Categories
Events Music

Spring 2019 Music Recitals – June 1 & 2

Students at Recital Spring 19

Categories

Our Spring 2019 Music Student Recital Weekend celebration is coming up on Saturday, June 1, and Sunday, June 2, at the de Laski Performing Arts Building on the George Mason University Fairfax campus. A total of 13 music recitals will showcase our Academy music students of all ages from all types of instruments and vocal performance with a wide array of styles and repertoire from classical, to musical theater, to jazz and pop! The recitals are free and open to the public, followed by a light reception for each recital.

 

 

More than 200 students will perform in one of 13 recitals throughout the weekend. With each recital lasting about one hour, this Spring’s recital schedule is:

[one_half] Saturday, June 1
10:00 AM (designated for ages “8 and under”)
11:00 AM
12:30 PM
2:00 PM
3:30 PM
5:00 PM
6:30 PM[/one_half][one_half_last] Sunday, June 2
12 Noon (designated for ages “8 and under”)
1:00 PM
2:30 PM
3:00 PM
4:00 PM
5:30 PM
[/one_half_last]

 

RecitalSpring19B

 

PARKING: On Saturday and Sunday, you can park in Parking Lot K for free. It is about a 5-10 minute walk to the Performing Arts Building (note: NOT the Center for the Arts). You can also park in the Mason Pond Parking Deck for $8, right next to the Performing Arts Building.
DIRECTIONS TO MASON FAIRFAX CAMPUS

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR RECITALS

 

FOR OUR ACADEMY MUSIC STUDENTS/ FAMILIES:
READ OUR HELPFUL GUIDE TO A SUCCESSFUL RECITAL EXPERIENCE

 

Categories
Music

Piano Students Thrive In An Enhanced Summer Program

Students at Piano Academy

Categories

An enhanced program for experienced piano students ages 8-18, the Summer Piano Academy (July 29-August 2 & August 5-9) provides a week of focused study, including guided practice time, masterclasses, faculty lectures and performance, and a final recital in the Performing Arts Building at George Mason University.

Directed by Academy Piano Teaching Artist and Mason Doctoral candidate Michelle Richardson, the Summer Piano Academy takes place in Mason’s School of Music on the Mason Fairfax Campus (in Fairfax, VA, part of the Washington DC Metro area). All four Piano Academy instructors (Ms. Richardson, Faith Zuniga, Misha Tumanov, and Andy Miller) are a part of Mason’s vibrant Piano program led by Dr. Linda Monson.

 

 

During the camp, students will have the opportunity to practice on Steinway grand pianos. According to their skill level and experience, students will participate in a mix of individualized lessons, group teaching, and performances. Students will also tour the Fenwick Library’s music section and peruse various scores with Music Librarian Steven Gerber. The program provides students a wonderful opportunity to see what it’s like to be in a music school on a college campus.

“Last year, we had some students work very hard and pull off piano duos in the recital that were quite impressive accomplishments for only one week of practice,” said Ms. Richardson.

 

Students at Summer Piano Academy

 

Mason Piano Professor Dr. Anna Balakerskaia, a renowned performer, teacher, and chamber musician, will lead the masterclass session. A three-time winner of the international Tchaikovsky competition, Dr. Balakerskaia is the founder of the Ensemble de Camera in Washington, D.C. and a former educator at St. Petersburg and Moscow conservatories.

“One of my favorite parts of the program is the masterclasses, where students can have a chance to integrate their learning and give feedback to each other,” said Ms. Richardson. “I often find the students making the most connections during these classes.”

 

The camp also has multiple interactive sessions to help the students to learn the fundamental aspects of piano and music.

“Last year we played an end-of-camp Jeopardy game that was so much fun,” recalled Ms. Richardson. “The students were extremely enthusiastic about it! I was amazed at how much they remembered across all topics, music history, theory, and piano technique.”

“I really appreciated the opportunity provided for my child to see a wide variety of style and performance,” said a parent of a past Academy participant.

 

LEARN MORE AND REGISTER

DOWNLOAD FLIER (spread the word!)

Categories
Acting

Acting Camps Build Confidence, Focus, and Creativity

Students at Summer Acting Camp

Categories

Our weekly acting camps (June 24-July 26) introduce theater/acting skills, movement and voice, story-telling, and characterization to students ages 5-18 of all experience levels while building confidence, creativity, and focus.

Directed by George Mason University Professor Mary Lechter from Mason School of Theater, the acting camps provide professional theater experts and performers from Acting for Young People to instruct the students. Located on the Mason Fairfax campus in Fairfax, VA (in the Washington, DC Metro area), the camps takes place in the Performing Arts Building. All actors will participate in final presentations in the Theater Space.

 

 

Each day, the students will participate in various interactive sessions, such as acting, movement and voice, and special electives (playwriting, acting for the camera, improvisation, and musical theater). Fun theater games are played throughout the day, fostering social engagement and friendships. Each week offers a new experience by introducing a special theme:

[one_half]



[/one_half][one_half_last]


[/one_half_last]

 

The students will also have the opportunity to participate in special workshops, such as creating Shakespearean tweets, building props from recycled materials, and learning about different aspects of stage management and theatrical design.

 

Students at Summer Acting Camp

 

“Our traditional acting camp is good for everyone,” said Zach Wilcox, AFYP program coordinator. “Whether you are an experienced actor or you’ve never acted in your life, any student can learn something new at Acting Camp. Our teachers are truly top-notch, caring, and dedicated.”

 

LEARN MORE AND REGISTER

 

Categories
Film & Video

Filmmaking Camps Produce Fun Short Films Through Teamwork

Students at Summer Filmmaking Camp

Categories

Our two-week Filmmaking Summer Workshops (Middle School July 8-19, High School July 22-Aug 2) give students an exciting opportunity to develop their creative expression and technical knowledge of film production, one of the most competitive and top-grossing industries today.

Mason Professors Lisa Thrasher and Lucy Gebre-Egziabher from Mason Film & Video Studies lead the workshops, along with student assistants from the university program. Located on the Mason Fairfax campus in Fairfax, VA (in the Washington, DC Metro area), the camps takes place in the university classrooms and computer labs in the Art & Design Building. The final film debuts usually take place in Mason’s movie theater.

Students are thoughtfully separated into small groups for the duration of the program in order to learn teamwork and collaboration. Fun communal creative exercises are employed for icebreakers and for bonding. The workshop is designed to stimulate kids intellectually, creatively, and socially through teamwork.

 

Students at Filmmaking Camp

 

“This year’s program will focus on quality story telling and creative visual interpretation of the scripts,” said Ms. Thrasher.

“In addition to learning about the filmmaking process and taking part in an actual film production, students will also get to watch short films and critique them, cultivating their film analysis skills,” explained Ms. Gebre-Egziabher.

The Filmmaking Workshops are a great way for kids and teens to develop their filmmaking talent, teamwork, story-telling, visual expression, and technical skills – qualities sought, needed, and used by not only the entertainment industry, but also by every company in America – all of whom use audio/visual works to promote their products/services and communicate with their customers!

 

Students at Filmmaking Camp

 

“I am always so impressed by the students’ knowledge, commitment to the process, and the films themselves!” stated Ms. Thrasher.

“This program does more than teach kids how to make films,” emphasized Ms. Gebre-Egziabher, “It helps them work with a team of their peers, it gives them an opportunity to bond socially with other kids, and it gives them the chance to see the fruits of their labor at the end – the film they make together! I often witness the shyest kids at the beginning of the program become the liveliest by the end.”

 

A selection of film scripts from the Screenwriting Workshop, June 24-28, are voted on to be used in the Filmmaking camps. Sign up to help write the scripts too!

 

LEARN MORE AND REGISTER

 

Categories
Announcements

Our Main Office Is Moving To A New Unit In The Academy Building

Academy Building Unit 5

Categories

This just in – the Academy Main Office has officially moved to Unit A-5 of our building on Chain Bridge Road! Next time you are here, be sure to stop by and see the new space. As usual, you can pick up your Academy parking pass and find out your lesson/class location at the Main Office.

Our new office hours are:

Spring and Fall Semester Hours

  • Monday and Thursday
    10 a.m.-9 p.m.
  • Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday
    10 a.m.-8 p.m.

Summer 2019 Office Hours (June 15-August 9)

  • Monday-Thursday
    9 a.m.-8 p.m.
  • Friday
    9 a.m.-4 p.m.

This new move will provide additional space for music lessons to better serve our students with more available time slots. We expect to have the new lesson rooms ready for the Fall 2019 semester.