George Mason University's Center for the Arts

This event is scheduled to start at 9:00 am and last until 3:00 pm.

This event has been canceled.

Visual Voices, a lecture series sponsored by the School of Art, runs through the academic year with a full schedule of eight nationally recognized visiting artists and designers who will speak about their work and the world of art and design. In addition to providing a look inside the studios of these top professionals, the series will offer the opportunity for Mason students to interact with them during daytime seminars and studio visits.

The lectures are open to the public and take place in Harris Theater on Thursday evenings from 7:30 to 9 p.m. For more information, please call (703) 993-8898.

Guest Conductor: William Boughton
Guest Artist: Karina Canellakis, violin

From the beautiful and introspective Chausson to the feverish romanticism of Berlioz, these romantic and lush works by groundbreaking French and American composers set the emotional tone for the FSO’s concert season.

Repertoire:
CORIGLIANO: Three Hallucinations
CHAUSSON: Poème
SAINT-SAËNS: Introduction and Rondo capriccioso
BERLIOZ: Symphonie Fantastique

The Fairfax Symphony is “dazzling…organic…and brilliant!”
– The Washington Post

Tickets start at $25;  Ages 6-18: $5

Featuring the artistry of Mason’s stellar faculty and outstanding student scholarship recipients

The Friends of Music joins Steinway & Sons and the George Mason University School of Music in launching the “Dr. Linda Apple Monson Music Endowment Fund” to support student scholarships and programs.

1:00 pm:
Elegant Lunch--deLaski Performing Arts Center  ($50)

3:00 pm:
Grand Piano Concert--Center for the Arts Concert Hall  ($20)

5:00 pm:
Reception with faculty and student artists--Grand Tier III  ($30)

(Tickets available for individual events or buy all three for $75 – please contact Leticia Moreno Enos at 703-993-4749 or lmoreno1@gmu.edu)

Visit the School of Music Web Site for more information.

A Beethoven Bonanza

“Pianistic eloquence with a special gift for commentary,” says The Washington Post about this renowned pianist who opens the 19th season of his popular Keyboard Conversations® series at the Center for the Arts by paying homage to arguably the most brilliant composer of all time. In his trademark “concerts with commentary” format, Mr. Siegel provides unique insight into Beethoven’s story of personal triumph over tragedy and performs some of the most renowned pieces from his rich body of work. This program shows Beethoven’s many moods of genius – the humorous Rage Over a Lost Penny; the charming and rarely heard Sonata in F, Op. 54; the tragic, fiery Sonata Pathéthique, Op. 13; and the transcendent Sonata, Op. 109, written after deafness had engulfed the composer. “Siegel is the perfect instrument to transmit the timeless power and enduring passion of Beethoven’s music.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Fall for the Book will present memoirist Mary Karr with the first annual Mary Roberts Rinehart Award, honoring a distinguished woman writer of nonfiction. The award commemorates the life and work of Mary Roberts Rinehart, who for 45 years prior to her death in 1958 was one of America’s most popular writers. A foundation established by the Rinehart family will sustain the award each year.

Karr will accept the award on Sunday, September 18, at 7:30 p.m. in Harris Theater on George Mason University’s Fairfax, VA campus.

Click the "Web Site" link below to read more.

Kim Blackwell
Professor, Molecular Science; Krasnow Institute for Advanced Study

What do Parkinson’s disease, addiction and habit learning have in common? Dopamine-- a molecule produced by the brain in response to reward. Just as the repeated reward of particular actions leads to habits in behavior, dopamine reinforces the response of brain cells to environmental stimuli. Drugs of abuse strongly activate dopamine production; thus addiction represents a very strong habit. In contrast, a lack of dopamine causes Parkinson’s. Individual brain cells learn habits as an activity-dependent strengthening or weakening of pathways between brain cells. Furthermore, understanding how dopamine modifies brain cells’ response can illuminate normal habit learning, addiction pathology and Parkinson’s. In her talk, Dr. Blackwell will discuss the role of dopamine in Parkinson’s, addiction and memory storage in the brain. She will also explain how experiments and computer simulations advance our understanding of dopamine, with the potential benefits of developing novel treatments for Parkinson’s and addiction.

The author of three WWII naval history books, James Hornfischer retells the story of the U.S. Navy’s bloodiest WWII campaign in Neptune’s Inferno: The U.S. Navy at Guadalcanal. Sponsored by the Naval Order of the United States.

Amy Tan, critically acclaimed author of six works of fiction, including her debut The Joy Luck Club, and, most recently, Saving Fish From Drowning, accepts the Fairfax Prize for “writing and publishing literary works that contribute significantly to American and international culture.” Sponsored by the Fairfax Library Foundation.

Conor Grennan, founder of the non-profit organization Next Generation Nepal, shares how his three-month stint in a Nepalese orphanage turned into a lifelong mission to help reconnect trafficked Nepalese children with their families. Grennan’s book, Little Princes, is this year’s selection for All Fairfax Reads, the Fairfax County Public Library’s community-wide reading program. Sponsored by the Fairfax County Public Library.

Natasha Trethewey, author of three poetry collections, including the Pulitzer Prize-winning Native Guard, discusses her recent non-fiction, Beyond Katrina, and her upcoming poetry collection, Thrall. A short reception follows Trethewey’s reading.

Claudia Rankine, the author of four poetry collections, including Don’t Let Me Be Lonely: An American Lyric, is awarded the inaugural Busboys & Poets Award, to be given annual to a distinguished poet and serving as a tribute to Langston Hughes, who worked as a busboy while developing his own poetry. A short reception precedes the presentation. Sponsored by Busboys & Poets, the Washington, DC area restaurants, bookstores, fair trade markets, and gathering places.

Mystery Writers of America Panel:
Donna Andrews, G.M. Malliet, Alan Orloff, and Marcia Talley

Several members of the Mid-Atlantic chapter of Mystery Writers of America gather to discuss their individual works and the larger genre in which they’ve found a home. Participants include: Donna Andrews The Real Macaw; G.M. Malliet, Wicked Autumn; Alan Orloff, Killer Routine; and Marcia Talley, A Quiet Death.

Sponsored by Mystery Writers of America.

There are no more tickets available for this event.

Please be aware that due to the overwhelming response, some ticket request orders may 'go through' on your end, but may not be able to be filled due to limited ticket availability. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Bestselling author Stephen King accepts the Mason Award for his “extraordinary contributions to bringing literature to a wide reading public.” King’s literary career spans 40 years, from his debut novel, Carrie, through his most recent work, the short story collection Full Dark, No Stars. King’s next novel, 11/22/63, a time-traveling adventure surrounding the JFK assassination, is due out in November. Presented by the Fall for the Book Festival.

SOLD OUT
Tickets ordered the morning of August 15th for the award presentation will be mailed to you.

If your ticket request 'went through' and we are unable to fulfill your request due to the limited availability, you will receive an email indicating that we were unable to fulfill the request. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Sponsored by George Mason University Libraries.

Please visit the Website link below, or click here, for more information about these day trips to New York City.

For more information about the ArtsBus program itself, click here.

Please be sure to download and fill out the Risk Release Form (PDF file).

Tickets:
General Public / Non AVT/300 passengers: $65
AVT 300 Enrolled Students: Part of your enrollment fee, but you must still make timely arrangements to ensure participation.

For complete information about the 6th Annual ARTS by George!, please visit the event website.

The Great American Songbook

This concert is part of the ARTS by George! benefit.

Two entertainment powerhouses team up for a melodic journey through the Great American Songbook, showcasing the best of popular music from Broadway to Hollywood. There are few more qualified to do so than Feinstein and Hamlisch. American vocalist, pianist, musicologist and foremost interpreter for the songbook, the immensely talented Michael Feinstein has been hailed as the “quintessential New York voice.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) Nominated for five Grammys, his rich vocal instrument and winning charm have made him a leading celebrity. Marvin Hamlisch—renowned composer, conductor, and musical director; winner of numerous Oscars, Emmys, Grammys, Golden Globes and a Tony; and dubbed “the consummate one-man extravaganza” by The New York Times—has created some of the best known and loved music of our time. His expansive collection includes the film scores for The Way We Were, The Sting, Sophie’s Choice, and Ordinary People, and the music for the Pulitzer Prize-winning musical A Chorus Line. This double headliner will feature each artist playing and singing his own set followed by a spectacular joint showcase with both luminaries performing together. Don’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience these two great artists performing on the same stage!

Visual Voices, a lecture series sponsored by the School of Art, runs through the academic year with a full schedule of eight nationally recognized visiting artists and designers who will speak about their work and the world of art and design. In addition to providing a look inside the studios of these top professionals, the series will offer the opportunity for Mason students to interact with them during daytime seminars and studio visits.

The lectures are open to the public and take place in Harris Theater on Thursday evenings from 7:30 to 9 p.m. For more information, please call (703) 993-8898.

For more information about this event, please visit the event page on the School of Music website.