Mason Summer Piano Camp | Mason Community Arts Academy GMU

Summer piano camp student and teacher

MASON SUMMER PIANO ACADEMY

An exciting program for piano students. During this week of focused musical study in an inspiring environment, participants will receive private lessons taught by MCAA Teaching Artists, daily masterclasses, sessions on music history, theory and other topics, as well as faculty and guest performances. Students will have the opportunity to perform at the end of the week.

Ages: 8 – 13
Dates: August 1 – 5, 2022
Times: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm* (M-F)
Tuition: $582
Location: Mason Fairfax Campus, deLaski Performing Arts Building
*After Care is NOT available this week.

NOTE: The skill level is from beginner (minimum 1 year of private lessons) to advanced.
Younger/ very beginner students ages 6-9 can join our Piano Adventures.
Older students ages 13-18 may join our Advanced Piano Academy.

Students will receive:

4 – 30 minute private lessons with MCAA Teaching Artists
Daily classes in music history, theory, and other piano topics
Daily masterclasses with Piano Academy faculty and guests
Daily performances by faculty and guests

APPLY NOW!
An application and successful video audition are required to participate in this program. Please complete the below online application form and follow audition video submission instructions. See Audition Material below.

COVID REQUIREMENTS: Students must follow University Covid protocols. Please see updates here.

Application is closed.

Audition Material:

One unedited piece that best demonstrates your ability.
Both hands and face/profile must be visible at all times

PROGRAM FACULTY

Co-Director/ Instructor: Michelle Richardson
Piano Teaching Artist
Read about Dr. Richardson

Coming soon!

Co-Director/ Instructor: Misha Tumanov
Academy Teaching Artist
Read about Dr. Tumanov

Born in Ukraine, Misha Tumanov started his musical education in Costa Rica at the Instituto Superior de Artes and the Pre-College Program of the National University studying with Dr. Alexandr Sklioutovsky. After Mr. Tumanov graduated with honors from the National University at age seventeen, he continued his studies with Dr. Ray Kilburn at Ball State University, receiving a Master’s Degree and Artist Diploma in piano performance. Currently, Mr. Tumanov is a Doctoral Candidate at the University of Maryland, under Dr. Larissa Dedova, where he is recording works of the early Soviet Avant-garde, including Shostakovich, Prokofiev, Myaskovsky, Feinberg, and Roslavets.

Mr. Tumanov has taught in the DC area since 2010. Previously, he taught at the National University of Costa Rica, the Instituto Superior de Artes, and Ball State (both private lessons and group classes). Mr. Tumanov has also taught group classes at George Mason University and the University of Maryland. He has been often invited back to Costa Rica to work with students preparing for competitions and major performances, most notably the International Competition of Slav Music 2009 and 2010, where the students received two Second Prizes and one Third Prize. Mr. Tumanov’s students have performed at the Carnegie Hall, Kennedy Center, as well as prominent local venues.

Mr. Tumanov’s experience as a teacher ranges from 4-year-old beginners to advanced adults. Mr. Tumanov is passionate about guiding his students to find their own artistic voice and discovering the joy of music.

Mr. Tumanov has participated in masterclasses with such distinguished pianists and teachers as Gyorgy Sandor, Alexander Braginsky, Alexander Kobrin, Jerome Rose, and Jonathan Biss. In 2006 he released a CD featuring works by Bach, Mozart, Chopin, Schumann, and Rachmaninov.

Mr. Tumanov is a frequent performer at festivals and conferences, both as a solo and collaborative pianist, including the International Double Reed Society conference, MTNA, Piano Technicians Guild, and Orfeo Music Festival in Italy. He has been a featured soloist with the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine, the National and Youth Symphony Orchestras of Costa Rica, as well as the Ball State Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Tumanov has won numerous awards and competitions, including second place at the East-Central Division of the MTNA National Competition, the Indianapolis Matinee Musicale, and 1st Prize at the Pinault International Competition in New York.

In addition, Mr. Tumanov is the pianist/organist and Concert Series Coordinator at the United Christian Parish in Reston, VA.

Instructor: Andy Miller
Mason School of Music Faculty
Read about Dr. Miller

Andrew Miller, a native of Springfield, VA, is an accomplished pianist whose versatility and commitment to musicianship are exhibited by his active participation as a soloist, accompanist, chamber musician, and instructor in the Northern Virginia area. Mr. Miller is a current third-year doctoral candidate of the D.M.A program in Piano Performance at George Mason University and has had the privilege of studying with Dr. Anna Balakerskaia since 2010. During his studies at Mason, Mr. Miller was selected as a winner of the 2016 GMU Concerto Competition and performed for the Scholarship Benefit Concert with the Mason Symphony Orchestra in May of that year. Mr. Miller was a winner of the GMU Concerto Competition in 2013 and performed Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue in the Young Masters’ Concert before the completion of his Master of Music in Piano Performance in May 2013. He participated as a performer and chamber musician in the Orfeo International Music Festival held in Vipiteno, Italy, in 2011.

In May 2010, Mr. Miller graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from Christopher Newport University. Under the tutelage of CNU professors Dr. Jeffrey Brown and Dr. Amanda Halstead, Mr. Miller won the CNU Concerto/Aria Competition twice and was given the privilege of performing Beethoven’s “Third Piano Concerto” and Gershwin’s “Concerto in F” with the Christopher Newport University Orchestra. In addition to his orchestral recognition, Mr. Miller received first place in the annual Friends of Music Scholarship Recital and was nominated two times for the “People’s Choice” Award. He has performed various musicals for Theater CNU, including the production of Urinetown (2007) as a member of the “Pit Stop Band” and was Assistant Musical Director for their production of Little Shop of Horrors (2008). During the spring of 2009, he was chosen by the faculty and was inducted into the honorary music fraternity Pi Kappa Lambda, which recognizes students for their advanced academic and musical accomplishments. In addition to his keyboard experiences, he enjoyed playing trombone as a member and later as a drum major (2009) of the CNU Marching Captains.

Today, Mr. Miller works alongside keyboard professors as a graduate lecturer at Mason, maintains a private studio of 30 local students, as well as working as a vocal coach/accompanist for Mason’s private voice studios (since 2011), VA Hills Baptist Church (since 2012), and the Eastern Virginia School for the Performing Arts (2009-2010). In addition to his professional coaching, Mr. Miller has appeared as a soloist/accompanist for the concert series “Music for the Angels” at the National Swedenborgian Church in Washington D.C and is a current recipient of the Linda Monson Endowment Scholarship at George Mason University.

GUEST ARTISTS

Guest Artist: Ms. Faith Zúñiga
Piano Teaching Artist – Mason Community Arts Academy
Read about Ms. Zúñiga

As an accomplished piano teacher on a continual quest for excellence in teaching and performance, Ms. Faith Zúñiga’s mission is to provide high-quality instruction to motivated students. She enjoys performing throughout the greater Washington, D.C. metropolitan area as a soloist and with her chamber group, The Dream Trio.

Guest Artist: Ms. Darya Gabay
Levine School of Music
Read About Ms. Gabay

Ms. Darya Gabay has been a faculty member of the Levine Music since 1999 and in addition maintains a private studio in Fairfax Station, VA. As an accompanist she has performed in many All-Russian and International competitions, where she has been awarded “The Best Accompaniment Diploma” three times (1995, 1997, and 1998).

TESTIMONIALS

“My favorite part of the program was the recital performance. I enjoyed watching the other students perform. I live on the west coast and woke up at 5:30 am to participate in the program because I really wanted to participate in this special opportunity. ”―Mason Summer Piano Academy 2020 Participant

See More Testimonials

“My daughter enjoyed the keyboard repertoire class and the private lessons.”―Mason Summer Piano Academy 2019 Parent

“My favorite part was the four semi-private (2 students) professional lessons. I also loved the t-shirt that the students received. Kudos to the designer.” – Mason Summer Piano Academy 2018 Parent

“I really appreciated the opportunity provided for my child to see a wide variety of style and performance.” – Mason Summer Piano Academy 2017 Parent

“My favorite part was getting a chance to work with new teachers and to meet other kids very interested in piano.” – Mason Summer Piano Academy 2017 Participant

Be sure to check our FAQs and policies and procedures regarding registration, safety protocols, curriculum, technology, and more for summer programs.
All students will receive a Welcome Letter via email at least 1 week before the program starts with all necessary details, including camp schedule, supply list, web links, etc. For additional information, please contact the Academy at academy@gmu.edu.
Questions about parking on campus? Find answers here.