Zoe Harr

College of Visual and Performing Arts

Get to Know Chopin Champion and Acclaimed Pianist Brian Ganz

Zoe Harr — Mon, 22 Apr 2024 20:07:38 +0000

Get to Know Chopin Champion and Acclaimed Pianist Brian Ganz Zoe Harr Mon, 04/22/2024 - 16:07

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Internationally celebrated pianist, scholar, and devoted champion of Frédéric Chopin, Brian Ganz partnered with the National Philharmonic in 2011 on a multi-year performance project striving to perform Chopin’s entire catalogue. On May 4, Ganz performs Romantic Revolutionary which includes Chopin études from Op. 25 and Op. 10, Ballade No. 1 in G minor, Op. 23, and Scherzo No. 2, Op. 31 in D-flat major. Maryland Theatre Guide notes, “Ganz is a marvelously talented musician... [whose] love for the music spills onto the piano and across to concert hall, filling each member of the audience.” For a preview of Ganz's musical prowess, watch the video below:

Want to know more about the May 4 program? Read this recent article, featuring fun facts about some of the highlights of the evening.

Brian Ganz participated in a Q&A with the Center, providing a look into his musical history, relationship with Chopin, and upcoming performance:

How did your musical journey lead to your dedication to performing every note composed by Chopin? What inspired this project?

My musical journey virtually began with falling in love with Chopin's works. Within months of my first lesson, I was listening rapt with fascination to his works on the old LP recordings. I was immediately enchanted with his mazurkas, waltzes, ballades, and études— only later did I come to know and love his polonaises, nocturnes, sonatas, scherzi, impromptus, preludes, and all the rest. I can remember once doing calisthenics with my mom to the polonaises! I knew very early on that I absolutely HAD to play all the works I was in love with, and eventually that blossomed into every single note he composed. The project itself was the idea of my friend Piotr Gajewski, music director of the National Philharmonic, and is a collaboration with the Philharmonic. I am eternally grateful to Piotr and the NatPhil!

In what ways does Chopin stand out amongst musical icons such as Beethoven or Mozart?

Well, I'm hardly a non-biased observer, so others might disagree. But I find that Chopin is THE premiere musical storyteller. His ability to weave a compelling, emotionally powerful narrative out of beautiful and substantive musical ideas has been unparalleled in musical history, in my opinion. I like to say that he explores every conceivable human emotion and creates some inconceivable ones along the way. We can point to other gifts as well: an extraordinary grasp of the colors and sonorities the piano is capable of, a rare gift for melodic beauty, creative imagination for new and often mysterious harmonic relationships, superb structural craftsmanship, but to me his most distinctive gift is that of the master storyteller.

In the upcoming program at the Center, what specific pieces are you most excited to share with the audience? Why?

The answer to that question is... whichever piece I am currently playing! I am passionate about each and every work on this program. But I'll call attention to three genres that are particularly dear to me: first, the mazurkas. I call them Chopin's "creative laboratory," because he conducts so many daring experiments with them, and thus creates sounds both strange and ravishing (a combination I adore). Next the Ballade No. 1, which is my favorite single work of his (and I learned it was also his favorite of all his works), which combines musical poetry with his aforementioned gift for storytelling. Finally the études, which unite thrilling virtuosity with magnificent beauty and pianistic color. But all the other genres I am playing are exciting in their own way.

If you could ask Chopin one question, what would that question be?

May I study with you?

What can the Center's audience expect at your May 4 performance?

Expect to fall in love anew with Chopin the storyteller!

Buy your tickets today and experience the legendary composer in a fresh, enlightening way with Brian Ganz: A Chopin Recital on May 4.

The Center for the Arts is proud to co-present this performance with George Mason University’s Reva and Sid Dewberry Family School of Music.

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Dewberry School of Music

Fairfax Symphony Orchestra presents Inbal Segev, Jeffrey Biegel, and Jeremy Denk Collaboration

Zoe Harr — Mon, 22 Apr 2024 19:49:12 +0000

Fairfax Symphony Orchestra presents Inbal Segev, Jeffrey Biegel, and Jeremy Denk Collaboration Zoe Harr Mon, 04/22/2024 - 15:49

Melodies of the Soul

Celebrating Gershwin at 100

Music Director Christopher Zimmerman conducts the FSO. (Photo Credit: Traci Brooks, Lock & Company)

Founded in 1957, the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra (FSO) has been hailed by the Washington Post as “a crown jewel of the cultural landscape” and has continued to promote its mission to inspire and engage a large, diverse audience in the Northern Virginia region and beyond. Under the direction of award-winning Christopher Zimmerman, the FSO brings its incredible group of musicians and featured soloists to Fairfax this summer and into the 2024-25 Great Performances at Mason season.

Melodies of the Soul with Cellist Inbal Segev: Saturday, May 18 at 8 p.m.

Heralded by the New York Times as a "composer of uncommon gifts and unusual methods," English composer Anna Clyne’s Dance for cello and orchestra will have its regional premiere at Mason’s Harris Theatre with the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra with “first-class” (The Strad) Israeli-American cellist Inbal Segev. The thrilling program also features Prokofiev’s Overture on Hebrew Themes, as well as Stravinsky’s Orchestral Suite and Pulcinella Suite. Drawing inspiration from the words of 13th-century Persian poet Rumi, Dance transports listeners to ethereal realms through its enchanting melodies. This extraordinary concerto, composed for cellist Segev, has garnered immense praise, with its opening movement amassing more than three million plays on Spotify and earning a place among NPR Music's "Favorite Songs of 2020." For a preview of Dance, a piece “that is so beautiful, so heartfelt that it instantly [draws] tears on first hearing” (Gramophone), watch the video below.

Celebrating Gershwin at 100 with Pianist Jeffrey Biegel: Sunday, June 9 at 4 p.m.

Identified as a “splendid musician and a brilliant performer” by famed American composer Leonard Bernstein, pianist Jeffrey Biegel joins the FSO in a celebration of 100 years of Gershwin, which juxtaposes the composer’s classic Rhapsody in Blue with the special Virginia premiere of Peter Boyer's Red, White, and Blue for piano and orchestra. Boyer’s composition is part of a national campaign established by Biegel to premiere the work in all 50 states, as a way for our country to “join hands through music, despite all the divisions and differences.” Biegel adds, “Why not celebrate being an American — celebrating our diversity through unity and celebrating ‘Rhapsody in Blue’ with a new ‘Rhapsody?’” This concert at the Center for the Arts also features Amy Beach’s “Gaelic” Symphony, which the Boston Symphony premiered in 1896: the first symphony published by an American woman composer.

Similar in name and his instrument of choice, pianist Jeffrey Siegel’s upcoming performances in the 2024-25 Great Performances at Mason season have just been announced. Featuring classic composers from Rachmaninoff to Schubert, Siegel returns for his fan-favorite Keyboard Conversations® concerts with commentary. To learn more about Siegel’s upcoming performances, visit the Keyboard Conversations® calendar.

Fairfax Symphony with Jeremy Denk: Saturday, November 23 at 8 p.m.

Fairfax Symphony Orchestra joins the Center for the Arts’s 2024-25 Great Performances at Mason season in a special co-presentation featuring Jeremy Denk, one of America’s foremost pianists. Denk is the winner of a MacArthur Genius Fellowship Grant and the Avery Fisher Prize, recently being elected to the American Academy of Art and Sciences. In the November performance, Denk joins the esteemed FSO for Beethoven’s poetic Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major, Op. 58, in a program that also includes the regional premiere of Quinn Mason’s She Dreams of Flying and Rachmaninoff’s last work, Symphonic Dances. Watch the video below for a special preview of Denk’s outlook on Beethoven’s fourth concerto.

Want to make the most of your evening with the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra? For the May 18 and June 9 concerts, a pre-performance discussion with FSO Music Director and Conductor, Christopher Zimmerman, and the featured musical artist will take place from the stage an hour prior to curtain.

The 2023-24 FSO concert season is made possible in part by generous supporters including The Mather in Tysons, Virginia Commission for the Arts, Hilton Fairfax, and Goodwin Living.

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Audiences Look Back on a Memorable 2023/2024 Season

Zoe Harr — Fri, 19 Apr 2024 16:24:05 +0000

Audiences Look Back on a Memorable 2023/2024 Season Zoe Harr Fri, 04/19/2024 - 12:24

Explore 2024-25 Season at the Center for the Arts

The 2023/2024 season at the Center for the Arts had something for everyone whether it was classical music that left audience members swooning or shadow puppetry that transported viewers to an ancient land. Looking back on the season, audiences share their favorite moments and memories below!

(L-R) Richard Martinez, Steven Golsch (ARTS by George! Co-Chair), Renée Elise Goldsberry, Nesa Amarlooi, Joe Dooley, Sherri Dalphonse, Colin Haynes.
(Photo Credit: Risdon Photography)

Renée Elise Goldsberry in Concert

“Absolutely superb performance!”
“AMAZING! Completely blown away. My son's first concert and a wonderful experience”
“This was absolutely amazing!! Thank you for the incredible experience. I left inspired, uplifted, and with a new appreciation for George Mason.”
"The performance was OUTSTANDING!”
“Fabulous show!”
"You can't beat someone of Renée Elise Goldsberry's caliber and she seemed well-prepared for the reason of the night and the location/audience she would have. Bravo to the Center for the Arts team on staging such a fantastic event."

Register for the annual ARTS by George! on Saturday, September 28, 2024! This annual benefit event supports student scholarships for George Mason University’s College of Visual and Performing Arts, Mason Community Arts Academy, Green Machine Ensembles, and the Great Performances at Mason season at the Center for the Arts. Broadway superstar and Tony Award winner, Lea Salonga, headlines at the 2024 ARTS by George! event, promising an unforgettable evening.

Virginia Opera: Sanctuary Road's Conductor Everett McCorvery leads a post-performance toast with audience members in the Center's lobby, introducing the work's Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Paul Moravec.

Virginia Opera

Siegfried: “An excellent production and performance of the opera Siegfried. The production made full use of contemporary video and electronics to create an exciting, interesting, and very smooth and persuasive work of art. Once again, VA Opera did not disappoint.”
Barber of Seville: “My 6 and 9-year-old boys loved the show, almost as much as my husband and I! Thank you so much for the generosity in sharing access to this performance with us. We’ve found operas to be intimidating in our previous ignorance, but now that we’ve had some experience, we are looking forward to our next!”
Sanctuary Road: "Top marks for Sanctuary Road: beautiful, expressive score, sumptuously played by Virginia Symphony, and well conducted; accessible libretto; the five principal singers were outstanding, backed by a large and well-coordinated chorus. The story of the Railroad was by turns gripping, poignant, humorous (the two veiled mourners weeping for their nonexistent aunt), touching (the reunion of the Still brothers).”
Madama Butterfly: “It was an absolutely wonderful performance! The singers were exceptional and we loved everything about it. Best production this season and one of the best productions of Madama Butterfly we've ever seen!”

Silkroad Ensemble: American Railroad

“This concert was one of finest I have ever attended. The combination of voices with international instruments made this experience spectacular.”
“It was wonderful. Creative, imaginative, and introduced me to music I loved but never heard before.”
“The performance last night was absolutely amazing. I also appreciated the pre-performance talk and the opportunity in the morning to meet with three of the musicians in a discussion at the Harris Theater. Can't wait to see what Silkroad brings next year.”

Interested in learning more about Mason Artist-in-Residence Silkroad Ensemble’s three-year residency? Check out this article that captures 2023-2024's second year at Mason.

A crowd gathers to toast the world premiere of the Silkroad Ensemble's American Railroad. Attendees at the special post-performance reception in the Center for the Arts Monson Grand Tier included Silkroad artists and board members, Artistic Director Rhiannon Giddens, Executive Director Ben Hartley, as well as Center for the Arts donors and staff.

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra with Isata Kanneh-Mason

“Ms. Mason's performance was almost unbelievable- grace, power, and beauty! We have never seen RPO perform live, and we were so impressed with the orchestra as a whole, all of the soloists, and Mr. Petrenko. They played our favorites better than we had ever heard them before. Heavenly!”
“I had a season ticket to the Center for the Arts for several years until I moved from Springfield. This was my first visit in about a decade and what a wonderful reintroduction to the Center. The Royal Philharmonic and Ms. Kanneh-Mason reminded me of what I have been missing. I'll certainly be returning.”
“The guest pianist was fantastic. It was a virtuoso performance and she deserved the standing ovation she got. The orchestra did a wonderful job accompanying her and on the two selections they did alone.”

A family poses at Mutts Gone Nuts.

Mutts Gone Nuts

“This was an enjoyable and hilarious show for people of all ages. I enjoyed it just as much as my two children did!”
“The coloring, photo screen, and activities in the front lobby were great. Excellent job putting that together!”
"It was really cool to see world-class level dog trainers and their dogs perform at this event!"
“Great fun with the talented dogs and engaging commentary and comedy. Highly recommended, especially for youngsters (and old folks like us).
"Wow! This show was so much fun for all ages! Every one of us just loved all the dogs and were amazed at the performances."

The Center for the Arts thanks its 2023/2024 season sponsors and grantmaking organizations: Sandy Spring Bank, National Endowment for the Arts, Tom and Evelyn Kiley Fund, The Mather, Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation, Woodleigh Chase, The Seeley Foundation, New England Foundation for the Arts, Eloise Stinger, Didlake, Wendy Frieman and David Johnson Fund, and Joyce Goche-Grimes.

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Say “Okee Dokee” to Furry Friends and Outdoor Exploration

Zoe Harr — Mon, 01 Apr 2024 18:55:58 +0000

Say “Okee Dokee” to Furry Friends and Outdoor Exploration Zoe Harr Mon, 04/01/2024 - 14:55

Mutts Gone Nuts

The Okee Dokee Brothers

Mutts Gone Nuts performs at the Center on April 6. (Photo Credit: Eric Forberger)

Whether it’s wagging your tail or exploring the great outdoors, it’s not too late to experience the Center’s Family Series with Mutts Gone Nuts or The Okee Dokee Brothers this April. In addition to its affordable pricing, the Family Series is designed to introduce children to the arts through engaging programs in song, dance, and story. In addition to these upcoming performances, all Great Performances at Mason offer half-price tickets for children and youth through grade 12. To learn more about discounts at the Center, visit the Family webpage.

Mutts Gone Nuts: Saturday, April 6 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Audiences would have to be barking mad to miss the opportunity to experience one of the finest furry ensembles in the country, Mutts Gone Nuts. Husband and wife duo Scott and Joan Houghton unleash the skills of their four-legged troupe, including a Guinness World Record holder for the highest jump by a dog and a world champion frisbee dog. The canines of Mutts Gone Nuts demonstrate a “must-see” (Washington Post) collection of barrel tricks, dancing, magic, and jump rope routines that are sure to leave its audiences howling for more.

Prior to the performance, join fellow animal lovers in the Center’s lobby for crafts and photo opportunities. The Center is also leading a donation drive for needed items for Fairfax’s Homeward Trails Animal Rescue, so bring one of these most needed items to donate on April 6 if you’re able: dry cat food, small martingale collars, paper towels, kitchen trash bags, Ziploc bags (sandwich and snack size), training treats, bath-sized towels (new or used in good condition), laundry soap, and dish soap.

In preparation for these shaggy superstars to return to the Center for the Arts, the Center’s team collected its own beloved pets into a special video below:

Can’t attend the Center’s Mutt Gone Nuts performance? No problem! This performance also takes place the following day on Sunday, April 7 at 1 and 4 p.m. at our sister venue, the Hylton Center, in Manassas, VA.

The Okee Dokee Brothers: Sunday, April 21 at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Childhood friends from Denver, Colorado, Joe Mailander and Justin Lansing, are the GRAMMY Award-winning Okee Dokee Brothers! Creating music that introduces younger audiences to bluegrass and American roots, Okee Dokee inspires outdoor exploration and encourages a love of the great outdoors. Outside Magazine praises the pair, stating, “Listening to an Okee Dokee Brothers album feels like stumbling out of the woods and finding some old friends strumming instruments around a campfire.”

The Okee Dokee Brothers performances on April 21 at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. are both sensory-friendly performances, designed to create a welcoming and comfortable arts experience for people with autism, sensory sensitivities, or other social, learning, or cognitive disabilities. For more information about accessibility offerings at the Center for the Arts, visit the Accessibility webpage.

Join the Center’s Family Series with Mutts Gone Nuts on April 6 and The Okee Dokee Brothers on April 21 for family fun this spring!

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family

Bamberg Symphony and Pulitzer Prize Finalist Alex Ross Explore Wagner and More

Zoe Harr — Mon, 01 Apr 2024 14:21:11 +0000

Bamberg Symphony and Pulitzer Prize Finalist Alex Ross Explore Wagner and More Zoe Harr Mon, 04/01/2024 - 10:21

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One of Germany’s premier orchestras, Bamberg Symphony, and virtuoso pianist Hélène Grimaud join forces to perform a program inspired by The New Yorker music critic and Pulitzer Prize finalist Alex Ross’s book Wagnerism: Art and Politics in the Shadow of Music on April 27. The program explores music by Wagner, along with that of his German contemporaries Schumann and Brahms, to create an evening of unforgettable classical music.

Bamberg Symphony with Hélène Grimaud performs on April 27.

Published in 2020, Ross’s Wagnerism: Art and Politics in the Shadow of Music acknowledges and analyzes the complicated history of Wagner and his musical impact on the world. The New York Times Book Review notes, “A work of enormous intellectual range and subtle artistic judgment that pokes and probes the nerve endings of Western cultural and social norms as they are mirrored in more than a century of reaction to Wagner’s works.” Ross combines Wagner’s musical compositions with his historical timeline and the ways his music was used in media across the world. In the April performance at the Center, Bamberg Symphony will perform Wagner’s Lohengrin, Prelude to Act I and Tannhäuser, Overture.

In addition to these two Wagner pieces, Bamberg Symphony will perform Brahms’s Symphony No. 3 in F major, Op. 90 and Schumann’s Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 54. Pianist Hélène Grimaud joins the Symphony for an electrifying performance of Schumann’s only piano concerto, providing an “astonishing show of her proficiency and poetic sensibilities” (Washington Post). For a special preview of Grimaud’s breathtaking ability of performing Schumann, watch the video below.

Interested in learning more about Hélène Grimaud? Read more in “Celebrating Women’s History Month” from the Center’s March newsletter.

Pulitzer Prize Finalist Alex Ross. (Photo Credit: Josh Goldstine)

Want to make the most of your evening with the Bamberg Symphony? A pre-performance discussion with The New Yorker classical music critic Alex Ross will take place in Monson Grand Tier, which is located on the third level of the Center for the Arts Lobby, 45 minutes prior to curtain. Seating is limited, and available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Alex Ross has been the music critic of The New Yorker since 1996. He is the author of the books The Rest Is Noise: Listening to the Twentieth Century, Listen to This, and Wagnerism: Art and Politics in the Shadow of Music. In 2008 he received a MacArthur Fellowship.

Bamberg Symphony with Hélène Grimaud performs on April 27 in a concert that shouldn’t be missed. Buy your tickets today and experience the “real deal: cultivated, subtly gorgeous performances.” (Forbes Magazine).

This program is sponsored by The Mather.

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Martha Graham Dance Company Celebrates 100th Anniversary with Expansive Program

Zoe Harr — Mon, 01 Apr 2024 13:40:19 +0000

Martha Graham Dance Company Celebrates 100th Anniversary with Expansive Program Zoe Harr Mon, 04/01/2024 - 09:40

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Martha Graham Dance Company performs at the Center on April 13.

On April 13, the oldest modern dance ensemble in the country, Martha Graham Dance Company, returns to the Center with a program that celebrates the company’s 100th anniversary through iconic classics and new work. The spectacular program features pieces by choreographers Agnes de Mille, Jamar Roberts, and of course, Martha Graham, including a special performance by Mason School of Dance students.

Opening the April performance is Graham’s Steps in the Street, a piece that originated as part of a larger project entitled Chronicle. The piece was created in response to the rise of fascism in Europe during the 1930s and features sharp, uncomfortable movements meant to entice its audience into questioning the violent nature of war. Steps in the Street notes a subtitle of “Devastation – Homelessness – Exile” which depicts the tragedy that war leaves in its wake. In a special collaboration with Martha Graham Dance Company, Mason School of Dance students will perform the piece in its entirety, which was also featured on the program at the annual Mason School of Dance Gala Concert on March 22 and 23.

"It would be easy to forget that the performers in Saturday night’s performance by the students of the George Mason University Dance Company are just that—students," emphasizes a recent review by Maryland Theatre Guide.

Watch a preview below that features collaboration between Elizabeth Auclair, former company member with the Martha Graham Dance Company, and Mason dance students.

Agnes de Mille in Rodeo (1942). (Photo Credit: Maurice Seymour)

Next, Martha Graham Dance Company dancers perform the iconic Rodeo (pronounced Roh-day-oh), a piece created by choreographer Agnes de Mille set to music by famed composer Aaron Copland. In its 1942 debut at New York’s Metropolitan Opera House, it’s claimed that curtain call lasted 17 to 23 minutes from an uproarious standing ovation. Telling a classic American story of cowboys and true love, de Mille’s Rodeo impressed two audience members in particular, composer Richard Rodgers and lyricist Oscar Hammerstein II, who invited de Mille to collaborate during the creation of their latest musical, Oklahoma! Thus, de Mille also then created “Laurey Makes Up Her Mind,” Oklahoma!’s 18-minute dream ballet sequence that classic musical lovers have come to know and enjoy.

Interested in learning more about the revolutionary Rodeo? Visit the National Endowment for the Humanities’ 2021 piece and discover the rich history of Rodeo.

Jamar Roberts' We the People will be performed by Martha Graham Dance Company on April 13. (Photo Credit: Andrew Eccles)

We the People, a new commission by acclaimed choreographer Jamar Roberts that features music by multi-instrument virtuoso and two-time GRAMMY winner Rhiannon Giddens, Artistic Director of Mason Artist-in-Residence Silkroad Ensemble, follows on the program. Roberts acted as the resident choreographer for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater from 2019 to 2022, creating five pieces that have been met with critical acclaim. This new work is a preview that will be performed one week before the piece’s official world premiere at New York City Center. In a recent review by The Dance Enthusiast, author Toussaint Jeanlouis notes, “The dancers uphold the quintessential fierceness of Martha Graham... [and] Giddens’ track complements the movement while exposing a deeper relationship to the landscape.” He adds, “A successful partnership to say the least, this collaboration is a brilliant nod to American folk music.”

Concluding the evening’s program is Graham’s joyful Maple Leaf Rag, her 180th (and last) choreographic work, created at the age of 96 in 1990. Demonstrating the comedic, light-hearted side of her work, Maple Leaf Rag features a contemporary choreographer and gently mocks the artist, demonstrating the goofiness of those in the clutches of creation. According to the Seattle Times, “Graham created a dance that spoofs some of her well-known choreographic trademarks while, at the same time, using many of her movements in fresh and energetic ways.” The work is set to the beloved ragtime piece by Scott Joplin with costumes designed by the acclaimed fashion designer Calvin Klein.

Watch a preview of Maple Leaf Rag below.

Buy tickets and witness what the Washington Post calls “one of the seven wonders of the artistic universe,” Martha Graham Dance Company on April 13.

This program is sponsored by Woodleigh Chase.

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College of Visual and Performing Arts School of Dance

Mason Artist-in-Residence Small Island Big Song Leads Events Across Campus and Community

Zoe Harr — Fri, 29 Mar 2024 20:41:10 +0000

Mason Artist-in-Residence Small Island Big Song Leads Events Across Campus and Community Zoe Harr Fri, 03/29/2024 - 16:41

In This Story

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Learn About Mason's Artist-in-Residence Program

Mason Artist-in-Residence Small Island Big Song will perform at the Center on April 20. Photo taken by Gelée Lai, Tony Tsai, Samra Teague, and Kimmi Cranes.

Right before Earth Day, Small Island Big Song presents a "jaw-dropping" (Billboard) concert experience at the Center for the Arts on April 20, combining music, spoken word, and stunning projections to showcase unique oceanic grooves and soulful island ballads, while shining a light on the devastating effects of climate crisis on our world’s oceans. Indigenous artists from Pacific and Indian Ocean island nations mix their diverse styles to establish a contemporary musical dialogue between cultures as far afield as Madagascar, Taiwan, Mauritius, Papua New Guinea, Tahiti, and Indonesia.

Co-Founder BaoBao Chen joins Small Island Big Song at the Center on April 20.

“For us, the goal of Small Island Big Song is to bring the audiences to some places that we might not have the courage of going alone, to celebrate, to confront, to inspire, to mourn, to feel hopeful. Our performance goes to all these emotions and shares the stories of ‘Our Island’, but ultimately, ‘Our Island’ is the one we all share,” notes BaoBao Chen, co-founder of Small Island Big Song.

Want to learn more about Small Island Big Song? Read more on the official website.

As a Mason Artist-in-Residence, Small Island Big Song will also deeply engage with the community through a series of education and engagement programs, detailed below:

Open-to-the-Public Residency Events

Climate Change: Our Response as Artivists on April 18 will explore ways in which artists can use their voices to expand global conversation on political, economic, social, and cultural questions at the root of the climate crisis. This event is co-presented with the Inclusive Collaborative Arts at Mason (ICAM) project with panelists BaoBao Chen, Co-Founder and Producer of Small Island Big Song; Mark Cooley, Associate Professor and Director of New Media Arts, Mason School of Art; founder of Green Studio; Moderated by Edward Maibach, distinguished professor at George Mason University and director of Mason’s Center for Climate Change Communication; and is a part of the Artist-Activist Speaker Series, an initiative of the Inclusive Collaborative Arts at Mason (ICAM) project. This event is free, but registration is required.
Small Island Big Song artist Sammy from Madagascar hosts "Trash to Music" on April 20.
On April 19, Small Island Big Song invites local students to experience a schooltime performance that includes participatory dance and rhythmic activities, as well as an open Q&A with students. This performance is free, but registration is required.
Also on April 19 and in collaboration with Mason Dining, Small Island Big Song artists will introduce Mason community members to a traditional island dish, fish curry. Led by Emlyn from Mauritius, the Cooking a Traditional Meal with Local Twists workshop will include food samples and musical accompaniment. The event is free to Mason students, faculty, and staff, but registration is required.
Led by Small Island Big Song artist Sammy and hosted by UpCycle Creative Reuse Center, Trash to Music on April 20 is an inspiring hands-on workshop demonstrating how to make musical instruments from trash, commonly recycled, and/or reused materials. Participants will be making a Malagasy-style berimbau and shaker. Recommended for ages 10 and up, minors must be accompanied by an adult. Limit of 20 participants with waitlist to notify if spots become available.

Additional Residency Activities for Mason and Local Community

Co-presented by the City of Fairfax and Center for the Arts, Small Island Big Song hosted a Friends of the Center for the Arts Artists in Conversation event, Our Shared Seafaring Heritage, Alive in Rhythm and Song, on April 2 at the Stacey C. Sherwood Community Center in Fairfax, VA. This lecture-demonstration provided geographical and historical background about the great oceanic migrations that affected the featured island nations of Small Island Big Song, and included musical demonstrations and an interactive Q&A.
Small Island Big Song artists Sammy, Yuma, Mathieu, and Small Island Big Song Co-Founder Tim Cole will visit Mason’s Dewberry School of Music program’s “Music History in Society III” course taught by Professor Greg Robinson.
In this Dancing Mauritian Sega workshop, approximately 100 second grade students from Hunters Woods Elementary School are invited to learn the Sega dance from Mauritius, led by Mathieu Joseph (Mauritius) with support from Sam Roem (West Papua).
Small Island Big Song artists and co-founders BaoBao Chen and Tim Cole will lead a discussion on the topic of “Artivism in Action - Managing Cultural Initiatives” with students of Mason’s Arts Management and Folklore programs’ “Folklore and Festival Management” course.

In addition to these special residency events, a pre-performance discussion with Small Island Big Song Co-Founders BaoBao Chen and Tim Cole will take place in Monson Grand Tier prior to the performance on April 20. The discussion will be moderated by Center for the Arts Programming and Engagement Manager Vic Adebusola.

Buy tickets to Small Island Big Song on April 20 and be transported to the musical islands that are just around the corner.

This engagement of Small Island Big Song is made possible through the ArtsCONNECT program of Mid Atlantic Arts with support from the National Endowment for the Arts.

The Mason Artist-in-Residence program is supported in part by the Wendy Frieman and David Johnson Fund.

The Small Island Big Song residency is supported in part by Eloise Stinger.

Topics

College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA)

College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) Arts Management Program

folklore

Friends of the Center for the Arts

Mason Dining

Campus News

Sustainability

Brian Ganz Charms Audiences with Chopin in May

Zoe Harr — Fri, 29 Mar 2024 20:22:30 +0000

Brian Ganz Charms Audiences with Chopin in May Zoe Harr Fri, 03/29/2024 - 16:22

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Dedicated to performing every note ever composed by Frédéric Chopin, the internationally celebrated pianist Brian Ganz continues his quest in Romantic Revolutionary at the Center for the Arts on May 4. Maryland Theatre Guide notes that when attending a concert by Brian Ganz, audience members are sure to be enraptured by “one of the foremost pianists of his generation.”

Watch the preview below for a look into musical mastery at its finest with Ganz’s performance of Chopin’s fiery “Revolutionary” étude Op. 10, No. 12, which will be performed at his May recital.

Learn about composer Frédéric Chopin and Brian Ganz’s upcoming May program with these fun facts:

Born to a piano teacher mother and flutist/violinist father, Chopin was unsurprisingly musical at a very young age. At age six, he composed and wrote poetry followed by his first public concerto performance at age eight.

Brian Ganz: A Chopin Recital performs at the Center on May 4.
The tempestuous “Revolutionary” étude Op. 10, No. 12 was inspired by the failed November Uprising of 1831 in which Russian forces overtook Polish mutineers who challenged Russia’s reign. Due to illness, Polish composer Chopin was unable to join the Uprising and avoided likely death. In response to this, he composed the piece we know today.
When Chopin composed his first Ballade, it was considered a novelty at the time, as the term “Ballade” at the time had never been used in association with solo piano. Over 11 years, Chopin wrote four Ballades, including Ballade No. 1 in G minor, Op. 23, which will be included in the May 4 program by Brian Ganz.
The term “scherzo” in Italian translates to “joke” or “jest” which remains an inspiration for musical Scherzos, as the style typically includes light and lively movement. In May, Ganz will perform one of Chopin’s four Scherzos: No. 2, Op. 31 in D-flat major.
Chopin demonstrated an interest in folk music through his creation of 57 Mazurkas, a word which came from three Polish folk dances including the mazur, kujawiak, and oberek. For avid fans of Chopin’s Mazurkas, watch the video below of a traditional mazur dance routine and see if you can note any similarities with Chopin’s compositions:

Join fellow Chopin lovers at the Center for the Arts with Brian Ganz: A Chopin Recital in Romantic Revolutionary on May 4.

The Center for the Arts is proud to co-present this performance with George Mason University’s Reva and Sid Dewberry Family School of Music.

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Dewberry School of Music

A.I.M by Kyle Abraham Engages George Mason University and Local Community

Zoe Harr — Wed, 28 Feb 2024 20:17:51 +0000

A.I.M by Kyle Abraham Engages George Mason University and Local Community Zoe Harr Wed, 02/28/2024 - 15:17

In This Story

Victor Adebusola

LaNitra M. Berger, PhD

Lawrence M. Jackson

Shauna Rigaud

Learn More About Mason's Artist-in-Residence Program

Mason School of Dance juniors and seniors with A.I.M artist, Gianna Theodore, at an A.I.M Movement Workshop.

On February 17, A.I.M by Kyle Abraham presented a thrilling collection of works by acclaimed choreographers, including its artistic director and MacArthur Genius Award-winning choreographer Kyle Abraham.This company aims to create a body of dance-based work that is galvanized by Black culture and history, featuring the rich tapestry of Black and Queer stories. In a recent San Diego Union-Tribune article, A.I.M’s goals are emphasized, noting, “In Kyle Abraham’s movement vocabulary, certain words are in regular rotation. ‘Purpose. Intention. Fearlessness.’ All are streams of thought that inhabit choreography meant to explore themes of history, identity and Black culture.”

A.I.M Movement Workshop with Dance Place in Washington, D.C.

Want to learn more about A.I.M by Kyle Abraham’s mission and core values? Read more on the company’s official website.

As a Mason Artist-in-Residence, members of A.I.M by Kyle Abraham worked with Mason as well as communities within Manassas, Washington, D.C., and local communities in a variety of activities ranging from classroom visits to A.I.M Movement Workshops that brought participants up on their feet.

Programming and Engagement Manager at the Center Vic Adebusola notes, “A.I.M by Kyle Abraham was a pleasure to work with and I’m grateful for the opportunity to bring them to our campus and local community. They facilitated several impactful workshops and participated in panels that fostered cultural exchange and understanding of the lived experiences of Black dancers and artists. I think it’s safe to say that A.I.M left a lasting impact on our community partners and audience alike.”

Putting the "Artists" in Artists-in-Residence: Meet the Participating A.I.M Artists

Jamaal Bowman (he/him) began his dance training at the age of 14 in Maryland, where he was born and raised. In 2021, he graduated from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as a Director’s Scholar, under the direction of Donna Faye Burchfield. Over the years he has collaborated with Nora Chipaumire, Tommie Waheed-Evans, Maleek Washington, Helen Pickett, Fana Fraser, Jocelyn Cottencin, Nacera Belaza, and Sidra Bell. His personal practices are centered around queer Black joy, theater, improvisation, and comedy. Bowman joined A.I.M by Kyle Abraham in 2022.

Donovan Reed (they/them), a native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, began their dance training at the age of 16. Soon after, Reed attended college at The University of the Arts where they received their BFA in May of 2016. They have performed works by choreographers such as Sidra Bell, Regina Van Berkel, Sharon Eyal, Tommie Waheed-Evans, Beth Gill, Andrea Miller, Tania Isaac, Meredith Rainey, and Helen Simoneau. Reed joined A.I.M by Kyle Abraham in 2018.

Gianna Theodore (she/her) was raised in West Palm Beach, Florida and began her dance training at Ballet East Studio under the direction of Susan Lyle and Chelsea Nasby. Gianna is a graduate of A.W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts, and a three-time YoungArts Merit Scholar/Honorable Mention. She graduated with a BFA in dance from the Ailey/Fordham BFA program Class of 2020. She has performed professionally with artists such as Ebony Williams, Mark Caserta, Maleek Washington, and Jennifer Archibald. Gianna joined A.I.M by Kyle Abraham in 2019.

Kicking off residency activities on February 13 was a discussion and Q&A session with Professor Shauna Rigaud’s section of AFAM200: “Introduction to African American Studies,” moderated by Director of African and African American Studies (AAAS) and associate professor, Dr. LaNitra Berger. A.I.M members Gianna Theodore and Donovan Reed introduced themselves, providing background on their dance history and personal experiences as minorities in often predominantly white dance spaces. In addition to personal anecdotes, the artists discussed the intersection of art and advocacy, connecting those ideas to their participation as dancers in A.I.M. Students were given an opportunity to ask questions.

Dr. LaNitra Berger (left) with A.I.M artists, Donovan Reed (center) and Gianna Theodore (right).

Dr. Berger reflected on the time with the company, stating, “AAAS thoroughly enjoyed its engagement with A.I.M. and their talented dancers. We believe that art is an important vehicle for fostering mutual exchange and understanding. During the panel discussion with the AFAM 200 students, the A.I.M. dancers touched on many important issues of identity, community, and how movement can energize and empower people to make social change. Our students were thrilled to have multiple opportunities to get to know more about A.I.M. through dialogue and through attending their performance."

Later, in a classroom visit to Mason School of Dance’s “Senior Synthesis” senior students, Theodore was joined by fellow A.I.M company member Jamaal Bowman to discuss pursuing a professional career in dance. The conversation not only covered the logistics of making a living as a professional dancer, but also included the importance of self-advocacy and self-care. Theodore and Bowman shared stories from their career, expanding upon their own artistic journeys and advice that led them down their respective paths.

The City of Fairfax Theatre Company with A.I.M artists Jamaal Bowman and Donovan Reed at "Unifying Uniqueness" workshop.

The day concluded with a special visit to the Center for the Arts by the City of Fairfax Theatre Company where Bowman and A.I.M artist, Donovan Reed, led a part-conversation and part-movement workshop entitled “Unifying Uniqueness.” Adult students investigated ideologies surrounding uniqueness and applied the concepts to themselves, using these discoveries as point of discussion and dance inspiration. The group engaged in a dialogue centered around early memories, culminating in integrated movement with ideas of perception, family, and freedom.

A.I.M artist Gianna Theodore leads Mason School of Dance students at an A.I.M Movement Workshop.

The following three days consisted of A.I.M Movement Workshops with students ranging in a spectrum of age, skill level, and location. On February 14, Gianna Theodore led a Movement Workshop with 25 high school dance students at Fairfax Academy for Communication and the Arts. In a recent interview with Dance Magazine, Theodore states, “I learn so much about the dancers through teaching. I just love dance so much, so to transmit my love in this educational way is both challenging and fulfilling.” Jamaal Bowman led participants at Washington, D.C.’s Dance Place and Donovan Reed led approximately 25 high school dance students from Charles J. Colgan High School in Manassas (or Prince William County).

Mason School of Dance students from freshmen to seniors, totaling over 75 students of advanced skill level, participated in the A.I.M Movement Workshops led by both Theodore and Bowman. Adebusola notes, “I loved observing how shocked the A.I.M instructors were at the talent of our School of Dance students.”

In addition to Mason Artist-in-Residence activities with Mason’s School of Dance, Kyle Abraham’s Drive will be featured in the Mason School of Dance Gala Concert on March 22 and 23. Watch the video below to see the collaboration between Mason School of Dance students and A.I.M by Kyle Abraham company member, Jae Neal:

Prior to A.I.M by Kyle Abraham’s February 17 performance, A.I.M’s Rehearsal Director Jessica Tong joined Mason School of Dance Professor Lawrence M. Jackson for a pre-performance discussion in Monson Grand Tier at the Center for the Arts. After a moderated Q&A session, audience members were given an opportunity to ask additional questions. The performance’s program featured impressive pieces including Someday Soon (Keerati Jinakunwiphat), Just Your Two Wrists (Paul Singh), and MotorRover (Kyle Abraham) as well as a preview of a new work by acclaimed choreographer Andrea Miller titled YEAR.

“[T]he dancers’ relentless physicality and ability to morph between styles and movement qualities created a through line that ran the length of the performance,” notes Maryland Theatre Guide’s reviewer Justin Rustle. Read the full article.

In a recent Dance Enthusiast article, A.I.M’s consistently impactful performances are emphasized, stating, “Soul-stirring, heartfelt, and empowering, A.I.M. shares a message applicable to everyone: what it means to love. Dance is a professed love language and Abraham creates a script which is a love letter to the art of dance itself." A.I.M by Kyle Abraham not only succeeded in performing an awe-inspiring performance that ended in a standing ovation, but created a lasting impression on Mason’s community and beyond.

Charles J. Colgan High School students with A.I.M artist Donovan Reed at an A.I.M Movement Workshop.

Read more about the Center for the Arts Mason Artist-in-Residence program, including the upcoming 2023/2024 visiting artist, Small Island Big Song on April 20.

The Mason Artist-in-Residence program is supported in part by the Wendy Frieman and David Johnson Fund.

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