Dear Mason Music Family,

We invite you to join us for our Dewberry Faculty Artist Series rescheduled Brass Faculty Artist Showcase this Saturday, March 14 at 7 pm in Harris Theatre. The marvelous brass faculty concert this Saturday evening features the artistry of Dr. Dennis Edelbrock, trumpet; Dr. Caroline Steiger, horn; Dr. William David Porter, tuba; and Dr. Ina Mirtcheva Blevins, collaborative pianist. 

Additionally, we are pleased to present Jeffrey Seigel in a piano masterclass this upcoming Monday, March 16, 11.30 am - 1.20 pm in the choral room. 

Please purchase your tickets now for our Chorale Broadway Showcase on Friday March 27 at 8 pm and Saturday March 28 at 2 pm at the beautiful Hylton Performing Arts Center in Manassas.  We also encourage you to purchase tickets for our Big Band Showdown on Monday, March 30 at 8 pm in our Center for the Arts Concert Hall in Fairfax. The Big Band Showdown will feature the Mason Jazz Ensemble, Mason Jazz Workshop, and the Shenandoah University Studio Big Band. 

How thrilled we are to host Luxembourg composer Rudi De Bouw as Guest Composer in Residence at the Dewberry School of Music March 30 - April 1.  You are invited to attend a Composition Masterclass with Rudi De Bouw on Monday March 30 at 12.30 pm.  We are very excited to present a chamber music Performance and Film Screening with compositions of Rudi De Bouw on Wednesday, April 1, 11.30 am - 1:30 pm in Harris Theatre. This is a not-to-be-missed event! 

Additionally, we are thrilled to celebrate the Mason Bands 55th Anniversary on April 16-18, 2026. Please register by Tuesday, March 17 to experience three unforgettable days of celebration, including rehearsal of the Alumni Concert Band https://alumni.gmu.edu/masonbands55

We are pleased to celebrate the Friends of Music at Mason 20th Anniversary throughout this Spring 2026 season of concerts. Thanks to our wonderful Friends of Music at Mason for your continual support of our students!

Warm regards,

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

Join us for our annual Broadway Showcase by the George Mason University Chorale. From electrifying opening numbers to heartfelt tributes, we will share the magic of iconic opening numbers and timeless favorites that celebrate the spirit of the Big Apple. Experience the pulse, power, and promise of Broadway’s greatest musical moments, whether you’re a lifelong theater fan or just discovering the magic of musical theater. We will partner with Prince William County School music students as a featured collaboration in this performance.

Come enjoy a composition masterclass for Dewberry School of Music students with Rudi De Bouw, a Belgian-Luxembourgish composer, from 12:30pm-2:30pm on the Monson Grand Tier (3rd floor of Center for the Arts).

Come enjoy a live performance of Rudi de Bouw's works and a panel discussion at 11:30 a.m in Harris Theatre, followed by a film screening at 12:30 p.m. of "Nocturno" (2023) featuring music of Rudi de Bouw. 

Rudi de Bouw, a Belgian-Luxembourgish composer and conductor, studied at the Conservatory of Luxembourg and the Royal Conservatory of Liege (where he obtained several masters degrees with distinction). He also worked as an euphonium/tuba player in the Liege Philharmonic Orchestra, the Opera de la Monnaie as well as the Belgian Air Force Orchestra. He also conducted in several orchestras while continuing to teach at the Conservatory of the City of Esch-sur-Alzette. For more than 15 years, he has been the guest conductor in well-known orchestras such as the Royal Oman Symphony Orchestra, the Emporda Chamber Orchestra and the Leopoldinum Chamber Orchestra with which he premiered several of his compositions. In 2016 he became the Director of the Music School of the City of Differdange. His compositions have been awarded prizes in various international competitions and have been featured as soundtracks for films.

The BIG BAND SHOWDOWN will take place on Monday, March 30, 2026, at 8:00pm in the Center for the Arts! Three bands will be showcased in an electrifying evening that celebrates the hot sounds and swinging beats of the Big Band era! Featuring the Mason Jazz Ensemble, directed by Jim Carroll, Jazz Workshop, directed by John Kocur and the Shenandoah University Studio Big Band, directed by Dr. Matt Niess. Join us for a high-energy showcase of powerful brass, blazing saxophone sections, driving rhythm sections, and dynamic jazz performances you won’t want to miss!

Join Dr. Darden Purcell, the Mason Jazz Voice Studio and the DOWNBEAT award-winning Mason Jazz Vocal Ensemble for an evening of swinging standards, Latin American songs and classic hits from the Great American Songbook.

The Mason Jazz Workshop, directed by Assistant Professor John Kocur explores the intersection of improvisation and composition in a large jazz ensemble. The name of the Mason Jazz Workshop is inspired by ensembles led by innovative jazz composers Charles Mingus and George Russell. Featuring George Mason University jazz studies students, the group performs compositions for octets, nonets, and instrumentations other than the typical jazz big band. Attendees will enjoy rare and beautiful arrangements by jazz legends from many eras of jazz history, including the present. The ensemble often performs new original compositions by Mason students and faculty as well.

Free and open to the public.

From April 16-18, 2026, experience three unforgettable days of celebration, including rehearsal of the Mason Alumni Concert Band (Thursday, April 16), featuring the Mason Wind Symphony and Symphonic Band (Friday, April 17), and Anniversary Luncheon (Saturday, April 18).  General admission tickets to the 55th Anniversary Concert on Friday, April 17, 2026, are available through the Center for the Arts ticket office. For more information and to register by March 17 to participate in the alumni band: https://alumni.gmu.edu/masonbands55

Join us for a landmark celebration as the Mason Bands present the 55th Anniversary Concert, bringing together generations of musicians for an unforgettable evening of music and legacy. Featuring the Mason Symphonic Band, Mason Wind Symphony, and the Mason Alumni Band, this concert honors the past, celebrates the present, and inspires the future of George Mason University’s vibrant band community.

This historic event welcomes back two revered figures in Mason’s musical legacy: Professor Anthony J. Maiello and Professor Mark Camphouse, both retired Directors of Concert Bands. Their artistry and mentorship have left a lasting imprint on generations of Mason musicians, and we are honored to have them return as guest conductors for this special occasion.

As a highlight of the concert, the Mason Wind Symphony will perform Paul Hindemith’s Symphony in B-flat in celebration of the 75th anniversary of this cornerstone work of the wind band repertoire. Hindemith’s groundbreaking symphony remains a towering achievement in the genre, bridging tradition and modernism with bold craftsmanship and emotional depth.

The Wind Symphony will also present the world premiere of a new work by Dr. Andrea Reinkemeyer, composed in honor of the 55th Anniversary of the Mason Bands. This celebratory commission captures the spirit, growth, and creative momentum of the Mason Bands community, written by one of today’s most exciting and visionary American composers.

Continuing its commitment to community and education, the Mason Bands are thrilled to welcome the Glasgow Middle School Band, under the direction of Andrew Sharrock, as a featured guest ensemble. Mr. Sharrock—an alumnus of both the Bachelor of Music in Instrumental Music Education (2016) and Master of Music in Composition (2022) programs—represents the lasting impact of Mason-trained educators across the region.

With performances that span tradition, innovation, and community collaboration, the 55th Anniversary Concert is a tribute to what makes the Mason Bands extraordinary. We invite you to join us in celebrating this milestone as we reflect, honor, and move boldly into the next era of excellence.

Ying Yang, Piano, Dissertation Defense
Tuesday, March 17 at 3:15 p.m.
Conference Room

Messiah Smith, Tuba, Non-Degree Recital
Friday, March 20 at 8:00 p.m.
deLaski 3001

Carson Ross, Tuba, Doctoral Recital
Saturday, March 21 at 3:00 p.m.
Hylton Recital Hall

Julianna Evans, Clarinet, Doctoral Recital
Saturday, March 21 at 5:00 p.m.
deLaski 3001

Nicholas Edwards, Oboe, Non-Degree Recital
Sunday, March 22 at 3:00 p.m.
deLaski 3001

Jiye Kim, Piano, Dissertation Defense
Tuesday, March 24 at 3:15 p.m.
Conference Room

Christopher Bell, Composition, Master's Recital
Thursday, March 26 at 8:00 p.m.
deLaski 3001

Justin Perez, Clarinet, Non-Degree Master's Recital
Friday, March 27 at 8:00 p.m.
deLaski 3001

Marianna Wolpert, Violin, Senior Recital
Thursday, April 2 at 7:00 p.m.
Harris Theatre

Hunter Swanson, Euphonium, Master's Recital
Friday, April 3 at 7:00 p.m.
Harris Theatre

Brittany Sterling Young, Violin, Doctoral Recital
Saturday, April 4 at 12:00 p.m.
Harris Theatre

Suyuan Carrasco, Violin, Senior Recital
Saturday, April 4 at 3:00 p.m.
Harris Theatre

Lisette Joo, Flute, Senior Recital
Saturday, April 4 at 6:00 p.m.
Harris Theatre

Benjamin Lopez, Clarinet, Senior Recital
Saturday, April 4 at 8:00 p.m.
Harris Theatre

Our very own "George Mason Jazz Camp" just made the cover of Downbeat magazine's "Jazz Camp Guide"! We not only got the cover, but also a listing, group photo, and advertisement. Congratulations to John Kocur on his excellent administration of this camp!