High school and upper middle school percussionists, ages 13-18, will have a blast honing their technique, meeting new friends, and taking their musicianship to the next level at Mason Summer Percussion Academy, June 17-21, 2019. Each student will experience percussion genres/ styles that are usually not offered in school, including steel pan ensemble and afro-cuban percussion.
George Mason University Professor Dr. Matt Halligan directs the Percussion Academy, which is part of Mason Summer Music Intensive Week. Located in Mason’s School of Music on the Mason Fairfax campus in Fairfax, VA (in the Washington, DC Metro area), the Summer Music Intensive Week brings aspiring teen musicians from across the region and the country together for instrument-specific clinics, group masterclasses and workshops, social activities, and a robust final student performance in the Center for the Arts concert hall.
This year, the Percussion Academy will include master classes in rudimental percussion, orchestral percussion, steel pan, afro-cuban percussion, and drum set. Everyone will participate in the final concert on stage in Mason’s Center for the Arts, in addition to the daily master classes.
The students get the opportunity to take advantage of the impressive inventory of percussion instruments housed in the university’s Percussion Studies program.
Former Mason Professor and Grammy winner Joe McCarthy will return to the Percussion Academy as a special Guest Artist, presenting Afro-Cuban and drum set master classes, and leading an Afro-Cuban percussion ensemble.
“My favorite part of the Percussion Academy is that young students get a chance to hone their craft while meeting new friends and having fun,” reflected Dr. Halligan. “My favorite memory is watching the students’ faces light up after an awesome end-of-camp concert.”
If you’re ready to gain valuable insight into how to develop proficiency in orchestral percussion and rudimental percussion, and you want to learn percussion techniques from respected professional percussionists, then the Percussion Academy at Mason is for you!
As part of Summer Music Intensive Week, the Mason Summer Percussion Academy also offers a Residential option, including on-campus housing and meals plus special evening activities, for an additional fee.
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