Mason Community Arts Academy

Category: Faculty News

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Faculty News

Cello Teachers – We Need You!

The Academy currently has an urgent need for a Cello Teacher (or two!) due to high student demand. We offer the following:

  • Competitive hourly pay (per lesson); paid bi-weekly
  • W–2 eligible employee of George Mason University
  • Flexible schedule (You set your weekly schedule within standard parameters.)
  • Clear student make-up policy that protects instructors’ time
  • Performance and networking opportunities
  • Support from the administration with an open door communication policy

Instructors are required to have a minimum of a Bachelors Degree in Cello Performance or Music Education and to provide a minimum of five hours of teaching availability per week during “Peak Hours.”

For more information visit our Job Opportunities page.

Categories
Faculty News

Faculty Enrichment Fund Award: Dr. Radina Dosseva

The Academy values the importance of our teacher’s professional development. The Faculty Enrichment Fund annually provides partial and full reimbursement for teachers to attend conferences, workshops, and teacher training sessions. Piano Teaching Artist, Dr. Radina Dosseva write about her experience at the Virginia Music Teacher’s Associate Conference:

VMTA Conference logo

I am very grateful to Mason Community Arts Academy for their support and encouragement of their teachers to pursue professional development opportunities. The Faculty Enrichment Fund Award allowed me to fulfill my dream of attending the 2025 Virginia Music Teachers Association (VMTA) Annual State Conference this November on the campus of George Mason University. This is the second time I have been honored with this award.

This three-day immersion in music was the perfect way to network with other like-minded teachers and dedicated professionals from the state of Virginia, and other parts of the U.S. VMTA was first organized in 1964 as an affiliate of the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA), which was itself founded in 1874. This conference is held annually at different locations across the state of Virginia.

Madalina Petric (left) with Dr. Dosseva (right)
Madalina Petric (left) with Dr. Dosseva (right)

I was able to reconnect with colleagues and met many wonderful new people, who are involved with several local music organizations, such as Christy Tallamy (our VMTA President-Elect and Chair of the NVMTA Composition Competition), Kevin Chance (president of MTNA), Madalina Petric (NVMTA Vice President and Chair of the Piano Ensemble Festival), our own Misha Tumanov (NVMTA President), and others.

Francesca Hurst (left), Dr. Dosseva (middle), and Mary Voutsas (right)

I also got to know the amazing presenters, such as Leila Viss, Marina Croce de Andueza, Nancy O’Neill Breth, Francesca Hurst, Rita Gigliotti, Alina Kirshon-Goldman, Andrea Humphrey (conference vendor – Kindred Piano Method), and Rok Palcic, among others. Everyone at the conference was incredibly kind and willing to share all kinds of pedagogical information with the attendees.

I learned about new sight-reading and piano teaching methods, creative and musical activities to use in lessons, ways of increasing expression and artistry, strategies for reducing stress, and expanding repertoire with Latin American and Spanish composers, among other valuable topics, all of which I can use to improve not only my students’ skills, but my own as well. I also learned about MTNA Certification for teachers and setting business policies that help both students and teachers thrive.

This conference taught me many new concepts, helped me rethink my teaching philosophy once again, and gave me new pedagogical ideas to incorporate into my private and group teaching. It also gave me a renewed sense of the importance of good teachers in a student’s life and helped me establish connections with many new colleagues, who inspired me. Most importantly, it reminded me that I am not alone – there is a whole community of highly qualified teachers out there, all of whom face the same joys and challenges that I have experienced in my career. It was a very refreshing and invaluable experience, and I am very grateful to Mason Community Arts Academy for making it possible.

Written by Dr. Radina Dosseva
Edited by Regina Schneider

Categories
Acting Announcements Faculty News

Two Long Time Staff Members Join the Academy Full Time

Many hands come together to create and put on the wonderful programming that Mason Community Arts Academy (MCAA) provides to the Northern Virginia community. The Academy employs many George Mason University faculty, staff, current students, and alumni to teach and staff our year-round programs, private music lessons, and outreach events and initiatives. Two of our long time team members, Lucas Kremer and Adam Lemos, who have worked in teaching and admin capacities, have now joined the Academy as full time staff members in specialized areas.

Lucas Kremer is a saxophone instructor at the Academy and a George Mason alum, and has joined the Academy as our new Coordinator of Music Programs and Outreach. Adam Lemos is teaching artist with Acting For Young People, the Academy’s theater and acting program, a George Mason alum, and joins us as the Assistant Coordinator of Programs and Outreach.

Lucas Kremer

Coordinator of Music Programs and Outreach

How long have you worked for MCAA, and what are your new official duties?

I first joined the Academy in 2019 during my undergraduate studies at George Mason. Since then, I have had the privilege of serving in several part-time roles across nearly every area of the organization. In this new full-time role, I will be coordinating our music outreach initiatives, including the Instruments in the Attic instrument donation program. I will also continue teaching saxophone lessons and serving on the administrative teams for private music lessons and summer programs.

How did you first fall in love with music?

I first started playing the saxophone in fifth grade when I joined my school’s band program. I was always motivated by practicing and improving on the saxophone from the beginning, which got stronger over the years as I fully realized the beauty and versatility of the instrument. Thanks to the constant support of my family and many teachers along the way, I was inspired to pursue music in college and professionally.

Tell us about a memorable teaching experience you’ve had.

A memorable moment was witnessing one of my Academy saxophone students make All-District Band for the first time and attending their performance at the All-District Band event. Given how these milestones were also pivotal in my own musical journey, it was a full-circle moment to have my own student have the same experience.

What excites you most in your new role?

This new role allows me to expand on much of the work I was already immersed in at the Academy, while also pursuing new opportunities within the organization. I am particularly excited to delve more into our outreach efforts and to spread the Academy’s influence in the area and beyond. Most importantly, I am looking forward to learning and growing even more from my wonderful colleagues, who have been nothing but supportive and encouraging throughout the years.

Do you have any pets?

While neither my family nor I own any pets (mostly due to allergies), we are animal lovers from afar. My mom frequently sends us posts from social media, especially from the WeRateDogs accounts!

Adam Lemos

Assistant Coordinator of Theater Programs and Outreach

How long have you worked for MCAA/AFYP, and what are your new official duties?

I started as an afterschool teaching artist with Acting for Young People in the Spring of 2014 as a freshman theater major at George Mason. From there I moved into our Saturday showcase programs working first with our Adventures group (ages 7-8) for many years before moving up to direct and stage manage shows for our Musical and Advanced programs. My new official duties include a lot of back-end management such as helping process registrations, building out programs and curriculum, as well as more front–facing outreach initiatives that help bolster our presence in the George Mason and greater Fairfax communities. 

How did you first fall in love with acting/music?

I was seven years old when I did my very first play–On Borrowed Time–at the Putnam County Playhouse in Greencastle, Indiana. My dad was actually in the play with me and played a character who is essentially the grim reaper. I had a very small role with a handful of lines but I was hooked. It was the one extracurricular [activities] that sort of stuck–and believe me, my parents tried a lot–and the rest is history. 

Tell us about a memorable teaching experience you’ve had.

One of the things I love most about AFYP is how focused it is on the longterm growth of its students. Kids as young as five can join our Mini Actors’ Showcase and continue to move up through the program until they reach the Advanced Actors’ Showcase, which they can perform in through high school. One of the most memorable and heartwarming experiences I have is getting to work with a number of students I taught when they were eight years old who are now in high school. Witnessing their growth as both performers and people is a near indescribable joy.

What excites you most in your new role?

The opportunity to represent such an exceptional organization and group of people at multiple outreach opportunities throughout the area.

Do you have any pets?

No–but hope to rectify that very soon! 🙂

Categories
Events Faculty News

May the 4th Be With You: 2025 Spotlight on the Arts Festival

vocal teacher performing in front of an audience

Congratulations to our music faculty for a splendid evening of music and voice at yesterday’s Fairfax, Spotlight on the Arts festival performance. Our theme this year was music from film and television.

Pieces ranged from the main theme of Interstellar, performed by Dr. Nayoon Choi on flute and Dr. Estrella Hong accompanying on piano, to a selection of pieces from Star Wars and The Hobbit, performed by a guitar trio of Geoff Sawyer, Brian Slaymaker, and Hang Yin. 

This year was our highest attendance to date with 150 attendees! We look forward to more performances by our faculty in the future and we hope to see you for next year’s Spotlight performance.

This performance was made possible with the generous support of the City of Fairfax Commission on the Arts.

Categories
Acting Faculty News

This alumna’s first feature film is all about Him

rebecca wahls directing

Acting for Young People Senior Teaching Arist Rebecca Wahls was featured in George Mason University’s news in regards to her first feature film, Him, about the final five contestants on a reality dating show.

Rebecca has taught with us Fall 2012 and is currently directing this summer’s Advanced Actors Showcase!

Rebecca Wahls
Director
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Rebecca Wahls has worked with AFYP since Fall 2012 teaching for after school, summer camp, and showcase programs and in various administrative capacities. Her favorite AFYP project was Puffs in Summer 2022. Currently, her focus with AFYP is on private coaching, creative writing, and graphic design. AFYP writing credits include Rockin’ Robin Hood (Fall 2021), Cinderella 101 (Fall 2018), Billy Shakes and the Big Screen (Fall 2016), A Midwinter Eve’s Dream (Fall 2015), and the Mini and Adventures scripts for Fall 2023, Spring 2024, Fall 2024, and Spring 2025 .

Outside of AFYP, Rebecca develops new musicals and film and is currently the Artist in Residence at Duke University. She is a TEDx speaker (“Yes, And: The Power of Improv in Everyday Life”) and offers custom improv workshops for corporate organizations. Through AFYP, she has also taught Improv with the Veterans in the Arts Initiative. Recent directing credits include Pippin (4-time Helen Hayes nominated production with Monumental Theatre Company) and The Play That Goes Wrong (Cumberland Theatre, Winner of Best Play & Best Direction for 2024 by Broadway World Baltimore). MFA Directing (John Wells Fellow), Carnegie Mellon University; BFA Theatre, George Mason University. (rebeccawahls.com)