Notes from the Director
Dr. Linda A. Monson

Dear Mason School of Music Family,

Happy New Year to our students, faculty, staff, alumni, and Friends of Music at Mason!  We are thrilled to welcome our students and faculty back to campus  as we begin our Spring 2017 Semester of classes this upcoming Monday, January 23rd. This semester promises to be very exciting for our School of Music with many concerts, recitals, lectures, and masterclasses planned.  We encourage you to join us for these outstanding events featuring our terrific students, faculty, and guest artists/lecturers.  You are invited to attend a free performance by our Mason Symphony Orchestra and United States Air Force Strings  on Friday, February 3, 7:30 pm in Harris Theatre as part of the College Orchestra Directors Association Conference.  Please join us for our Spring 2017 Faculty Artist Series  which features five of our amazing artist faculty members.  For a comprehensive listing of our Mason ensemble concerts and faculty performances, please click here.  We are also pleased to present a mid-day series (free admission) of student departmental recitals, guest artist masterclasses, and faculty lectures.  For a comprehensive listing of these School of Music mid-day events, please click here.  In addition, we invite you to view our complete calendar of events  which includes our 55 awesome student degree recitals for the spring 2017 semester. Your enthusiastic support of our School of Music concerts and events is deeply appreciated by our students and faculty. 

Warmest regards,

Dr. Linda Apple Monson
Director, School of Music
Distinguished Service Professor
lmonson@gmu.edu

Faculty Artist Series
This series features outstanding School of Music artist faculty in solo or ensemble recitals. Support our faculty and enjoy complimentary admission provided by the School of Music.
January Faculty Artist Performances
  Faculty Artist Series:
Dr. Kevin Gebo, Trumpet
Friday, January 27
7:00 PM Harris Theatre
  Faculty Artist Series:
Dr. Kathleen Mulcahy, Clarinet
Saturday, January 28
4:00 PM Harris Theatre
Kudos to Mason Jazz!
We are very proud of our Mason Jazz Ensembles on their successful performances in New Orleans as part of the Jazz Educators Network Conference January 4-7.  Mason's Jazz Ensembles performed at the 8th Annual International JEN (Jazz Education Network) Conference in New Orleans on January 4-7 under the direction of Dr. Darden Purcell, Director of Jazz Studies, and Prof. Jim Carroll.  Outstanding performances by the  Mason Jazz Ensemble and the  Mason Jazz Vocal Ensemble were met with standing ovations and superlative critiques from clinicians. Mason DMA candidate Leigh Pilzer was a featured clinician regarding the writing of her big band arrangement "Thaddish."  Prof.  Jim Carroll performed baritone saxophone in the David Baker Tribute at the JEN conference.  Mason School of Music alumna Shannon Gunn performed with the Mason Jazz Ensemble as well as the David Baker tribute. Mason Jazz faculty Xavier Perez, saxophone, Kenny Rittenhouse, trumpet, Regan Brough, bass, and Matt Niess, trombone performed with the Army Blues and  Dave Robinson, director of Mason's Trad Jazz Ensemble, promoted his Traditional Jazz Curriculum at the JEN conference. Ed Weiner, Esq. traveled to New Orleans to promote Jazz 4 Justice. Founded at Mason, Jazz 4 Justice is now extending nationally! 
Flutopia
Dr. Jennifer Lapple, Mason Professor of Flute and Mason alumna (Doctor of Arts  2014)  conducted the Flutopia Wind Ensemble at Carnegie Hall in New York City on January 16. The   program featured works by Tchaikovsky, Debussy, Whitacre and Reed and was sponsored by Distinguished Concerts International New York (DCINY).  Flutopia  is comprised of advanced-level high school wind, brass, and percussion players  from  Northern Virginia. The  mission of  Flutopia  is to promote musical excellence and dedication among its members through a commitment to leadership, community service and outreach, individual musical achievement, and a lifelong love and passion for music. Mason  School of Music student Chris Troiano (euphonium) and alumnus Mike Ottaviano (trombone) joined the Flutopia Wind Ensemble for this performance as guest artists. 
Recent Accomplishments
Congratulations to Mason Piano Pedagogy Faculty member Dr. Joanne Haroutounian for the recent publication of her article in Roeper Review: Artistic Ways of Knowing in Gifted Education: Encouraging Every Student to Think Like an Artist.

Congratulations to Prof. Victor Provost, Mason jazz percussion (steel pan) faculty member and Mason alumnus ( BM 2012, MM 2014) on the recent feature article in the Washington Post:  In Victor Provost’s hands, the steel pan becomes a mesmerizing ride.

Congratulations to Ms. Molly Baldovin, Assistant to the Director in Mason's School of Music, on her recent promotion. Hired at Mason in October 2014, Molly has become an integral link to the many administrative functions within the School of Music. Ms. Baldovin's new title is Assistant to the Director and Marketing Coordinator. Our sincere congratulations, Molly, on this well-deserved promotion!     
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