Mason Community Arts Academy

Week 1 of Summer Arts at Mason 2024 launched with some of our most popular Acting for Young People summer programs focused on improv, musical theater, and audition preparation 🎭🎤

Our Weekly Acting Camps began this week and continue on into the summer with an exciting new theme each week! Young actors will develop skills and an incredibly wide variety of acting styles, methods, theories, and techniques from AFYP instructors.

Register now for sessions 2-5! 📅

https://masonacademy.gmu.edu/acting/summer/camp-sessions/

Summer Arts at Mason 2024 kicked off last week with our annual Mason Summer Band Camp and our acting programs. We grew even bigger this year and with that we needed more space for our final concert on Friday, held at the Center for the Arts. We had families come as far as Texas this year for camp.

We hope our students had fun on campus and will join us again for next year's Band Camp, and beyond in the future as a part of ! 💚💛

Select summer programs are still open for registration, including our Children's Choir Camp, Art of Filmscoring, Teacher Wellbeing workshop, and more! https://masonacademy.gmu.edu/summer/

Mason Bands Reva and Sid Dewberry Family School of Music George Mason University

We're more than halfway through Week 1 of Summer Arts at Mason! Our Mason Summer Band Camp students are gearing up for their concert tomorrow in the Center for the Arts.

Registration for select Summer programs is still open, including our July 1st Teacher Well-Being workshop, Children's Music Choir, and Creative Discoveries. View all of our open Summer programs here: https://masonacademy.gmu.edu/summer/

⚠️ TWO DAYS left until registration closes for the Summer Mason String Camp, a week-long intensive program for violin, viola, cello, and bass players ages 10-18 🎼🎻 Registration and placements due June 1st!

📆 July 29 – Aug 2, 2024
📍 George Mason University campus

📚 Curriculum:
Technique classes
Chamber Music
2 Orchestras
Individual Lessons
Sight-reading
Collaborative work with guest artists

https://masonacademy.gmu.edu/summer/music-camps/strings/

Introducing our Summer Children's Choir Camp program faculty and conductors, Miranda Lansberry and Michelle McCarten!

Children's Choir Camp is a new program for Summer 2024 centering on young vocalists age 8-11 💚🎼

Do you love performing in your school, church, or community? 🎤 Do you want to improve your vocal skills in ear training, notation reading, rehearsals, and more? Students will explore their personal growth in singing while being led by Kodály trained instructors.

Miranda Lansberry is the choral director at Justice High School in Falls Church, VA and directs the Concert Choir with the Fairfax Choral Society. Mrs. Lansberry is passionate about teaching choir using the Kodaly method.

Michelle McCarten teaches general music and chorus at Daniels Run Elementary School in Fairfax, VA. She also is the Director of Youth Education and Lyric Choir director at Fairfax Chorus Society.

Register now!

📆 July 8–12, 2024, 9 am–4 pm
🔗 https://masonacademy.gmu.edu/summer/music-camps/childrens-choir-camp/

🌟 Join us at the 2024 Mason Summer Conducting Symposium! Wind Band Conducting registration closes in 3 weeks 🎼

Elevate your conducting and leadership skills this summer with our professional development program designed for conductors and educators of all levels. From K-12 educators to professional conductors, our symposium focuses on gestural vocabulary, ensemble leadership, and innovative rehearsal techniques.

📅 Deadline: June 14, 2024
🔗 Register now and secure your spot! https://masonacademy.gmu.edu/professional-development/summer-conducting-symposium/

This Saturday we held our Spring Art Showcase for our Art Adventures, Art Foundations, and Art Explorations classes for ages 4-18 as well as our Digital Illustration class. Our students did an amazing job in identity formation, cultural exploration, and creating mixed media using items from found and recycled materials.

Our digital illustration students worked on their own original characters throughout the semester, with returning students continuing to establish their character's lore and worldbuilding.

Summer art classes are more than halfway full--register today to secure your spot: https://masonacademy.gmu.edu/summer/art-camps/

Faculty Feature 💚💛

Julianna Nickel is musician, teacher and business owner. She’s the adjunct Professor of Flute at George Mason University, where she been a two-time recipient of Mason’s Distinguished Teacher of the Year. At Mason, she works with a full studio of flutists, conducts the flute choir, and teaches Career Readiness. Through Juli Nickel Consulting, Ms. Nickel continues her work with musicians as they apply and audition to music school.

Ryan Roikola is a bassoonist based out of Washington, DC. He has received his Bachelors in Music Education from Lynchburg College and a Masters in Music Performance from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA). Ryan has studied with Suzanne Pattison at Lynchburg College, Saxton Rose at UNCSA, and with Michael Harley at the University of South Carolina.

For more information about our faculty, visit https://masonacademy.gmu.edu/summer/music-camps/mason-summer-band-camp/

Day Camp Registration closes June 1, and Residential Add On Registration closes May 15. Sign up today as spots are limited!

Faculty Feature 💚💛

Megan Stallings is an active music educator in the Northern Virginia area. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Instrumental Music Education and a Master of Music in Instrumental Conducting from George Mason University. During her time at George Mason, she studied wind band conducting with Dr. William L. Lake Jr. and Mark Camphouse, and oboe with Dr. Margaret Owens.

She is in her 5th year of teaching for Loudoun County Public Schools and 1st year as the Director of Bands at Loudoun Valley High School. In this role, Megan directs the Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, and Marching Vikings. In addition to teaching band courses, she also teaches the combined-level guitar class and AP Music Theory. She also has experience teaching elementary music classes and adaptive music classes. In 2022, she charted a chapter of United Sound at Stone Bridge High School.

Elliott Godinez is a first-generation American who advocates for equal accessibility in music. An inner-city Chicago native, his musical expressions have been described as creative, emotionally charged, and thought provoking. He has released multiple recordings and musical arrangements for high school front ensembles, and several collaborations with various composers.

In addition to his extensive freelance teaching in Central Illinois and the greater Chicagoland area, Mr. Godinez has served as Music Director of the New Holland-Middletown ESD #88, Assistant Band Director at University High School (Normal, IL), Battery Caption Head for Bloomington High School (IL), and most recently as a Percussion Graduate Assistant at Illinois State University.

For more information about our faculty, visit https://masonacademy.gmu.edu/.../mason-summer-band-camp/

Day Camp Registration closes June 1, and Residential Add On Registration closes May 15. Sign up today as spots are limited!

Faculty Feature 💚💛

The Mason Summer Band Camp is a comprehensive musical experience for students enrolled in music programs or private lessons in Grades 6-12 with at least two years of playing experience.

Ed Fraedrich, saxophone, joined the faculty of GMU in the fall of 2011 after having established a successful private studio in the area. He has performed solos with many ensembles, including the National Symphony Orchestra and the Fairfax Wind Symphony. As a teacher, he has placed more students into All-District and All-State bands than any saxophone teacher in Virgina. Ed is the principal saxophonist with the Virginia Grand Military Band and plays tenor in the quux saxophone quartet.

Originally from St. Louis, Missouri, Trombonist David Perkel is a versatile orchestral and jazz artist. He was the Second Trombonist of the Richmond (VA) Symphony for five years and has performed with many other orchestras including the National Symphony Orchestra, Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra, Harrisburg Symphony, San Antonio Symphony Orchestra, and the Virginia Symphony. Additionally, in 1999, he was appointed principal trombone in the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra. An active educator, Dr. Perkel is professor of trombone and euphonium at Towson University and professor of trombone at George Washington University.

For more information about our faculty, visit https://masonacademy.gmu.edu/.../mason-summer-band-camp/

Day Camp Registration closes Saturday, June 1st, and Residential Add On Registration closes Wednesday, May 15th. Sign up today as spots are limited!

Faculty Feature 💚💛

The Mason Summer Band Camp is a comprehensive musical experience for students enrolled in music programs or private lessons in Grades 6-12 with at least two years of playing experience.

William Hernandez is a DMV native who strives to make music accessible to all. As a first-generation American, his mission is to make Latinx representation the motivation for his career. In addition to having a background in Education, William is also a freelance musician with credits in musical pit orchestras, international movie score recording, and chamber groups throughout Delaware and Pennsylvania.

Dennis Edelbrock has performed with The United States Army Band and the Army Brass Quintet since 1975. Since that time, he has also written music used frequently at official state ceremonies at the White House, NBC’s “Christmas in Washington”, country music’s televised show “Nashville Now”, as well as music used in the opening ceremonies for the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games and Special Olympics. He is also the founder of The National Trumpet Competition and adjunct professor of trumpet at George Mason University and keeps an active performing schedule in the Washington, DC area. As an adjunct professor at GMU, he was awarded the prestigious “Excellence in Teaching Award” in 1996, one of only two faculty members to be recognized that year.

He has given masterclasses all over the world including the Moscow and St. Petersburg Conservatories.

For more information about our faculty, visit https://masonacademy.gmu.edu/.../mason-summer-band-camp/

Day Camp Registration closes June 1, and Residential Add On Registration closes May 15. Sign up today as spots are limited.

Faculty Feature 💚💛

The Mason Summer Band Camp is a comprehensive musical experience for students enrolled in music programs or private lessons in Grades 6-12 with at least two years of playing experience.

Derik Wright is a music educator, performer, arranger/composer from Prince George’s County, MD. He is currently a graduate assistant and guest conductor at George Mason University in Fairfax, VA. Mr. Wright most recently served as the Band Director at I.C. Norcom High school in Portsmouth, VA. There he led a concert band, marching band, and jazz ensemble who have received many accolades. In addition to teaching public school, Mr. Wright served as the low brass specialist and pep band director for the Norfolk State University “Spartan Legion” Band.

Dr. Kathleen Mulcahy was appointed as Director of Woodwinds and Assistant Professor of Clarinet at George Mason University in August 2018, after serving as Adjunct Professor of Clarinet since in 2012. She performs frequently with the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra and the National Symphony. Dr. Mulcahy has held tenured positions with the Annapolis Symphony, Buffalo Philharmonic, Grant Park Orchestra, and ProMusica Chamber Orchestra. She is currently principal clarinetist with the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra.

Day Camp Registration closes June 1, and Residential Add On Registration closes May 15. Sign up today as spots are limited: https://masonacademy.gmu.edu/.../mason-summer-band-camp/

FREE and open to the public! 🎼

Join us for a memorable evening of music performed by a vibrant selection of our wonderful Academy music faculty. The diverse program will highlight chamber music, featuring creative combinations of piano, flute, oboe, saxophone, voice, guitar, violin, viola, cello, and more. Free admission!

Located near several restaurants in downtown Fairfax City, this is the perfect after-Sunday-dinner event! Light refreshments will be served following the performance.

This Spotlight on the Arts Festival program is made possible with the generous support of the City of Fairfax Commission on the Arts.

Fairfax, Spotlight on the Arts City of Fairfax Commission on the Arts

Our 2nd Annual Mason Summer Band Camp will be directed again by Dr. William Lake, Jr. and Dr. LaToya A. Webb.

Dr. William L. Lake, Jr. is the Director of Concert Bands at the Reva and Sid Dewberry Family School of Music at George Mason University. In this role, he conducts the George Mason University Wind Symphony and Symphonic Band. He also teaches conducting and wind literature classes.

Dr. LaToya A. Webb serves as Wind Ensemble Conductor at Wilfred Laurier University. She teaches courses in instrumental conducting and wind band literature. Prior to this position, Dr. Webb served as Assistant Director of the Longhorn Band and Assistant Professor of Practice in Conducting and an instructor of wind conducting at Auburn and Grambling State universities.

Day Camp Registration closes June 1, and Residential Add On Registration closes May 15. Sign up today as spots are limited: https://masonacademy.gmu.edu/summer/music-camps/mason-summer-band-camp/

William L. Lake Jr. Mason Bands

Music Educators, do you incorporate ukulele and/or guitar in your curriculum? Do you need recertification points?

Sign up for a TGW (Teaching Guitar Workshop). This summer TGW will be held onsite at the Academy on June 24th-28th. Take advantage of free methods, accessories, and register by May 24th and get a free guitar.

For more info and to register go to: https://www.discoverguitar.com/tgw/

Explore choral music and vocal techniques with the aid of Kodaly-Inspired music educators in our Summer Children's Choir Camp for ages 8-11!

Gain musical notation reading skills and bond through team building activities. Children will participate in choral rehearsals, folk dancing, small group musical learning activities, movement, and games!

Register today: https://masonacademy.gmu.edu/summer/music-camps/childrens-choir-camp/

Thank you to all who supported Mason Summer Band Camp on Vision Day! Your support will go a long way in providing quality arts education experiences to those who might not otherwise have access.

For more information on donations and sponsorships please visit https://fundraise.givesmart.com/e/xCSxRg?vid=12c5o3

"I really liked getting to meet some new people, and spend more time with existing friends I wasn't expecting to see over the summer. I also really enjoyed Dr. Lake's teaching style." - 2023 Mason Summer Band Camp Participant

The Mason Summer Band Camp sponsored by Mason Community Arts Academy and the Reva and Sid Dewberry Family School of Music, has been selected as one of the featured giving causes for Vision Day 2024 at George Mason!

On Thursday, April 4, 2024, we invite you to donate to the Mason Summer Band Camp as we work to provide access to this amazing experience to as many students as possible!

https://bit.ly/BandCampVisionDay2024

"She [student] cannot choose just one [favorite] part...the master classes, the Green Machine, the showcase performance, the break activities, and the food!" - Mason Summer Band Camp 2023 Participant

The Mason Summer Band Camp sponsored by Mason Community Arts Academy and the Reva and Sid Dewberry Family School of Music, has been selected as one of the featured giving causes for Vision Day 2024 at George Mason! On Thursday, April 4, 2024, we invite you to donate to the Mason Summer Band Camp as we work to provide access to this amazing experience to as many students as possible!

https://masonacademy.gmu.edu/summer/music-camps/mason-summer-band-camp/

The end of March concluded our new Creative Writing classes for adults and ages 10-12. This program was in collaboration with the Creative Writing program at Mason, taught by MFA students Chelsea Lebron and Jaime Goh.

We hope our students enjoyed building their writing toolkit in effective storytelling, brainstorming, genre experimentation, and more. We hope to continue these classes into the fall! Until then, registration is open for our Summer programs: https://masonacademy.gmu.edu/summer/

Last week, Delegate Kathy Tran presented our Executive Director Mary Lechter with House Resolution 804, in honor of Acting for Young People’s 25th anniversary in 2022. Co-signed by Delegate David Bulova and unanimously approved by the entire House of Delegates, the Resolution highlights AFYP’s long history in the surrounding community, and the even greater impact these programs have had, made possible in collaboration with Mason Community Arts Academy.

“I’m truly humbled by this honor.” notes Ms. Lechter. “This recognition is especially meaningful, as we have had the opportunity to work with children from both the Tran and Bulova families in our Acting and Music programs over the years. Perhaps most important of all is the feedback Delegate Tran shared in person, and includes in the Resolution itself, commending our staff and faculty for the authentic experiences they provide for our students. It has always been my goal to provide a warm, welcoming, and inclusive environment in which students can learn and grow. I am touched that we’ve been acknowledged for this core value of our programs.”

We look forward to providing quality arts education to the community for the next 25 years and beyond!

Today marks day 30 of the Academy's Practice Challenge! Which of you marvelous musicians are already done?!

Reminder: Students who have completed the challenge can turn in their completed Practice Challenge Practice Logs to the Academy's Main Office in Unit A5 to receive a prize!

It's also not too late to start the challenge now! Academy students may begin the challenge at any point this semester. Turn in your packets before the end of the challenge on Friday, May 17th to receive a prize and recognition on our Academy Wall of Fame! Pick up a packet in the Academy main office or in any of the common areas around the building.

Summer Program Spotlight: HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL THEATRE INTENSIVE 🪩
🚨ACT NOW! LIMITED OPENINGS FOR BOTH WEEKS!🚨

Teaching artists from AFYP and Mason Community Arts Academy will mentor performers in acting, dance, and singing technique in this rigorous and fun program. The week will culminate in a final presentation on Friday, showcasing the skills developed throughout the week.

https://masonacademy.gmu.edu/acting/summer/musical-showcase/

The Spring Practice Challenge begins today! Now through May 17, we invite our private music students to participate in practicing for 30 days. More information can be found in the Practice Challenge packets at the main office or in each building.

Happy Practicing! 🎼

Introducing our Academy Guitar Area Coordinator, Brian Slaymaker!

The Area Coordinators provide a central connection for Academy faculty and staff with all private lesson studios at the Academy. They are experienced teachers and music professionals who serve as a resource, colleague, and leader within their instrumental area. We asked Brian his thoughts on becoming a Guitar Area Coordinator: https://masonacademy.gmu.edu/area-coordinator-brian-slaymaker/

Due to inclement weather, Creative Writing is cancelled for Saturday, February 17. Private music lessons will be held online.