Summer Songwriting Workshop

Masha Feygelson began her musical studies in Moscow and has extensive experience working with children, both as an instructor in a classroom setting and as a private music teacher. Since joining the MCAA faculty in 2013, Ms. Feygelson has built a flourishing studio of young pianists whose levels range from beginner to advanced.

Ms. Feygelson has performed as a piano soloist and chamber musician both in the United States and abroad. She has received accolades in competitions including the Duquesne National Young Artist Competition in Pittsburgh, the American Fine Arts Festival in New York City, and the Orfeo International Music Festival in Vipiteno, Italy. She has also performed in the ARTS! by George series at GMU and the GMU School of Music Honors Recital.

Ms. Feygelson attended Levine School of Music in Washington D.C., and Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan, studying piano with notable teachers Anna Ouspenskaya, Dr. Michael Coonrod, and Ya-Ting Chang. She received her Bachelor of Music and Master of Music in Piano Performance from George Mason University, where she studied with Dr. Anna Balakerskaia. Ms. Feygelson also began her foray into vocal study in the George Mason jazz program with Dr. Darden Purcell, and has also studied with operatic soprano Fabiana Bravo and holistic vocal coach Tiffaney Moore Borgelin.

In addition to teaching and performing, Ms. Feygelson also works as an accompanist, church pianist, and vocalist in the D.C. metropolitan area.

Cristian Perez is an Argentine-American guitarist/composer/arranger currently based in Northern Virginia. He graduated from Mason with a BM in Classical guitar (’10) and a MM in Jazz Studies (’12). Cristian has performed internationally (Bulgaria, Canada, South Korea, Bolivia, China, Dominican Republic) and continues to be very active in the local music scene. His debut album “Anima Mundi” has received numerous reviews throughout the world and reached #13 in the CMJ World Music charts in the USA. Cristian is a former Artist in Residence at Strathmore (’15). He won 2 Wammie Awards (2022) with the band Project Locrea. He has been featured on Vintage Guitar Magazine. Cristian is currently a Kremona Guitars Artist as well as an MCO Guitars Artist.

Cristian has studied with Berta Rojas, Larry Snitzler, Rick Whitehead, Ken Hall, Mike Stern, and dozens of musicians from whom he has taken lessons from (Roland Dyens, Pepe Romero, Gilad Hekselman, Nelson Veras, Steve Herberman, and many others). He loves classical music, jazz, folk music from around the world, and pop/soul music. He is constantly trying to add to his musical palette both as a sideman and bandleader.

Cristian is currently very active performing as a freelancer and collaborating with multiple musicians of different backgrounds. He co-leads world music fusion group Project Locrea, and leads a South American Jazz quintet (CP5), a Jazz Fusion quartet (CP4), and a chamber ensemble (CPCE). Cristian arranges and composes music for different instrumentations.

Cristian is an adjunct professor at NOVA Community College (Alexandria, VA), and is available to offer workshops/masterclasses/clinics.

Brighid McNiff is a pianist and educator with extensive experience teaching students of all ages and skill levels. She has worked as a teaching assistant at the George Mason Summer Piano Academy since 2021 and at the Intermuse International Music Institute and Festival in 2023-24. Beyond her work with these programs, Brighid has independently managed a private studio and taught guest classes. She has also accompanied choirs, instrumentalists, and vocalists in recitals, juries, and competitions.

Brighid is studying Piano Performance and Music Exploration at Ball State University under Dr. Raymond Kilburn, with an expected graduation in 2026. She is committed to creating a dynamic and encouraging teaching environment that helps each student uncover their individual artistic voice and musical interests.

Dylan Ahrens is a composer hailing from Fairfax, Virginia. He began his musical career as a pianist in fourth grade, shortly thereafter beginning to play saxophone as well. Dylan graduated from Woodson High School in 2023 and is a former student of the George Mason Arts Academy. 

He began composing in 2021, with his debut piece The Rockwell Suite. Dylan quickly grew to a very well adept composer, writing for various ensembles and orchestrations. His debut piece for wind band, The Great Fire of Salzburg, was premiered in 2023 along with two of his other compositions in the same concert cycle.  

Recently he has released music on streaming services, including The Rockwell Suite and a fully improvised piano album entitled Late Night Improvisations. Currently, Dylan attends Belmont University in Nashville, TN where he plans to graduate with a double major in Music Composition and Music Theory in 2027.