Mason Community Arts Academy

Mason Orchestral Conducting Symposium

dr soo han showing proper hand technique

Overview

The 2025 Mason Orchestral Conducting Symposium aspires to be a unique conducting workshop is in service to conductors in all aspects of the musical careers and goals. Past participants have included young aspiring conductors at the very beginning of their conducting journey, current undergraduate and graduate conducting students, classroom teachers, and active professional conductors looking to further develop their craft.

The orchestra symposium will be led by Dr. Soo Han, director of orchestral studies at George Mason University, alongside other invited world renowned conductors, performers, and educators. One of the most important pillars of our symposium is to create a positive and supportive atmosphere where everyone is supported and yet challenged by meeting each conductor at their level of readiness and need. In addition to daily podium time, wide ranging topics of discussion and presentations include; score study skills, rehearsal planning and execution, programming, and ensemble culture. 

Participants will receive a Certificate of Completion with course hours to be applied towards professional development hours (with administrator approval).

Auditors

Individuals may opt to participate as auditors for this program. Auditors will not have an opportunity to conduct, but will be engaged in the symposium by observing all conducting rounds, breakout sessions, and discussions. Auditors will be expected to play as ensemble members.

Program Details

Ages: 18+

Dates: June 23–27, 2025
9 a.m.–4 p.m.

Tuition: Non credit $660; Auditor $300; For-credit (2 credits) In state $1,178; Out of state $1,392

Location: George Mason Fairfax Campus, de Laski Performing Arts Building

Parking: $35 per week:  Purchase a parking pass • View parking map

Sample Daily Schedule

9 a.m.–1 p.m. Morning conducting rounds

11 a.m.–Noon Masterclass 

Noon–1 p.m. Lunch Break

1p.m.–3 p.m. Afternoon conducting rounds

3 p.m.–4 p.m. Masterclass 

4 p.m.–5 p.m. Daily debrief and discussion (optional)

Repertoire

TBD

Accommodation Options

Choose to stay in convenient apartment style accommodations on campus at George Mason. Students will be assigned to an apartment with up to two additional roommates. All students will have a private bedroom and shared living room, bathroom, and kitchen in the apartment. Linens (sheets, blankets, pillows, towels), toilet paper, and internet access are included.

George Mason also offers a variety of discounts at local hotels in the Fairfax area. For more information visit Where to Stay.

Registration

For-credit registration will open in February and limited spots are available. We encourage students to register for the non-credit option to secure a spot in the program. When for-credit registration opens, please email [email protected] to request a transfer.

Registration Deadline: June 1

Auditor

Non credit

For-credit

⚠️ For-credit registrations

ATTENTION: For-credit registrations are managed by the Continuing and Professional Education office at George Mason. When you find the course(s) you are registering for please follow these steps:

  • Click the “Register for Credit” button to register.
  • On the right side of the page, you will see the details of the course including dates, times, and course fees. Click the green “Add to Cart” button.
  • Doublecheck the in-state or out-of-state fee selection, and then “Checkout” at the top of the page. This will then prompt you to make an account through the online portal. Please choose “I am a new user or I have an inquiry” and enter your email address and “Create Account.”
  • Please fill out all data required and then “Continue Checkout.”
  • You will then be prompted to complete your payment option.
  • Once payment is received, you will get an enrollment and payment receipt.

Program Faculty

Dr. Soo Han
Orchestra Track Director and Conductor
Director of Orchestral Studies
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Dr. Soo Han is the newly appointed Director of Orchestral Studies at the Reva and Sid Dewberry Family School of Music at George Mason University. He is also the Music Director of the Elkhart County Symphony Orchestra and a member of the Board of Directors of the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic. In addition, he is a contributing editor for Hal Leonard’s Essential Elements for Strings, a D’Addario Orchestral Strings Artist, a Conn-Selmer Educational Clinician, and a program coordinator/faculty member with the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s summer Youth Orchestra program.

Prior to his appointment at George Mason University, Dr. Han served as the Director of Orchestral Studies at Baldwin Wallace Conservatory of Music in Berea, Ohio. He conducted the Baldwin Wallace (BW) Symphony Orchestra, the BW Opera Theatre, and led a successful performance tour with the BW Symphony Orchestra in addition to maintaining an active conducting studio.

An active conductor, Dr. Soo Han has appeared with professional orchestras throughout the country in addition to directing university orchestras. He is a frequent conductor for All-State, Regional, and Honor Orchestras throughout the U.S., appearing in over 30 states. He has also conducted internationally with orchestras in Austria, China, Thailand, and Australia. Dr. Han has collaborated with numerous artists, groups, and conductors such as Lynn Harrell, David Kim, and the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. He has produced multiple recordings of complete symphonies and has premiered several commissioned works for strings and full orchestras. He has presented workshops and clinics internationally and for national and state music conferences including the Australian String Teachers Conference, Maryborough National Australia Conference, Midwest Clinic, American String Teachers Association (ASTA) National Conference, NAfME National Conference, and the Ohio University Summer String Teacher Workshop.

Dr. Soo Han is a co-author, contributor, and managing editor for Teaching Music through Performance in Orchestra, Vol. 4, one of the leading orchestra pedagogical resources published by GIA. He is the past president of the Indiana chapter of the American String Teachers Association; the Indiana chapter was awarded the ‘Most Improved Chapter’ during his time as president. Having taught music in public schools for fifteen years, he is a passionate supporter of public school music programs and continues to remain active in instrumental classrooms throughout the country.

Dr. Soo Han received his Bachelor of Instrumental Music Education degree from Indiana University Jacobs School of Music and studied piano with Edward Auer. He received his Master of Science in Education from Indiana University School of Education, and his Doctorate in Orchestral Conducting from the Michigan State University – College of Music where he studied with Kevin Noe.

June Huang
Guest Faculty, Ensemble Techniques
Director of Strings and Assistant Professor of Violin
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Prof. June Huang is the Director of Strings and Assistant Professor of Violin at the Dewberry School of Music. She teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in applied violin, chamber music, pedagogy, and string methods. Prof. Huang has a Master of Arts from the University of California at Santa Barbara where she was a member of the Young Artist String Quartet. She earned a Bachelor of Music in Performance from the Oberlin Conservatory and attended the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music as an undergraduate. Prof. Huang studied at the Meadowmount School of Music, Aspen Music Festival, Banff Centre for the Arts, and Kneisel Hall. Her primary teachers include Stephen Clapp and Ronald Copes.

Prof. Huang has performed with the National Philharmonic, Harrisburg Symphony, Richmond Symphony, Wolf Trap Orchestra, Washington Ballet Orchestra, and Amadeus Orchestra. She is a frequent chamber music collaborator and has appeared at the Staunton Music Festival, Red Lodge Music Festival, and Chamber Music Society of Central Virginia. A specialist on the baroque violin, Ms. Huang plays and records with Opera Lafayette, Four Nations, and REBEL Baroque Orchestra. Leadership positions have included concertmaster of the Washington Bach Consort and the Washington National Cathedral Baroque Orchestra.

Prof. Huang is certified by the Suzuki Association of the America and is a member of the initial cohort of Communicating Honor for Diversity. As a grant recipient from the Levine School of Music, she visited Matsumoto and studied violin pedagogy with Dr. Suzuki. Prof. Huang is an active clinician and was the Founder and Director of String Camp and Strings Plus at Levine Music in Washington DC for 27 seasons. She currently directs the Mason Community Arts Academy Strings Camp and High School String Intensive.

Professor Huang is a member of the Editorial Committee of the American String Teachers Association and a presenter at the ASTA National Conference for 2022 and 2023. Additionally, she will perform and present at the Midwest Clinic and at the state conferences of the Virginia Music Teachers Association and the Virginia Music Educators Association this season. Prof. Huang is studying the intersection of music education and citizenship, and she intends to complete a Masters Certificate in Contemporary Dispute Resolution at the Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution next May.

Prof. Huang will sit in the ensemble and provide unique feedback and perspectives from the musicians point-of-view regarding the conductor’s collaborative work with the orchestra.

Anthony Maiello
Guest Faculty, Ensemble Culture
Instrumental Conducting and Aural Skills
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Anthony J. Maiello is Professor of Music and University Professor at George Mason University. Professor Maiello teaches applied lessons in Conducting, Aural Skills, and classes in Instrumental Conducting. From 1996 to 2009, he conducted the Mason Symphony Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra. Under his direction, the ensembles at both Crane and George Mason University commissioned new works, made numerous recordings and appeared at national and international conferences.

Professor Maiello also makes professional appearances both nationally and abroad conducting music festivals, adjudicating ensembles and presenting clinics, lectures and workshops throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Bahamas and Europe. He conducted musical activities for the Gold Medal Ceremonies at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York; served as Musical Director for Music Festivals International; was selected as President of International Association of Jazz Educators – New York State Chapter; and is a guest clinician for Yamaha Corporation and Warner Bros. Publications. In March of 2010, he was inducted into the Bands of America Hall of Fame at Music for All’s Indianapolis headquarters.

Professor Maiello’s professional recording credits include conducting the American Wind Symphony and additional studio ensembles for Alfred/Belwin Publications. Locally, Maiello has served as Associate Conductor of The McLean Orchestra, McLean, Virginia; been appointed an Honorary Conductor of The United States Navy Band, Washington, D.C.; and was a participant in the National Conducting Institute with Leonard Slatkin and the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, D.C., to which he has provided his services as a cover conductor.

Maiello received his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Music Education from Ithaca College, Ithaca, New York in 1965 and 1967 respectively, and has extensive experience teaching in the public schools and at the university level. While at the Crane School of Music, Potsdam College of SUNY, Potsdam, New York, he served as a Professor of Music and Chairman of Performance, where he taught Advanced Instrumental Conducting, Applied Clarinet, Woodwind Techniques, Percussion Techniques and conducted the Crane Wind Ensemble.

Throughout his career, Maiello has published musical compositions for string orchestra and is the author of “Conducting Nuances” (GIA Publications, Inc.); “Conducting: A Hands-On-Approach” (Warner Bros./Alfred Publications); and co-author of “The 21st Century Band Method” (Warner Bros./Alfred Publications). In 2007, Maiello was awarded the title of “University Professor” by the GMU Board of Visitors, the highest rank given to Mason faculty members. Maestro Maiello is the founder and Conductor/Artistic Director of the American Festival Pops Orchestra, a professional ensemble in the greater Washington, D.C. metropolitan area dedicated to promoting and performing American popular music. The American Festival Pops Orchestra’s May 14, 2022 performance marked the beloved Maestro’s final performance with the orchestra, capping off 12 years of leadership.

In addition to providing conducting feedback, Maestro Maiello will present topics on leadership and ensemble culture.

Guest Artist

Joel Schut
Director of Symphony Orchestra, Grand Valley State University
Assistant Professor of Music Education
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Joel Schut is the Director of the GVSU Symphony Orchestra and Assistant Professor of Music Education teaching courses in conducting and music education.

Prior to his appointment at GVSU, Schut served as Assistant Director of Orchestral Studies and Instructor of Music Education at the University of Colorado Boulder, interim Director of Orchestras at the Crane School of Music SUNY-Potsdam, led courses in String Music Education at Michigan State University, and taught for seven years in the Michigan public schools including the nationally recognized Okemos High School Orchestras. Additionally he served as director of the Denver Young Artist Conservatory Orchestra. He is an active clinician for all-state, regional, and honor orchestras, and a passionate advocate for public school music programs throughout the country.

As a conductor, he has appeared with the Crane Symphony Orchestra, Michigan State Opera Theatre, Michigan State Symphony Orchestra, and the University of Colorado Boulder Symphony, Philharmonia, and Chamber Orchestras. He served as Music Director of the Livingston Symphony Orchestra, founding director of the Detroit Medical Orchestra, and organizer of the Michigan Teachers Orchestra. He has collaborated with a range of professional artists including Andrés Cárdenas and Ralph Votapek and commissioned works for string and full orchestra.

A dedicated string educator, his research and service include work as a conductor-teacher trainer and advocate for cross-cultural music making. He has presented clinics and workshops on a range of topics and mentored young teachers nationally and internationally. He has worked with multiple engagements in Tunisia and Honduras and served as guest faculty at the Afghanistan Institute of Music. He facilitated a long standing music host exchange connecting German and American young artists and has been a featured artist faculty at the Myanmar Music Festival. A graduate of the YOA Orchestra of the Americas Global Leaders Program, he has served as a program mentor connecting innovators in youth orchestra education throughout the Americas.

Schut is past editor for the American String Teacher Journal and his publications include the Teaching Music Through Performance in Orchestra series (GIA), Southwestern Musician Magazine, and the American String Teacher Journal. He received his Doctorate in Orchestral Conducting from Michigan State University, Masters in Orchestral Conducting from the University of Colorado-Boulder and Bachelors in Violin Performance and Music Education from the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre and Dance where he was awarded the Albert A. Stanley Medal, the school’s highest honor.


Notes

  • Please note that group classes are subject to cancellation if minimum enrollment is not reached.
  • Be sure to check our policies and procedures regarding registration, withdrawals, refunds, and more for summer group classes.
  • All students will receive a Welcome Letter via email at least one week before the class starts with all necessary details.
  • Limited scholarship funds are available for families in need of financial assistance. To apply, please visit: https://masonacademy.gmu.edu/about-us/financial-aid/. For families in need of extended payment plan installment options, please contact the Academy at [email protected].
  • For additional information, please contact the Academy at [email protected].
  • For-credit programs only: A tuition refund minus a $125 cancelation fee will be given provided that notice is received by the Mason Community Arts Academy no later than one week before the program start date. No refunds will be granted after this date.