Mason Community Arts Academy
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Acting Art Community Outreach Music

New Free Digital Resources for Art-Making from Home

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This Spring, a free digital library of educational resources is available for the public thanks to Mason Community Arts Academy’s latest community outreach initiative, MCAA: Creative Collection.

Funded by the City of Fairfax Commission on the Arts, the collection delivers tutorials, performances, and activities across the arts, from music and theater education and performance, music technology, and visual art education. Each week, a new video made by students and faculty of the College of Visual and Performing Arts at George Mason University will be released to provide an arts enrichment project for a specific age group or skill level of learners.

“In this COVID restricted time, it’s more important than ever for the Academy to connect with our communities and reach out to broader populations through the arts,” said Elizabeth Curtis, MCAA Executive Director. “I’m so proud of the initiative and dedication our Mason students and teachers have shown in bringing this dynamic collection to life. We hope it continues to enrich the lives of our students and serve our community.”

 

 

Since its launch, three instructional videos are shared on the platform, including “Drawing with Markers for First Graders,” by Ms. Lisa Eaton; “Tone Quality on String Instruments,” by Ms. Elana Oleinick; and “The Ins and Outs of Clarinet Embouchure,” by Ms. Katie Repka.

“I am excited that I can share my passion for the arts with students viewing the Creative Collection,” said Ms. Eaton, who recorded a drawing tutorial by using markers and basic art elements. “I love that I can help students learn and grow as I have a passion for art that started when I was very young.”

The Creative Collection is created after the COVID health and safety restrictions have limited students’ access to in-person instruction, particularly for communities that face additional difficulties in accessing instruments, supplies, and arts programming.

 

 

“I love that I can give back to a Mason program like this after receiving a wealth of knowledge and skill through my coursework in the Master of Arts in Teaching program,” said Ms. Eaton. “I was learning so much making my videos. As a teacher, I will be learning right along with my students. It is a continuing process.”

“The initiative allows me to share my love of music and the arts with the community,” said Ms. Elana Olenick, cellist and music educator, who is pursuing her music education licensure at George Mason University. “I am thrilled that Mason is providing this wonderful opportunity and look forward to watching my peers teach about their passions as well!”

 

 

Samantha Clarke, MCAA Community Outreach Coordinator, spearheaded the creation and coordination of the Creative Collection, explaining that students are intimidated to learn independently without the teacher’s support.

“As a music educator, I understand the great privilege we have as teachers to inspire and enrich the lives of our students through the arts,” said Clarke. “By providing instructional and performance videos through MCAA: Creative Collection, we can help address the challenges that teachers and students are currently facing through virtual instruction while providing opportunities for students and faculty of Mason’s CVPA to teach, perform, and inspire.”

To watch the latest video from the initiative, visit MCAA: Creative Collection homepage HERE.

 

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Announcements Community Outreach

MCAA receives two Play It Forward matching gifts

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Mason Community Arts Academy secured two matching gifts, totaling $1,750, for the Play It Forward fundraising campaign that increased our total donation amount to $4,675.

In an effort to make the arts accessible to more students and families in need, the Academy hosted a crowdfunding campaign during the winter holiday season. Throughout the 31-day fundraising period, more than 50 generous donors supported the cause and helped to meet the two matching goals: a $750 donation from Academy Advisory Board members: J.P. Phaup and Paula Martino; Matt Morris; and Mary Lechter and Kevin Murray; and a $1,000 matching gift from an anonymous Academy family.

“We are so appreciative of everyone who donated to our Play it Forward campaign,” said Elizabeth Curtis, Executive Director of the Academy. “It was such a success and assisted so many families and students, enabling them to remain in their lessons and classes during these financially challenging times.”

Play It Forward, a tuition assistance campaign, aims to help those Academy students and families in need to continue their arts education throughout the pandemic. It has received positive responses since it was first created in May 2020.

As the pandemic continues to impact our community, the Play It Forward needs-based scholarship helps students continue with their arts education and offer a sense of normality. So far, the campaign has enabled ten students to continue to hone their skills and spread the joy and beauty of the arts for their audiences.

One Academy parent shared, “The scholarship has helped to keep our daughter in a world-class music education program despite the economic downturn. It’s truly been a blessing for us!”

“I have loved seeing my students continue to develop their musicianship and artistry,” shared Suzanne Dorman, Guitar Teaching Artist. “This is something the pandemic has not taken away from us! We can still create beauty and share the gift of music with those around us.”

We are grateful for the generous donations to the Play It Forward campaign and will continue to raise funds to help more Academy families. If you would like to make a contribution, please visit our Play It Forward Campaign Homepage.

 

 

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Music

MCAA Student Receives VA Top Performer Accolade 

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Academy piano student, Anna Fulmer, received the Virginia State Top Performer Certificate Award and performed in the “Celebrations of Excellence” online ceremony in November.

Hosted by the Royal Conservatory of Music, the examination assesses students’ music study through several testing components such as performance, sight-reading, aural skills, and technical tests. Students progress through levels of difficulty from Preparatory A to Level 10. Fulmer surpassed Level 2 requirements.

“Fulmer is always a confident performer!” said Teaching Artist Faith Zúñiga, who started teaching Fulmer private lessons in 2015. “I’m always impressed with how well she plays modern classical music, even when it has very unusual harmonies and rhythms, in such a convincing manner.”

Fulmer first joined the Academy in our Piano Beginnings class then transitioned to private lessons with Ms. Zúñiga. In addition to her weekly lesson, Fulmer actively participates in the Academy’s other programming, including Piano Adventures, Piano Academy, and the Vivacé Music Enrichment Program.

“Ms. Zúñiga has been so great to me during quarantine and has really helped me develop a deeper love of playing the piano,” shared Fulmer. “It’s been important for me to practice a lot every day. By doing this, I’ve improved so much over the past year, and this award is the result.”

 

 

Fulmer has performed in the Academy’s music recitals and concerts around the Northern Virginia area. Last fall, Fulmer was selected to perform at Carnegie Hall along with four Academy piano students and dozens of young performers from Costa Rica.

“I remember she volunteered to play at her first-ever studio class when she was little,” said Ms. Zúñiga. “Fulmer has a wonderful ear for music and excels in the ear training portions of her exam preparation. She surprised me this semester with her composition, which she performed for the studio class and me. She’s quite a good composer already!”

Despite all the challenges due to the pandemic, Fulmer is determined to complete several Royal Conservatory of Music exams in the coming year. The family is thankful that Fulmer can continue her music lessons with the scholarship support from the Play It Forward fundraising campaign.

“The scholarship has helped us keep Anna in a world-class music education program despite the economic downturn. It’s truly been a blessing for us!” Landon Fulmer, Anna’s father, said the Play It Forward scholarship helped provide a sense of normalcy for Anna after the lockdown and social distancing rules.

“Music lessons are so important for kids during these troubled times,” Ms. Zúñiga added. “The focus and effort required for music lessons help students to concentrate on something other than the global pandemic. Music exams, festivals, and recitals give students goals and a sense of achievement and progress to combat the feeling of time standing still while everyone is locked in at home.”

 

 

Since its launch in May, the Play It Forward campaign has helped many students continue their music studies. On December 8, 2020, the Academy will launch a fundraising challenge to raise $5,000 to support families who need tuition assistance for music, acting or visual art classes in 2021. Please consider donating to help more students like Anna continue their arts journey! To donate, visit Play It Forward Campaign Homepage

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Announcements

Candy Neukam, Founding Staff, Retires After 13 Years

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Note: Please help us congratulate Candy on her retirement and share your favorite memories as we are working on a digital album. Please share your comments HERE. (Submission Deadline: Friday, September 11)

 

If you or your family have been longtime Academy students, then you are familiar with this greeting. Walking into the Academy, you were met with not one, but two smiling faces—Candy Neukam and Roxy, her adorable sidekick, a certified therapy dog, and the Academy’s unofficial mascot. We are both delighted and disheartened to share that Candy has retired after 13 years with the Academy.

Candy has been an integral part of the Academy since she joined the organization in 2008. Throughout the years, Candy has fulfilled many roles and responsibilities that helped the Academy’s growth from a small summer arts program to a year-round community arts organization with more than 3,800 participants.

 

 

“Trying to share a few words about Candy is virtually impossible because her contributions to the Academy have been immense,” said Elizabeth Curtis, the Executive Director of the Academy. “The ‘backbone’ of an organization should be its employees and the work they do to develop and strengthen the practices and relationships that make an organization a success. Candy has been the backbone, the thighbone, the radius, and all the other parts that make up our wonderful organization. She has been there from the very beginning, helping build the necessary structures to accomplish our impactful work. But most importantly, she has been, and always will be, a part of the Academy’s heart and soul. We can’t thank her enough.”

“When AFYP joined forces with the Academy in 2012, I knew I would be working with an amazing team of colleagues, but I had no idea that they would become lifelong friends.” Mary Lechter, Associate Director of the Academy and Founder of Acting For Young People, commented. “Candy’s humor, wisdom, and guidance have had (and will continue to have!) a huge impact on me personally and professionally. Her incredible generosity and ingenuity have made the Academy what it is today.”

 

 

“Candy is a highly personable and compassionate woman, dedicated to her family and self-evolution.” Matt Geske, who worked alongside Candy since 2008, reflected on their years of teamwork. The pair, famously known as “Mandy,” started as part-time staff and conquered numerous challenges as the Academy expanded.

“What I was always grateful for with Candy was that if I was struggling with understanding or doing a certain task, she would immediately step in to either teach me her approach or to shoulder the task herself,” Matt added.

A longtime arts supporter, Candy enjoys attending concerts, theater showcases, and community arts events; volunteering with Mason’s Friends of Music; and reading stories to young children at the Fairfax City Library with Roxy.

 

 

After retirement, Candy plans to travel, embrace new adventures, and catch up on all the things she loves in life. Please join us in thanking Candy for her dedication to the Academy and wish her a happy retirement. If you would like to share your warm wishes in our digital album for Candy, please click HERE to submit your comments. (Submission Deadline: Friday, September 11)

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Acting Art Film & Video Music Publicity

Summer 2020 Highlights

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Mason Community Arts Academy concluded its Summer Arts at Mason 2020 programming online with new records. Throughout the week, hundreds of students engaged in live-streamed classes, guest artist presentations, and one-on-one coaching with Mason faculty, industry professionals, and special guests. Some of the students participated from different time zones, logging on from the West Coast, and even from other countries. Here is a snapshot of Summer 2020 at the Academy:

  • 1023 participants in Summer Arts at Mason Online Programs
  • 74 online programs for all ages
  • 5 creative categories: acting, music, film & video, visual art, and teacher training
  • Students were streaming from 11 countries and 32 states, including District of Columbia
  • More than 100 faculty and guest artists teaching in at least one of the online programs
  • 70% of our teaching staff, guest artists, and program assistants are Mason faculty, students, and alumni
  • 306 students continued online private music lessons throughout summer
  • 1954 music lessons booked in summer 2020

We are extremely proud of our accomplishments and cannot thank enough to our students, families, faculty, and staff for their continuous support.

 

Looking Forward

This fall, the Academy offers 22 group classes in music, acting, and visual art for 18 months to adult. Some new additions include:

All classes will be held in a live-streamed, interactive format with supplemental materials or videos for more individualized learning.

 

Full Class List