Recitals & Performances

Recitals

Mason Community Arts Private Lesson students of all ages are given the opportunity to perform in the fall and spring student recitals.  These recitals are a great time for students to show off their talent and skills to family and friends while gaining valuable performance experience.

Our recitals, which take place in the de Laski Performing Arts Building on the George Mason University campus in Fairfax, are a professional yet casual affair that allows our community of students and their families and instructors to connect and support each other.  Recitals are free and open to the public. Accompanists are provided.

Fall 2023 Recitals

Our Fall Recital will be held in person on Saturday, December 9 & Sunday December 10, 2023. Students have the opportunity to perform while enjoying other student performances as well. For more information, contact academy@gmu.edu.

Recital Etiquette

Private music student recitals can be tremendously fun and valuable experiences for our music students.  Unfortunately, they can also be a source of some stress and anxiety if preparations aren’t complete and certain practices aren’t followed. Following are guidelines and rules of behavior all performers and audience members should follow during recitals or concerts.

Helpful Guidelines

Guidelines For Performers 
  • Arrive at least 30 minutes before your recital start time so you can unpack your instrument and/or warm up in the practice rooms.
  • Dress nicely in concert attire or your “Sunday Best.”
  • When it is your turn, walk up to the stage, take a bow, announce your name and the piece you will be playing. Begin when you are ready.
  • Acknowledge the audience both before and after the performance by taking a bow. If you have an accompanist, be sure to acknowledge them at the end of your performance when you are finished with your bow.
  • Last but not least, be a good listener while others are performing (see below).
    Performers and parents, please read our guide to a successful recital.
 Guidelines For Audience Members

 Attentive audiences make the best audiences!

  • Arrive at least 10 minutes before the recital so you can be comfortably seated when the recital starts. Late arrivals are distracting and may prove stressful for performers.
  • Turn off the sound/volume on all electronic devices.
  • Please remain in the audience for the entire recital. Students work very hard for the opportunity to perform for an audience. Watching members of the audience leave as a performer walks on stage can be deflating.
  • Younger children in the audience should be kept as quiet as possible during the performance. Talking, whispering, walking around, making noise with papers is extremely distracting to a performer and other audience members. Crying or fussy babies should be taken out to the lobby.  They are not happy, and neither is the audience or performer!
  • Recital hall doors are closed during a performance and should not be opened unless a piece is completed and the audience is clapping. Do not enter, exit, or switch seats during a performance.
  • Videotaping is permitted, but please sit in the last row to not disturb other audience members.

Theater Showcases

Additionally, our acting students will present their theater showcases in the Black Box Theater at the lower level of the building.

Faculty Performances

Also, check out upcoming faculty recitals and performances!

Juried Recitals

Select students are nominated to perform and receive feedback from a panel of professional adjudicators. These recitals take place in the de Laski Performing Arts Building on the George Mason University campus in Fairfax. Accompanists are provided.

Music Competition

5th Biennial Spring Music Competition
Application Deadline: Thursday, December 15, 2022
Audition Submission Deadline: Friday, January 20, 2023

Spotlight on the Arts Festival

The City of Fairfax hosts an annual Spotlight on the Arts Festival in which Academy participates with special performances featuring selected students and faculty.