Mason Arts is the collective presence of the arts embedded throughout George Mason University.
You enter a gallery and are drawn toward a particularly arresting image, so you pause to take it all in. You sit down in a theater in the company of strangers, the house lights dim, and you focus your attention on a stage or a screen, eager for an unpredictable experience to unfold before you. You turn on a computer and immerse yourself in an interactive story that challenges and delights. You walk into a museum and wonder at the complex institutional organism that makes it all possible. You go to a basketball game and cheer as loudly for the great and funky pep band as for the stellar athletes. You visit your neighborhood school for a concert, a play, an art show, and marvel at the quality of the teaching and learning and creativity on display. You attend a free guitar workshop with your fellow Veterans and their families.
You are witnessing the immediacy and truth of our mantra, "The Arts Create Community."
If you’ve had any of these experiences in Northern Virginia, chances are good that Mason Arts played a leading role in making it possible. Our students and faculty in Art, Arts Management, Dance, Film, Game Design, Music, and Theater; our seven art galleries and two major performing arts venues; and our multiple community arts programs all combine to form the largest and most impactful arts presence in our region—and one that has a growing national and international reach as well.
This annual report provides the evidence for what I’ve sketched above, in both numbers and narratives. I am so proud and happy to share it with you, and invite you to take a leisurely stroll through its pages, reflecting, as you go, on the ways in which Mason Arts has touched your life or the lives of your friends, colleagues, and neighbors, in forms that you might not have imagined.
When I talk about the arts creating community, I speak from daily direct experience. I think this document offers a series of windows on what that experience feels like—and it’s your invitation to come join us!
Cheers, Rick Davis
Dean, College of Visual and Performing Arts Executive Director, Hylton Performing Arts Center Professor of Theater
Elizabeth Colandene, MA Arts Management '24
Photo by Evan Cantwell; Green Machine
Mason Arts brings people together to create, experience, engage in, and enjoy the arts, in every possible form and fashion. A hub of creative energy, artistic excellence, and imaginative innovation in Northern Virginia, the reach and
Impact
Students, alumni, and faculty presented and performed at more than 25 conferences, locally, regionally, and nationally
impact of the 17 units within Mason Arts resonates across the world. We're proud to showcase how our academic units, community arts programs and galleries, and performance venues intersect, influence, and expand our community through inclusive arts opportunities for everyone.
Our digital venue, Mason Arts Amplified experienced a 31% increase in subscribers and a 177% increase in new programming
A student-created and -managed inclusive film festival continued for a second year, after originating as a class project
$7.8
Mason Arts
Foot
Murals at Mason, a program of Mason Exhibitions, created seven new murals inside Manassas Mall
The Center for the Arts presented weekday school time matinees offering free performances for school-aged children
The Hylton Performing Arts Center's Cecil and Irene Hylton Foundation gift supported 85 Arts Alliance performances for 30,000+ attendees
These stories may begin on campus or on the other side of the globe, but their impact for George Mason is the same: bringing people together to explore diverse perspectives and expand access to the arts.
World-Premiere Production Takes Renewed Bow at Capital Fringe Festival
, BA Theater ’23, that premiered at George Mason, enjoyed a packed run of performances at the Capital Fringe Festival and won the Audience Award for "Best Drama," among more than 40 other productions during the festival's run.
Andrew Opitz came to George Mason University as a freshman over a decade ago. After taking a hiatus from school, he graduated from the Film and Video Studies (FAVS) Program in May 2023. Opitz's film, was a semi-finalist in the Student Academy Awards Alternative/ Experimental category.
Small Island Big Song Residency Engages Campus Community in New Ways
Small Island Big Song, a Mason Artist-in-Residence with the Center for the Arts, featured Indigenous artists from seafaring cultures as far afield as Madagascar and Taiwan. The group hosted a cooking class at Ike's Dining Hall, introducing participants to a traditional Mauritian dish, and took upcycling to a new level with a "Trash to Music" workshop creating unique musical instruments from found objects.
Hylton Performing Arts Center's Education Initiative Deepens Programming to Expand Local Student Experience
One of the goals of the Education Initiative is to provide arts experiences while making connections in other curricular areas. Teachers at Covington-Harper Elementary School led a multisubject unit (art, library, and music) in preparation for their first-grade field trip to Giraffes Can't Dance at the
Vocal Student from Mason Community Arts Academy Accepts
Small Island Big Song
Photo provided by artist
Cooking class at Ike's Dining Hall
Photo by Laura Mertens
Giraffes Can't Dance Photo provided by artist
Green Machine Ensembles
Photo by Josh Cruse, Green Machine Media
Jordan Freedy,
The Road to the End Photo by Emily Schneider
Andrew Opitz, Film and Video Studies Alum
The impact of the College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) is amplified and expanded by our students, alumni, faculty and staff, throughout Virginia, the greater Washington D.C. area, and the world at large. 402 students graduated into professional performance, teaching, entrepreneurship, and other exciting roles across a myriad of industries. The transformational learning opportunities found only at George Mason University inspire our students and alumni to use their talent and their education to create opportunities wherever their paths lead.
CVPA Joins The Alliance for the Arts in Research Universities (a2ru)
George Mason University has joined the The Alliance for the Arts in Research Universities (a2ru) institutional member through a concerted effort by multiple colleges and the Office of Research, Innovation, and Economic Impact (ORIEI). This action uniquely positions George Mason among other R1 institutions to support an emerging research culture in the arts.
Understanding Physical and Mental Demands on Dance Majors
George Mason University's College of Visual and Performing Arts and College of and Human Development (CEHD) are studying the world of collegiate dance to develop a better understanding of the physical and mental demands placed on dance majors. Among the team's leadership is Jena Hansen-Honeycutt the athletic trainer for the School of Dance.
CVPA graduate during the 2024 Degree Celebration
Computer Game Design Program Brings of-the-Moment Opportunities to George Mason
For the first time since 2016, the International Game Developers Association (IGDA) hosted a "game jam" at George Mason University. Designed to bring together diverse participants who build a game from scratch within a defined time, this event created hands-on skill-testing and networking opportunities for game design students, facilitated by Professor Nathan Hahn
School of Art Named #3 in Virginia for Graphic Design, #22 on the East Coast
Animation Career Review considers more than 700 schools across the United States in their annual rankings. In 2024, CVPA's School of Art was named 3rd in Virginia and 22nd on the East Coast. Animation Career Review annually connects over 1.2 million prospective students and their parents with information to impact their higher education choices.
Photo by Ayman Rashid
MASON ARTS 2023–24 ANNUAL REPORT 9 School of Art
Photo by Evan Cantwell
From the top: Kyle Finnegan, Juan Megna, Carlehr Swanson, and Jada Salter
Student, Alumni, Faculty, and Staff Achievements from 2023–24
Erblin Nushi's (BA Film and Video Studies '18) debut feature film I Love You More premiered at the Vancouver Queer Film Festival in Canada on August 12. Shot in Kosovo, with Professor Lisa Thrasher as the Creative Producer, I Love You More follows Ben, a Kosovar teen forced to put his family and dreams on the line for a boy he never met. The film made its theatrical premiere in Kosovo on August 24 to qualify for Kosovo's submission to the 2024 Academy Award's Oscar for Best International Picture.
Steven Franco (BFA Theater '23) was selected as a marketing fellow for Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company's Miranda Family Fellows Program during the 2023–24 season.
Jamie VanValkenburg (BM Music '97, MM Music '00) led the Marching Cougars of Oakton High School to victory with their marching band and color guard performance of Metallica's most popular songs. The group won the small high school category in the inaugural "For Whom the Band Tolls!" marching band competition, beating out more than 450 other competitors.
Linda Apple Monson director of George Mason University's Reva and Sid Dewberry Family School of Music, was inducted into the 2023 Steinway Teacher Hall of Fame on October 4 and 5 in New York City. The Steinway & Sons Music Teacher Hall of Fame is a prestigious designation recognizing the work of North America's most committed and passionate piano educators.
Alan Caballero Lazare, School of Art assistant professor, presented at the Access to Research and Inclusive Excellence National Conference 2024 at George Mason University.
Benjamin Steger, Film and Video Studies program associate professor, screened his music documentary series, Vibrations at six film festivals around the world during 2023–24 from New York, New Jersey, Missouri, and Oklahoma to Hungary and Indonesia.
Emely Ramos (BFA Art and Visual Technology '23) who is working toward her Master of Arts in Teaching in Art Education, completed a 209-foot long, seven-foot-tall mural "Icons of Fashion" at Tyson's Corner Center, celebrating iconic women in fashion throughout the years.
School of Theater students Aiden Breneman-Pennas, Lexi Carter, Kamy Satterfield, Sarah Stewart, Brett Womack, and Emma Harris performed onstage with Tony and Grammy Award winner Renée Elise Goldsberry during her 2023 headlining performance at CVPA's annual benefit, ARTS by George!
Students from the School of Dance performed one of Martha Graham's earliest works, Steps in the Street, during the Martha Graham Dance Company's performance at the Center for the Arts on April 13, 2024.
Jorge Banales Dewberry School of Music, received an Outstanding Achievement, Adjunct Faculty Award 2024 from the university.
Caraline Jeffrey Center for the Arts, received an Outstanding Achievement, Exceptional Support Award 2024 from the university.
Anjuli Singh Film and Video Studies program, received an Outstanding Achievement, Exceptional Support Award 2024 from the university.
Emily Rusch, CVPA Development, received an Outstanding Achievement Award 2024 from the university.
Kwanza Gooden's (BA Film and Video Studies '18) documentary series, The Black Beauty Effect, became available to stream on Netflix in October 2023. Gooden also received the Thomas W. Iszard IV Distinguished Alumni Award.
Ali Coburn, working toward her master's in arts management, converted a for-credit internship that was required for her degree into a full-time role as the assistant to the executive director of Capital City Symphony.
The 15 members of the Mason Jazz Vocal Ensemble (11 vocalists and 4 musicians) were invited to perform at the Virginia Music Educators Association conference November 13–16, 2023, in Richmond, Virginia, the largest educational conference in the state of Virginia.
Mason Arts Board, 2023–24
Nancy Jean-Louis
So Lim
Colette Loll
Kimberly Macedo
Willy Meaux
Val McWhorter Paulette Miller
Ida Portland
Robert K. Purks
Mark Shugoll
Jay Speer
Anika Tené
Isaac W. K. Thweatt
Rose Mary Flores Troche
Edward Weiner
Mary Zigo
Jenna Day, Mason Community Arts Advisory Board
Jennifer L. Disano Osher
Lifelong Learning Institute
Jonathan Goldman, Faculty Arts Club
Linda Harber, President, Friends of Music
Eileen Kennedy Associate Vice-President of Development, Units and Central
Janice Sutera Wolfe President, Friends of the Center for the Arts
Alex James, a computer game design major, entered the annual digital art competition, Progress@Play, held by Mason Korea and won third place in the university division for his game Clean Corps.
Adelina Mitchell (BA Theater '18) joined the cast of the Broadway National Tour of Wicked, beginning in January 2024 and performed the role of Elphaba on multiple dates.
Dominique Bianco (BA Music '18) Kevin Elam (BA Music '18), and Connor Holdridge (BA Music '18) were selected as Strathmore Artists in Residence, Class of 2023.
Mural by Emely Ramos, Student ART
Alex James Caraline Jeffrey Kwanza Gooden Ali Coburn Mason Jazz Vocal Ensemble
Marching Cougars
Erblin Nushi Emely Ramos
Linda Apple Monson
Renée Elise Goldsberry and Theater Students
Photo by Dave Custer
Photo by Cable Risdon
The Robert K. Purks Faculty Enrichment Endowment provides perpetual support to further research and creative activity
Susan Aitel Honors Her Mother Through an Endowment for George Mason Music Students
Susan Aitel knows firsthand the impact that enthusiastic support and encouragement can provide for students pursuing music. Aitel and her three siblings each began learning piano as children, taught by their mother, Grace. All four children continued to progress in their musical studies, adding more instruments beyond the piano, fortified by their mother's keen interest and excitement in their progress. In honor of the love, guidance, and many miles driven to lessons, rehearsals, and performances, Aitel created Endowment designed to offer scholarships to similarly dedicated students studying music in the Reva and Sid Dewberry Family School of Music
"Beyond knowing that my mother would be pleased to know that students are benefiting, I also get the privilege of meeting the students, attending their recitals and concerts, and witnessing their significant progress from season to season, year to year. Sometimes, I also see what's going on after graduation when they continue to contribute to the world of music by performing and teaching their own students. Passing on the benefits and enjoyment of music is something happy about," Aitel shared. Aitel's involvement with the students and their progress is welcomed by the Strings faculty within the Dewberry School of Music, especially the Director of Strings,
The Grace Aitel scholars enjoy additional opportunities and experiences, performing at special events and attending private masterclasses. "I had not anticipated this, and it's very rewarding to witness the broader effect of
Ongoing Support Makes Creative Research Possible for CVPA Faculty
Established in 2018 by Robert K. Purks, a long-time Mason Arts Board member and supporter, The Robert K. Purks Faculty Enrichment Endowment provides perpetual support to further the research and creative activity of faculty in the college. As an R1 research university, providing this faculty support is a critical step towards supporting George Mason's broader mission and goals. Faculty across CVPA can apply annually for funds in support of projects that fuel or are fueled by their own creative ideas and artistic expression. Since its establishment, the endowment has supported more than 50 faculty members throughout CVPA. Their projects ranged from exploring the cultures of Indigenous communities, creating inclusive films with underrepresented communities, and developing music that amplifies the benefits of national parks. Grants from the endowment also enable faculty to connect with their peers, create new ideas, and present their research at conferences and training programs. "The CVPA faculty embodies amazing talent, creativity, initiative, and hard work, along with dedication to providing the best possible education to students. I am glad to help foster continuing development of the faculty for the benefit of the George Mason community and beyond and for the individual enrichment of faculty members," said Purks.
School of Dance Student Impacted by Giving
Michael Cherry (BFA Dance '24), scholarships meant the difference between dreaming of a college education and actually living it. As a senior dance major at George Mason University, Cherry reflected on how support from the School of Dance turned a distant hope into reality. "I wasn't sure I'd ever be able to attend college," he shared, noting the financial hurdles of growing up in a single-parent household.
Beyond technique, these scholarships gave him access to invaluable experiences through residencies with professional choreographers, where he's learned from some of the best in the field "The residencies taught me not only about dance but also about the professional world," he says. This exposure helped deepen his craft and expand his network— essential steps for his future in dance.
After graduating, Cherry joined Complexions Contemporary Ballet of New York City. His journey underscores the profound impact of scholarships, making it possible for students like him to pursue their passions and set a foundation for their futures, thanks to George Mason's insistence on inclusivity over exclusivity.
Michael Cherry
Photo by Tim Coburn
Renée Elise Goldsberry and Bob Purks
Photo by Cable Risdon
School of Music students participate in Silkroad Ensemble masterclass
Photo by Ron Aira
COMMUNITY ARTS PROGRAMS AND GALLERIES
The Community Arts Programs and Galleries within Mason Arts are critical connectors.
From young children and their parents to adults of every age, finding a place within Mason Arts often begins with one or more of these organizations. Each class, performance, event, and conversation invites people to share and reflect on their all together different perspectives and life experiences. By bringing people together to explore, experience, and participate in the arts, we are transforming the world.
Acting for Young People and Mason Community Arts Academy Honored by the Virginia House of Delegates
On Tuesday, March 19, 2024, Delegate Kathy Tran presented Mason Community Arts Academy Executive Director Mary Lechter with House Resolution 804, in honor of Acting for Young People's (AFYP) 25th anniversary in 2022. Co-signed by Delegate David Bulova and unanimously approved by the House of Delegates, the Resolution highlights AFYP's long history in the surrounding community, and the even greater impact these programs have made possible in collaboration with Mason Community Arts Academy (MCAA).
Mason Exhibitions Merges Art, Education, and Social Change with Expanded Partnership
Working in collaboration with the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution the Barnes Foundation, and Mural Arts Philadelphia, Mason
Exhibitions brought a powerful collection of work together in "Faces of Resilience," featuring works created by previously or currently incarcerated people. Additional programming around the exhibition included a multi-day symposium on art and incarceration and several film screenings.
The Veterans and the Arts Initiative Expands Offerings and Impacts with New Relationships
The Veterans and the Arts Initiative continued to champion inclusive community arts engagement for the region's militaryconnected community members by presenting workshops in person at the Performing Arts Center virtually via Zoom, and, for a second year, at the Prince William Public Libraries. The year featured new offerings that included Improv for Military Kids in cooperation with MCAA, Eco-Graphic Arts Workshops, Creative Writing for New Beginnings, Empowered Legacy: Preserving Military Stories and Flower-Hammering and Printing. Programming from the Veterans and the Arts initiative featured recurring favorites such as guitar and ukulele workshops, songwriting workshops for military kids, and smartphone photography workshops. The initiative also sponsored concerts, offering free tickets for Veterans and Servicemembers.
Visiting Filmmakers Series Enriches Campus and Community Life with Screenings Featuring Alumni and Faculty Reaching beyond the screen, the Visiting Filmmakers Series offers interactive and thought-provoking connections with free screenings and conversations with filmmakers and producers. Dedicated to building community and advancing social justice by supporting innovative and inclusive filmmaking, the series hosted 10 events this year and welcomed two filmmakers home to George Mason. Alumna Jada Salter, BA '20 presented her documentary film "Just the Two of Us" in February 2024, while multi-awardwinning filmmaker Professor Nikyatu Jusu brought her record-setting film “Nanny” to campus in March.
Virginia Serious Game Institute Resident Company Saves Lives with a Medication Workflow Management Platform
One of the key operations of the Virginia Serious Game Institute is the residency program that provides mentorship, grantwriting support, and working spaces to entrepreneurs in the serious game industry. Impruvon Health, a graduate of this residency program, offers an enterpriseready platform that protects caregivers and
patients in long- and short-term residential care facilities by reducing risk in the medication management process.
Mason Game and Technology Academy
Enters New Partnership with Envision by World Strides
Building on the opportunities already enjoyed by local middle and high school students and their families, Mason Game and Technology Academy's (MGTA) new partnership with Envision by WorldStrides opens the program up to students from across the country. Envision was founded in 1985 to offer immersive educational opportunities and now count MGTA among their global affiliates who help to enrich the lives and experiences of students and their families.
Mary Lechter, MCAA's executive director, accepts the resolution honoring their work from the VA House of Delegates.
Photo provided by Mary Lechter
Works from "Faces of Resilience" on display in the Buchanan Atrium Gallery. Photos by Mason Exhibitions
Students exploring the possibilities of games in MGTA classes.
Photos provided by MGTA
Professor Nikyatu Jusu
Photo provided by artist
VR demonstrations showcased at a
PARTNERSHIPS:
Dewberry School of Music (CVPA) Veterans and the Arts Initiative Opera Lafayette partnered with
FILMMAKERS SERIES VISITING
College of Science (George Mason University) School of Art (CVPA) partnered with
Mason Community Arts Academy (MCAA) has been named one of the Best Summer Camps by Northern Virginia Magazine every year since 2021.
VSGI currently hosts five resident companies and has graduated 11 companies into the industry since the residency program began.
MGTA taught more than 350 students over their Fall 2023, Spring 2024, and Summer 2024 classes.
Niyati Dhokai research associate professor and program director for the Veterans and the Arts Initiative served on two national-level Working Groups to support Creative Forces: National Endowment for the Arts Military Healing Arts Network. Dhokai also shared new research with an international academic audience by organizing a panel titled Approaching TraumaInformed Research through Ethnomusicological Inquiry and Practice for the Society for Ethnomusicology's Annual Meeting, and she traveled to Ottawa, Canada in October 2023 to deliver her portion of the panel titled Supporting the Community-Based Researcher: Identifying and Coping with Secondary Trauma
Across all eight ensembles the Green Machine performed and presented at over events throughout the year.
Center for the Arts
The arts are alive and well at George Mason! From touring artists taking the stage in our performing arts centers to George Mason's talented students and faculty sharing original works and new compositions, there are artistic offerings for almost every night of the week. And our digital venue, Mason Arts Amplified, further extends our programming's reach beyond the stage and classroom. Bringing artists of widely varying nationalities, cultural identities, and perspectives to these venues echoes the wider work of George Mason and creates access to the arts in Northern Virginia and around the world.
The Center for the Arts is the centerpiece of performing arts on George Mason University's Fairfax Campus. Each year, the Center welcomes hundreds of thousands of community members into its nearly 2,000-seat Concert Hall. The Center presents an annual season of national and international professional artists through its Great Performances at Mason and Family Series and hosts many student and faculty performances presented by Mason Arts's academic units.
Hylton Performing Arts Center
Dedicated to bringing world-class performing arts to George Mason's Science and Technology Campus and Prince William County, the 102,000-square foot Hylton Center is home to three performance venues for local arts groups and performers from around the world, as well as university-related activities. The Hylton Center Education and Rehearsal Wing includes 17,000 square feet of space for rehearsals, classes, and performances.
Mason Arts Amplified
Mason Arts Amplified is a digital venue featuring live and on-demand performances, lectures, behind-thescenes talks, and more from Mason Arts. Mason Arts Amplified offers both free and pay-to-view options from professional touring artists presented by the Center for the Arts and Hylton Performing Arts Center, as well as from faculty, students, and alumni of CVPA.
Photo by Joshua Cruse, Green
provided by artist; Silkroad Ensemble Photo by Ayman Rashid; Hamid Rahmanian's Song of the North Photo provided by artist
Mason Artist-in-Residence Silkroad
Ensemble's Rhiannon Giddens speaks at CVPA event
Photo by Ayman Rashid
Shadow puppetry workshop with Hamid Rahmanian's Song of the North and Mason Community Arts Academy students
Photo by Victor Adebusola
Free Mason Artist-in-Residence Events and School Time Matinees Deeply Engage the Community
Through its Mason Artist-in-Residence program and weekday school time matinee performances, the Center for the Arts welcomed the local community to participate in free events, exemplifying the center's role as a front door into the university and a key driver of arts experiences in the region.
Grammy Award-winning Silkroad Ensemble returned for the second year as a Mason Artist-in-Residence to create the November 5 world premiere American Railroad project with Artistic Director Rhiannon Giddens. The project highlighted unheard voices from the people who built the Travnscontinental Railroad, including Indigenous and African Americans as well as other immigrant laborers. The residency included a BIPOC Roundtable, class visits with George Mason's Folklore Program and the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, and a semester-long George Mason Honors College course taught by College of Visual and Performing Arts Dean Rick Davis
In February 2024, choreographer and MacArthur Fellow Kyle Abraham "an uncanny interpreter of our time" ( Fair) brought his acclaimed company A.I.M by Kyle Abraham known for powerful works that explore and elevate Black culture and history. The company worked with Mason's African and African American Studies of Dance students and the City of Fairfax Theatre Company and presented a movement workshop open to the public at Dance Place in Washington, D.C.
In April 2024, Small Island Big Song—an ensemble featuring Indigenous artists from seafaring cultures—wove unique grooves with spoken word and stunning panoramic projections, shining a light on global warming's
City of Fairfax; a workshop with local grade school students; a virtual discussion on the topic of artivism with George Mason's Arts Management and Folklore program students; a collaboration with the Smithsonian Folklife Festival; a discussion co-presented with the Inclusive Collaborative Arts at Mason project school matinee performance.
In addition to these residency events, a the January 26 school time matinee of Hamid Rahmanian's Song of the North offered students a thrilling multimedia performance and interactive behind-
A
$5 Million
Gift from the Peterson Family Foundation will Support the Center for the Arts Transformation
In May, the Peterson Family Foundation and George Mason University's College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) announced a transformational gift toward the reimagining of the Center for the Arts on the university's Fairfax Campus. The $5 million gift will support the modernization and the renaming of the Concert Hall auditorium
Rick Davis,
Frieman Gifts Inaugural Funding for Mason Artist-in-Residence Program
Every season, the Center for the Arts invites several artists and ensembles with distinctive and innovative artistic voices to make George Mason their home for a residency, and in 2023–24, the program received its first sponsorship from the Wendy Frieman and David Johnson Fund "Enjoyment of the performing arts was part of my childhood even when I was very young. My parents contributed to the arts and always taught me that from those to whom much is given, much is expected," shared Frieman. "It is an honor to support the Mason Artist-in-Residence program at George Mason University, and I wish the program many years of continued success." Frieman's sponsorship helps enable Mason Artists-in-Residence to participate in a variety of activities, designed to engage and inspire diverse audiences both on and off the campus of George Mason University.
Wendy Frieman
"The Peterson Family has stood behind so much of our success in building an exceptional community of artists—students, faculty, and distinguished visiting professionals—at George Mason," President Gregory Washington said. "This latest expression of visionary generosity makes possible a muchneeded reimagination of our beloved Concert Hall, magnifying George Mason University's standing as the artistic and cultural hub of Northern Virginia." This gift bolsters the forthcoming capital initiative for the Center for the Arts, which aims to improve and enhance the venue's ability to support the needs of artists, audiences, and the students and faculty of the College of Visual and Performing Arts. The gift also contributes to Mason Now: Power the Possible—the university's first one-billion-dollar comprehensive fundraising campaign to support student success, research, innovation, community, and stewardship.
Jon Peterson and Carolyn Peterson announced their gift during a special event in Carolyn's home in support of the college's annual benefit ARTS by George! "Our family's commitment to this project is a testament to our steadfast support of Mason Arts programs from the earliest days of the Center for the Arts right up to the present," said Carolyn Peterson. "This gift is significant because we know it will provide our excellent students, world-class visiting artists, and the community of art lovers with a stellar Center for the Arts auditorium in which to share and experience the arts. We are honored to help move this initiative forward."
The Mather Builds Up Arts in the Region While Enriching Residents' Lives
The Mather, a life plan community for those 62 and better in Tysons, Virginia, was a Great Performances at Mason sponsor for the 2023–24 season.
"Our organization believes the arts are part of aging well," says Rachel McLean, community relations liaison at The Mather. "It's important to us to partner with arts-forward organizations, and the Center for the Arts offers world-class excellence and a commitment to celebrating diverse talent. This sponsorship has been a great fit for our values and culture." Before its grand opening in spring 2024, The Mather offered future residents an artistic home and community at the Center for the Arts by means of complimentary performance tickets. Additionally, the College of Visual and Performing Arts and the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at George Mason University donated theater and art books to the new The Mather on-site library.
Dean
George Mason Board of Visitors member Jon Peterson, Carolyn Peterson, Horace Blackman
Photo by Sean Kelley Photography
Pianist GaYoung Lee, vocal performance student Samira Plummer-Brown (a graduate student in the Dewberry School of Music), and School of Theater student Emma Harris
Photos by Sean Kelley Photography
School of Dance students participate in Artist-inResidence workshops
Library at The Mather Photo provided by The Mather
new titles
25+ subscribers (47% community members, non-George Mason-affiliated)
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Experience Mason Arts wherever you are!
Highlighted titles from the 2023–24 season include:
Friends of the Center for the Arts Board Members
Janice
Ida
James (Mac) McAtamney
Susan Murphy
Christine O'Hare
Sonja Palomaki
Rylan Pedagno
Walt Smith
Joan White
Kostrzewa
Mason Arts Amplified (formerly Mason Arts at Home) is our digital venue featuring live and on-demand performances, lectures, behind-the-scenes talks, and more from Mason Arts. Stream free and pay-to-view options from professional touring artists presented by the Center for the Arts and the Hylton Performing Arts Center, as well as from faculty, students, and alumni of CVPA.
Kaoru Watanabe: "Fugaku Sanju Rokei" from Silkroad's American Railroad (29 min)
A powerful taiko drum solo from its world premiere with the Grammy Awardwinning Silkroad Ensemble's American Railroad at the Center for the Arts, followed by an interview between former Kodo artistic director Kaoru Watanabe and CVPA Dean Rick Davis. This title was featured in a three-part virtual course, in partnership with George Mason’s Honors College and the 92nd Street Y's Roundtable platform.
Mason Opera presents The Impresario (50 min) Mozart's classic comedy singspiel (opera with singing and speaking), is an affectionate jab at the business of opera production with two divas dueling for top billing and the impresario caught between them. Performed by Mason Opera students at the Harris Theater and directed by School of Music faculty Richard Leech.
fallen (96 min)
A feminist reimagining of Euripides' Greek text The Trojan Women, written and directed by School of Theater faculty Theresa Marie Ohanian. This poignant, poetic play parallels the surviving women of Troy and their modern counterparts. Having premiered in 2017 at Toronto's York University, this production of fallen was performed by Mason Theater students in TheaterSpace.
Working in the Arts: Overcoming Fundraising Challenges with Laura Fredricks (80 min)
A conversation with fundraising expert and author of The Ask Laura Fredricks, that focuses on real-word strategies for fundraising and other "asks."
Moderated by Associate Vice President of Development, Central and Units, and Arts Management faculty, Eileen Kennedy. Recorded on Monson Grand Tier, Center for the Arts.
Mason Opera presents The Impresario
Photo by CVPA Digital and Shutterstock
Artists-in-Residence
Shine in the Spotlight
The Hylton Performing Arts Center welcomed two Artists-in-Residence in 2023–24: 2022 National Endowment for the Arts Heritage Fellowship recipients The Legendary Ingramettes and the widely acclaimed Philadelphia Dance Company, PHILADANCO!
Formed six decades ago by "Mama" Maggie Ingram, The Legendary Ingramettes found inspiration in Black gospel male quartets of the 1940s and 50s. Singing harmony with her children, Ingram broke new ground with her femaledriven quartet. The Legendary Ingramettes residency began with a virtual visit with George Mason's Arts Management program students, then a Public Folklore class. Rev. Ingram-Miller also participated in conversations moderated by George Mason faculty member, William Lake, Jr., through the Anti-Racist Collaborative Arts at Mason program and a Black Feminist Thought class taught by Wendi Manuel-Scott. The ensemble connected with the larger local community through: a lunchtime concert for residents of Potomac Place Assisted Living and Memory Care; a conversation with members of
Lifelong Learning Institute of Manassas (LLI); and a special visit to Manassas Park High School's Chamber Singers for a workshop rehearsal of two songs that the students later performed live on stage with The Legendary Ingramettes during their Hylton Presents performance on December 3, 2023.
In spring 2024, the Hylton Center welcomed PHILADANCO! The company worked with the community through classes and workshops surrounding their Hylton Center performance and pre-performance discussion on March 15. During their residency, PHILADANCO! participated in multiple community engagement activities: LLI Lecture Demonstration; masterclasses with George Mason University School of Dance, Colgan High School Center for Fine and Performing Arts, and Dance Institute of Washington; a visit to Hunters Woods Elementary School; a conversation in cooperation with the Northern Virginia Black Chamber of Commerce with PHILADANCO! founder and artistic advisor; and a George Mason Arts Management program class visit.
The Legendary Ingramettes
Photo provided by artist
Koko H. Beetle Honors the Hylton Center's Community Contributions
Audiences at the Hylton Performing Arts Center now see a unique name adorning the halls of the Education and Rehearsal Wing, the "Koko H. Beetle Classroom." But who is Koko H. Beetle? "It's three names, really," shared the anonymous benefactor. "'Koko' is a cat—an adopted stray named for the Kohala Coast in Hawaii. 'H' stands for Hobie, another adopted stray cat and short for Rehoboth, Delaware, a favorite place to visit. And 'Beetle' is one of my child's nicknames since they were little."
When asked what inspired the Legacy Society donor and patron to remember the Hylton Center in their estate plans, they responded, "You can't take it with you… we are really happy with what we have… and someone else can have the rest. We live in a modest
Education Initiative
house, we live below our means… we decided that we would leave the bulk of our estate to be put to good use in the community." They noted being inspired by others who have lived quietly and donated the majority of their wealth. Having grown up in a city surrounded by world-class arts, they recognized the Hylton Center as a true asset to the people in the City of Manassas, Prince William County, and its surrounding community. This donor hopes that their gift will help the Hylton Center continue its mission to stimulate and transform the cultural and economic vitality of the region after their lifetime. Inviting others, especially children who may not otherwise attend, honors their own experience growing up and extends their lifelong tradition of volunteerism and giving back.
The 2023–24 season was one of substantial engagement for the Hylton Center Education Initiative. A total of 32,346 learners of all ages experienced performances (virtual and inperson), masterclasses, engagement activities, and backstage tours made possible by the Hylton Performing Arts Center. This is a 42% increase compared to the previous year. Of those students, 19,784 participated in Hylton Center Education Initiative programming and an additional 12,462 participated through organizations such as Prince William County Schools, Manassas Ballet Theatre, TheaterWorksUSA, and Chamber Theater. A total of 83 schools across Prince William County, City of Manassas, and City of Manassas Park connected with the Hylton Center in some way (52 through Education Initiative programming). This represents 70% of Prince William County Public Schools and 100% of Manassas City and Manassas Park City Schools. The Hylton Center also provided free student tickets to Hylton Presents performances, thanks to the generosity of F.H. Furr Plumbing, Heating, Air Conditioning, and Electrical and the Hylton Center Education Initiative's lead sponsor Amazon Web Services.
Hylton Center 14th Anniversary Gala
The Hylton Performing Arts Center celebrated its 14th Anniversary Gala on April 27, 2024. Community leaders Sam and Lillian Hill and the Cecil and Irene Hylton Foundation were honored. More than $157,000 was raised to support performances and programs, including the Veterans and the Arts Initiative and the Hylton Center's endowment. Guest speakers included Rick Davis, dean of George Mason's College of Visual and Performing Arts and Hylton Center executive director; Gregory Washington, president of George Mason University; Richmond Hill, provost of Northern Virginia Community College's Woodbridge Campus; and Sam and Lillian Hill. Hylton Center Executive Board Chair Sheyna Burt spoke about the Cecil and Irene Hylton Foundation's outstanding support, as well as Delegate Briana Sewell and Senator Jeremy McPike, who presented the Hills with a commending resolution in honor of their service to the community.
Artist-in-Resident PHILADANCO! at Hunters Woods Elementary School
Photo by Marit Majeske
Rick Davis with Sam and Lillian Hill
Photo by Melisa Pasero Photography
Adiza Jibril (MA '22) performing at the gala
Photo by Melisa Pasero Photography
Koko H. Beetle Classroom
Photo by Evan Cantwell
Legacy Giving
Hylton Center Executive Board
Center
Peter N. DiGiovanni Music Endowment
Peter and Sally DiGiovanni, 2024
Mason Arts acknowledges the forward-looking generosity of the following individuals who have established legacy gifts to support the future of the arts at George Mason as of June 30, 2024.
John S. Aler, III
Ruth Altheim
Annie and John Bolger
Mr. Ronald A. Boykin
Thomas Michael Brawley
Agnes M. Brown
Mr. and Mrs. Sidney O. Dewberry
Ruth A. Eaves
Stevie and Gardner Gillespie
Linda E. Gramlich
Lee-Ann Heflin
Frank Johns
Charles and Shirley Joyce
Jerry Long, in memory of Pat Long
Carol Mattusch
Mark D. Monson, in honor of Nancy G. Monson
Dr. Teresa R. Pohlman
Mary Ballard Postma and Hans Postma
Ms. Elizabeth C. Price and Mr. Mike Brown
Shirley B. Rice
Jeffrey and Shawn Robertson
Dr. Victoria N. Salmon and Mr. John J. Salmon
Gary and Diane Schnurrpusch
Darlene M. Scott
*Contributions represents cash and cash
This line will not equal the full contributed income as reported by Development.
Note 1: Debt Service is funded by Prince William County (60%), the City of Manassas (10%), and George Mason University (30%) as per the tripartite agreement.
Note 2: Restricted funds include money specifically raised for capital reserves, capital projects, and certain programmatic initiatives.
Inge Wekerle Steiner
Leo and Linda Stoltz
Mildred E. Tasker
Violette Thouvenin
Daniel Tucciarone and Thomas Sabal
Captain Robert Warakomsky, USCG (Ret.) and Patricia Warakomsky
James L. and Barbara W. White
Endowments
Grace Aitel Award Endowment (Strings)
Ms. Susan Aitel and Mr. Jonathan Goldman, 2020
The Beck Foundation Scholarship for Computer Game Design
The Beck Foundation, 2018
Dr. Barry and Velma Berkey
Music Scholarship Endowment
Dr. Barry Berkey and Mrs. Velma Berkey, 2004
John S. and Judith T. Bland Memorial Scholarship Endowment (Vocal Studies)
Mrs. Robyn David and multiple donors, 1989
Dr. Sam di Bonaventura Memorial Scholarship Endowment (Strings)
Ms. Darlene M. Scott, 1999
Juliette Carolyn Brooks Herring (JCBH) Memorial Scholarship Endowment
Charniele Herring and multiple donors, 2023
Jean Carrington Cook Piano Scholarship Endowment (Piano)
C. Barrie Cook, M.D., 1995
Lucy C. Church Scholarship Endowment (Vocal Studies)
Mr. and Mrs. Randolph W. Church, 2003
de Laski Scholarship Endowment
(Music, Dance, Theater)
de Laski Family Foundation, 2001
The Paul and Jenny Ebert Horn Studies
Scholarship Endowment
Paul and Jenny Ebert, 2019
Emerging Artists Scholarship Endowment
Linda E. Gramlich, 2019
Fairfax Spotlight on the Arts—Spotlight Scholarship for the Arts, 2005
Fairfax Spotlight on the Arts—Ruth Haycock
Endowed Scholarship in Piano
The Honorable Jane Woods and Fairfax
Spotlight on the Arts and multiple donors, 2006
Fairfax Spotlight on the Arts Scholarship in Music for the Mason Community Arts Academy, 2004
Fairfax Spotlight on the Arts—The Thomas Galen Scott Memorial in Music Education, 2015
Gillespie Scholarship Endowment
Gardner and Stevie Gillespie, 2019
Goldman Family Scholarship Endowment
Jonathan Goldman, 2023
Geoffrey Gonyo Memorial Scholarship Endowment
John and Jean Gonyo, 2022
Sholom and Pearl Hendin Music Scholarship Endowment
Linda and Harlan Harber, 2022
Heritage Chair in Arts and Cultural Criticism Endowment
Multiple Arts Gala Committee Donors, 1986
Heritage Chair in Music Endowment
Multiple Arts Gala Committee Donors, 1992
Hylton Performing Arts Center Endowment
Multiple donors, 2006
George W. Johnson Endowment and Joanne Ferris Johnson Scholarship
Dr. and Mrs. George W. Johnson, 1996
Joanne Johnson Dance Scholarship Endowment
Dr. and Mrs. George W. Johnson, 2005
Joseph M. Kanyan Music Scholarship Endowment
Multiple Donors, 2002
Kidd/Stearns Dance Talent Scholarship Endowment
Ms. Donna L. Kidd and Dr. Peter N. Stearns, 2018
Howard Vincent Kurtz Theater
Scholarship Endowment
Professor Howard Vincent Kurtz and friends, 2008
K athleen A. Lieder and Lloyd C. Fell
Student Scholarship Endowment in Music
Performance/Vocal Studies
Dr. and Mrs. Alan G. Merten, 2006
The Patricia A. Long Scholarship Endowment (Jazz Studies)
Jerry Long, in Memory of Pat Long, 2018
Anthony J. Maiello Music Endowed
Scholarship Fund
A nthony J. Maiello and multiple donors, 2016
Linda Garner Miller Scholarship Endowment (Dance)
Ms. Elizabeth Price and Mr. J. Michael Brown, 2002
Mack and Paulette Miller Theater Scholarship Endowment
Mack and Paulette Miller, 2019
Dr. Linda Apple Monson Music Endowment Fund
Multiple Donors, 2011
Dr. Linda Apple Monson Scholars Endowed Fund (Music)
Mr. and Mrs. Sidney O. Dewberry, and multiple donors, 2018
Nancy G. Monson Scholarship Endowment for the Visual Arts
Mr. Mark D. Monson, 2013
Joey Noufal Endowed Scholarship (Art)
Vicky Noufal, Martha Engle and Reid Herlihy, and friends and family, 2017
