto Henriquez, Trumpet, Doctoral Recital
Thursday, May 7 at 7:00 p.m.

Congkai Wang, Piano, Doctoral Recital
Sunday, May 10 at 2:00 p.m.

Yechan Lim, Piano, Graduate Artist Certificate Recital
Sunday, May 10 at 5:00 p.m.

Lan Gao, Piano, Doctoral Recital
Sunday, May 10 at 7:00 p.m.

Zurui Tai, Piano, Doctoral Recital
Monday, May 11 at 5:00 p.m.

Yanjun Liu, Piano, Doctoral Recital
Monday, May 11 at 7:00 p.m.

Yao Peng, Piano, DMA Lecture Recital
Tuesday, May 12 at 2:00 p.m.

Jiayi Chen, Piano, Doctoral Recital
Tuesday, May 12 at 7:00 p.m.

Shuying Zhao, Piano, Doctoral Recital
Wednesday, May 13 at 5:00 p.m.

Yuanchen Lai, Piano, Doctoral Recital
Wednesday, May 13 at 7:00 p.m.

The George Mason University Celebration of Teaching Excellence 2026 Awards ceremony occurred April 13 in Dewberry Hall on the Fairfax campus. Dr. Rick Davis, Dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts stated: This year we were thrilled to celebrate two CVPA faculty members, both from our Dewberry School of Music.  Professor June Huang received a Teacher of Distinction recognition, and Dr. Linda Apple Monson received the David J. King Award, considered the university's highest teaching honor, given to "a faculty member who has made significant, long-term contributions (across at least 20 years) to the overall educational excellence of the university."  

Professor June Huang received a Teacher of Distinction Award for her "dedication to her students and the educational mission of George Mason University."

Congratulations, Professor Huang!!

Dr. Linda Apple Monson received the David J. King Teaching Excellence Award, considered the University's highest teaching honor, for her "exemplary dedication to student learning and commitment to educational excellence" and for significant, long-term contributions to the overall educational excellence of George Mason University.

Congratulations, Dr. Monson!!

Huge congratulations to Mason Bands for the 55th Mason Bands Emerald Anniversary Concert which occurred on April 17 under the direction of Dr. William Lake Jr.

Congratulations to Dr. Andrea Reinkemeyer on the commission and world premiere of her new work 'and the pursuit'  in celebration of the Mason Bands 55th anniversary!

How thrilled we were to honor and recognize our outstanding leadership of the Mason Bands throughout our history: Dr. Joseph Kanyan, Prof. Anthony Maiello, Prof. Mark Camphouse, and our current director, Dr. William Lake Jr.