Category: Announcements

Vocal Student Accepted to Tanglewood

Post author By Matt Geske
Post date March 15, 2017

Congratulations to Madison Perry, vocal student of Teaching Artist Jennifer Keller. Madison was recently accepted to participate in the prestigious Boston University Tanglewood Institute (BUTI) Young Vocal Artist summer intensive program from July 2 to August 12.

BUTI is recognized internationally as a premier summer training program for aspiring young musicians and is the only program of its kind associated with one of the world’s great symphony orchestras. Under the guidance of distinguished professionals, and in the presence of the Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO), students are immersed in an atmosphere of extraordinary music making, fueled by high artistic standards, rigorous programming, and a rich legacy of learning and performance.

“I’m thrilled to have this opportunity to be surrounded by other high school vocalists and instrumentalists who have the same appreciation for classical music and strive to be the best they can be in their art,” exclaimed Madison.

Madison, a freshman at Saint John Paul the Great Catholic High School, has been studying voice for 4 years and is so happy to be working with Ms. Keller. “I love working with Ms. Keller because, even though she knows I’m only a freshman, she can identify potential and figures out where I can be pushed to go further,” explained Madison. “Not only does she work with me on the technical aspects of a song, but she makes sure I know what the song means and how to express it in order to make the music come alive.”

Madison has also participated in the Acting For Young People (the theater division of Potomac) rendition of “A Mid-Winter Eve’s Dream” and “Beauty and the Beast, Jr”, as well as the 2016 Spotlight on the Arts music recital.

We’re so happy for Madison and wish her all the best this summer at Tanglewood!

LEARN MORE ABOUT TANGLEWOOD

READ TEACHING ARTIST JENNIFER DECKER’S BIO

Announcements

ALERT: All Activities Canceled On Tuesday, March 14th

Post author By Matt Geske
Post date March 13, 2017

Due to the inclement weather closing of George Mason University, the Academy is CANCELING ALL ACTIVITIES for Tuesday, March 14th. The following are affected:

TUESDAY Private Music Lessons – Students are eligible for a make-up, please contact your instructor for more information.
TUESDAY Group Classes – A reserved make-up day has been built in at the end of the semester, please contact your instructor for more information.

For Wednesday, March 15th updates, please check our website, our social media channels, and your email inbox!

Please email the Academy at potomac@gmu.edu with any questions. Thank you and stay safe!

Mason Potomac Arts Academy Staff

Announcements Community Outreach Events Music

Potomac’s First Ever Music Competition!

Post author By Alaina
Post date February 10, 2017

We are excited to announce our first ever Potomac Music Competition this spring, open to students of all ages and levels (including participants outside of the Academy), culminating in a special recital performance in Mason’s Harris Theater by selected winners.

This event is the brainchild of one of our Piano Teaching Artists Faith Zuniga, who has had several students compete in and win national competitions such as the American Protege Competition. A team of faculty and administrators took inspiration from several prestigious competitions to create an experience that will be primarily an educational one for all participants – as well as an added performance opportunity for the winners. Rather than ranking students against each other, the panel of judges will weigh the students’ audition video submissions against a standard of excellence within their age groups. This panel of musicians and educators will include faculty members from the School of Music at George Mason University and Teaching Artists from the Academy. All applicants will receive valuable constructive feedback from the panel.

The event has two main goals:

First, it will provide music students with an excellent opportunity to receive adjudication/ feedback from their audition and to perform in a professional concert hall.
Second, the application fees will help raise funds for our many outreach programs, including student scholarships and the Instruments in the Attic program. SEE REASONS TO GIVE

Students performing in Harris Theatre

Selected applicants will perform in Harris Theater on George Mason University’s Fairfax campus in the Winners’ Recital on Sunday, June 11, 2017. We are now accepting applications – so sign up today!

SEE DETAILS AND APPLY

Announcements

2017 Resolution: More Arts in Your Life

Post author By Matt Geske
Post date January 13, 2017

WRITTEN BY CLAIRE ALLEN

We are committed to bringing you new and exciting arts experiences and opportunities for the new year! Here are just a few of the new things we have in store for 2017.

New Music Performance Opportunities & Schedule
This spring, we will be holding our first ever Music Competition, which will be open to music students of all ages and levels from the Academy and the surrounding community! Students will submit video auditions for review and feedback from a judging panel. Selected winners will perform on Sunday, June 11th in Harris Theater on the campus of George Mason University. More information will be coming soon!
Our Spring Music Recitals, which historically have been held in May, will now be presented the first weekend of June! This will give our students more lessons and practice time before their performances.
New Class Offerings
We are excited about a new Creative Writing for Stage & Screen class for teens starting in February. We have also opened up more sections of Piano Level 1 for kids and Violin Beginnings Level 1 for young children. New Chamber Ensembles will also start in February, including a Guitar Ensemble.
New Community Outreach Initiatives
Instruments in the Attic is now accepting financial donations as well as instrument donations – many of the instruments we receive are in need of substantial repairs, and your monetary gift will go a long way toward restoring our inventory to playing condition and getting instruments into the hands of students in need! In May 2017, a team of George Mason faculty and students and Potomac Arts Academy staff and faculty will be traveling to Costa Rica to perform, teach, and bring instruments to students who study music in their SINEM program.
New Music Faculty Performances
In addition to the annual Spotlight on the Arts Faculty Showcase recital, another special faculty concert is in the works for the spring, with special support from our friends at the City of Fairfax Commission on the Arts – the specific date and list of performers will be coming soon!

We invite you to participate in any and all of our activities, and get more arts in your life for 2017!

SEE FULL SPRING CLASS LIST

Announcements

Happy Holidays from the Academy!

Post author By Matt Geske
Post date December 16, 2016

From the staff and faculty at Mason’s Potomac Arts Academy, we wish you a wonderful holiday break full of good cheer and family fun! As for the office, we will be closing for break on Tuesday, December 20th at 5PM, and re-opening on Tuesday, January 3rd.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 17TH
Last day of regular classes, lessons and activities.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 19TH
Office open 10AM-7PM

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20TH
Office open 10AM-5PM

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21ST – MONDAY, JANUARY 2ND
CLOSED FOR HOLIDAY BREAK

TUESDAY, JANUARY 3RD & WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 4TH
Office open (at Noon) and regular classes and lessons resume.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 5TH
Office open regular hours and we are open for all classes and lessons!

We look forward to seeing everyone in the new year!