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Acting Art Events Music

Spring Recital Weekend Is Coming!

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Music recitals, Theater performances and Art show, OH MY! Potomac’s Spring 2016 Recital & Showcase Weekend arrives May 21st & 22nd. Throughout Saturday and Sunday, students will “take the stage” in the Performing Arts Building on the Mason Fairfax campus to display their talent and share their art with family, friends and guests.

“Spring Recital & Showcase Weekend is the ultimate way for students (and instructors!) to show off all of their hard work,” explained Potomac Private Lesson Coordinator Alaina Talley. “Being able to perform alongside a professional accompanist on a Steinway baby grand piano in a university performance hall is really exciting! The experience can be nerve-wracking for students of any age, but performing is the best way to continue your growth as an artist and as a student.”

 

 

Students and families also enjoy a fun Photo Station complete with a red carpet, which makes for a great photo-opp! Creating an atmosphere of support and encouragement is very important to the Academy, and it gives performers a chance to relax before and after the performance. Social media buffs can also use the Twitter hashtag #PAARecitals to share the event.

 

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“It’s one of only a couple times of the year that everyone has a chance to see everyone else,” said Matt Geske, Assistant Director at the Academy. “It’s really a special time for staff, instructors, students and families to connect with our whole Potomac community and enjoy the fruits of everyone’s labor.”

 

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As a community arts school, the Academy provides enriching arts education experiences to young children, teens and adults. In one music rectial, you might hear a 7 year old pianist, a teenage violinist and an adult vocalist! There will be several hour(ish)-long music recitals each day (with a light reception after each), plus the art show will be on display both days (with a reception on Sunday). Both of these are free and open to the public. The theater showcases will also run several times during the weekend. There is a nominal ticket price for these, and shows are usually standing room only!

SEE FULL RECITAL SCHEDULE AND MORE DETAILS HERE

 

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How To Get There
The deLaski Performing Arts Building is situated in the middle of the Mason Fairfax campus, located at the intersection of Braddock Road (Rts 620) and Chain Bridge Road (Rte 123). On the weekend only, you may park in Parking Lot K for free. From there, it is a 5 to 10 minute walk by the Pond, past the Center for the Arts, to the Performing Arts Building. You may also park in the adjacent Mason Pond Parking Deck for $8. Potomac staff will be in the lobby to assist you.

 

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Community Outreach

Mason Drumline Supports Fellow Teammate

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After returning from the WGI world championship competition in April, Mason Drumline member Dustin Burton was devastated to learn that he was battling lymphatic cancer. True to form, fellow Drumline teammates immediately rallied to his side.

Dustin has begun his chemotherapy and will continue for the next four months. This will provide an incredible financial burden and emotional toll on Dustin, but the George Mason Green Machine family isn’t letting him battle cancer alone. Recently his friends in the band set up a gofundme campaign to help alleviate some of the cost that he and his family will incur.

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Please consider a gift of any amount. GO TO DUSTIN’S GOFUNDME PAGE

SEE FULL STORY ON COLLEGE MARCHING WEBSITE

 

Potomac Arts Academy wishes Dustin and his family a full and speedy recovery.

LEARN MORE ABOUT MASON DRUMLINE

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Community Outreach Instruments in the Attic Music

Connecting Instruments With Musicians

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Our Instruments in the Attic program recently connected Shenandoah University international student Gerson Medina with a rare and unique violin donation to assist with his music education.

Earlier this year, we had received a very nice Brandilioni-crafted violin from a generous donor. What made the instrument extra-special was that it had at one time been played by violin virtuoso Jascha Heifetz! Through a connection made by Instruments in the Attic advocate (and Potomac board member) Jenna Day of Day Violins, we offered Gerson the opportunity to use the violin for his lessons with Professor Akemi Takayama.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZXxL7kppzc

 

Gerson is a young artist with an impressive background. He started his violin lessons at the age of 12 at “EL Sistema” in Colon city, Venezuela. He has played as a soloist with the youth orchestra of San Juan de Colon and Merida Symphony Orchestra, and he participated in the 4th Festival of the Venezuelan Youth Orchestra. Gerson was the winner of the 1st prize in the Category “A” of the Violin Competition organized by the “Festival y Academia del Nuevo Mundo” in Maracaibo city. He has studied with the professors Shawn Moore, Alexis Cárdenas, José Francisco del Castillo, Latin-American string quartet, Benjaming Sung, Virginie Robilliad, Yura Lee, Daniel Philips, Vladimir Dyo and Simon Gollo. He was musical teacher at “El Sistema” in Venezuela for 4 years in Colon city. He is currently attending Shenandoah University.

 

LEARN MORE ABOUT INSTRUMENTS IN THE ATTIC

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Music

Summer Music Composing & Songwriting

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Teenagers have an opportunity this summer to learn and express themselves through creative songwriting and music composing workshops at Mason. Choose from Music Composition, Acoustic Songwriting and Hip Hop Songwriting – create your own original music!

 

 

“Composition techniques are not learned from a textbook,” explains internationally-recognized and award-winning composer (and Mason School of Music professor) Mark Camphouse, instructor for the Music Composition Explorations Workshop. “We learn these skills through the hands-on compositional process.”

Students interested in creating traditional instrumental music and orchestral pieces, and/or the compositional aspect of film-scoring, will be immersed in the creative process through the two Music Composition workshops. The Introduction course, taught by Mason Doctoral student Andrew Cote,  is designed for new young composers who are ready to learn the basic skills necessary to begin successfully writing their own musical pieces. The Explorations course is intended for more experienced composition students to hone their skills and to delve further into music history and theory.

 

 

Young songwriters will find their voice at the Songwriting Workshops. Whether you are a complete beginner, or you already have a few original songs under your belt, you will benefit from these courses. Students will enjoy working on their own songs and collaborating with others, in a casual, judgement-free environment. Family and friends will be treated to a coffeehouse-style student performance at the end of the week.

 

 

Get to know the instructors better! Mark Camphouse (Music Composition Explorations Workshop) is a Professor at Mason’s School of Music and a well-published composer. Andrew Cote (Intro to Music Composition Workshop and Hip Hop Songwriting Workshop) is a versatile composer/ musician who is earning his Doctorate in Musical Arts degree from Mason. David Chavez (Acoustic Songwriting Workshop) is an active artist who has taught at both George Mason University and Shenandoah University.

 

SEE ALL SUMMER ARTS CAMPS

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Music

Summer Guitar Workshops at Mason

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Teaching artist and classical guitar musician Chris Jenkins will be leading several guitar (and ukulele) workshops this summer for kids and teens, from complete beginner to more advanced. Time to get picking, plucking and strumming!

Are you a teenager who is thinking that it might be cool to start learning how to play guitar?

Have you already been playing guitar for a while and would like to learn how to play better with other musicians?

Are you a kid ages 8-12 who thinks the ukulele (that little Hawaiian guitar) is awesome?

If you answered YES to any of the above, we have a summer workshop for you! Professional guitarist Chris Jenkins is ready to show you the ropes (or the strings, rather) of guitar-playing. Depending on your answer above, choose from the following options:

 

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GUITAR ESSENTIALS
In Guitar Essentials, beginner students will learn the basics, such as guitar notation forms, how to play melodies, and strum chords on an acoustic guitar (please bring your own).  You’ll be amazed what you can learn in one week! This workshop will also prepare you for individual lessons or a school guitar program.
LEARN MORE/ REGISTER

 

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GUITAR ENSEMBLE
In the Guitar Ensemble, more experienced students will learn many aspects of guitar study and performance, including good practice habits, preparing for performance and audition, fingerstyle and classical technique, and playing as an ensemble. A special three-week, three-evening format allows for schedule flexibility. Family and friends always enjoy the performance at the end of the program.
LEARN MORE/ REGISTER

 

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UKULELE ADVENTURES
In Ukulele Adventures, younger kids will begin to learn fingering, strumming and more on this popular little instrument known as the “Hawaiian guitar”. You will also receive preparation for full size acoustic guitar playing. Please bring your own standard (soprano) ukulele.
LEARN MORE/ REGISTER

 

“The summer guitar opportunities at Mason are a great way to get started on the guitar or to further develop your skills,” says program director Chris Jenkins. “Plus, you will learn alongside others in a friendly and encouraging setting!”

 

 

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Chris Jenkins Website

 

SEE ALL SUMMER ARTS PROGRAMS AT MASON