Monday, August 27 marks the beginning of a new semester at George Mason University. Thousands of students from across the country—and the world—come to campus energized by the prospect of learning, creating, and expressing themselves. We, at the Center, are especially proud of the work being done by students at the College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA).
CVPA’s seven academic units (Art, Dance, Music, Theater, Film & Video Studies, Game Design, and Arts Management) encompass the values and vision that make Mason a leading creative incubator in Northern Virginia. Each semester, young artists in these disciplines work tirelessly to gain knowledge and experience, hone their skills, and to share their art with the local community. Their events and performances represent a core portion of our season and are crucial to our mission of spotlighting the extraordinary promise of Mason’s talented students.
Here are a few events where you can witness—and support—our students’ creativity this fall:
ARTS by George! (September 29): CVPA’s biggest benefit of the year raises funds for student scholarships at the seven units, the Mason Community Arts Academy, and the Green Machine Ensembles. As part of the event, there will be student showcases throughout the evening where attendees can enjoy sneak peeks of fall productions.
Big River: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (October 25-28): a collaboration between the Schools of Music and Theater, this year’s Mason Musical presents Mark Twain’s classic in a musical adaptation that features bluegrass and country music.
Fall New Dances (November 8-10): each autumn, the School of Dance presents a new recital program of diverse choreography showcasing their talented, rising dancers.
Jazz4Justice™ (November 17): this annual benefit concert features the Mason Jazz Ensemble, directed by Jim Carroll, and it garners support for community efforts by the Fairfax Law Foundation and the George Mason University Jazz Studies Department.
Dido and Aeneas (November 30 & December 1): Mason Opera Theater & Workshop’s fall production will be this beautiful Baroque opera by English composer Henry Purcell.
These are just samples of the many events being presented by CVPA in the coming months. Additionally, the School of Art will host a Contemporary Mural Arts Festival (September 7) in the Skyline Courtyard, as well as an Open House (October 13) and other exhibits in the Art & Design Building; and Film & Video Studies will present screenings and showings throughout the semester in the Johnson Center Cinema. More details on these and other events can be found at cvpa.gmu.edu.
We encourage you to swing by campus, buy a ticket, and see the future of the arts at Mason!