Hylton Center

2023/2024 Local Restaurant Partners

Zoe Harr — Thu, 28 Sep 2023 20:31:03 +0000

2023/2024 Local Restaurant Partners Zoe Harr Thu, 09/28/2023 - 16:31

Four local restaurants are pleased to offer a 10% discount to ticket buyers, subscribers, and Friends of the Center for the Arts and Hylton Performing Arts Center. When dining, show your ticket stub (physical or digital) or Friends membership pin to receive the discount.

	Banditos Tacos and Tequila 10621 Braddock Rd. Fairfax, VA 22032 "Banditos Tacos and Tequila is a Taco Temple Inspired by mouthwatering, freshly creative tacos. Our handcrafted cocktails feature only the freshest ingredients, highlighting our extensive collection of tequilas and mezcals." Visit the Banditos website.
	Draper's Steak and Seafood 3936 Blenheim Boulevard Fairfax, VA 22030 "Enjoy amazing food, exceptional service, and a cozy atmosphere perfect for a business dinner or date night. The intimate atmosphere will make you forget all about your busy day as you make your own special memories." Visit Draper's website.
	Ornery Beer Company 3950 University Dr. #106 Fairfax, VA 22030 "George Mason University alum-owned, chef driven, full service restaurant & brewery. As full service restaurant, we serve a full compliment of wine & liquor selections to compliment our chef’s menu & our beer. Our Fairfax City location has a 3 barrel pilot brewery where our brewers create both new beers and small batch creations. Our Executive Chef creates both unique and familiar faire & pairs it with our beer." Visit Ornery Beer Company's website.
	Taco Bamba Taqueria 10629 Braddock Rd, Suite B-8 Fairfax, VA 22032 "George Mason University alumnus and Taco Bamba Chef/Owner Victor Albisu combines his culinary education with his Latin American heritage to bring a unique style of cuisine to his wildly popular taqueria, Taco Bamba. With multiple locations in northern Virginia, these taquerias reflect his Cuban and Peruvian roots, as well as his unique take on Mexican fare. In 2016, Albisu was selected as a semifinalist for the James Beard Foundation’s Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic award, and in 2019, Taco Bamba was voted 'Favorite Fast Bites' in the region, awarded by the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington." Visit Taco Bamba Taqueria website.

Topics

CFA

Hylton Center

Have a Happy Halloween with Fun Family Series-Inspired Costumes this October

Zoe Harr — Wed, 27 Sep 2023 17:19:46 +0000

Have a Happy Halloween with Fun Family Series-Inspired Costumes this October Zoe Harr Wed, 09/27/2023 - 13:19

Learn about the Center's 2023/2024 Family Series

Between the fun costumes and delicious candy, it’s hard to decide what the best part of Halloween is. Stand out during trick-or-treating this year with some family costume ideas from the Center’s Family Series!

Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood LIVE comes to the Center on October 15.

Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood LIVE

The “Neighborhood of Make-Believe" has a collection of friends to dress up as for Halloween like O the Owl, Miss Elaina, Katerina Kittycat, and the one-of-a-kind Daniel Tiger! With an orange-and-black striped tail paired with a red jacket or a gold crown with a yellow cape, you can join the grr-ific fun of Daniel Tiger and all his pals this October. Make a stop at the Center on October 15 for Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood LIVE: King for a Day and see your favorite characters in person before Halloween!

Want more Daniel Tiger? Following the 5:30 p.m. performance, and only for an additional $30 per person, the whole family can meet Daniel Tiger and all of his friends, making memories that will last a lifetime in a special photo opportunity!

B – The Underwater Bubble Show

Travel under the sea with B – The Underwater Bubble Show on November 19 and discover a realm inhabited by seahorses, dragonfish, starfish, mermaids, and other whimsical and watery creatures. Make your best fishy-face and bring a bubble blower with you during trick-or-treat this year to become a sea creature of your choosing. Bubbling with ideas yet? If not, look no further than the video preview below for B – The Underwater Bubble Show!

Mutts Gone Nuts performs at the Center on April 6.

Mutts Gone Nuts

Halloween doesn’t have to be “ruff” this year with a great puppy costume! Snag an extra bone from a spooky skeleton and paint on some whiskers, then start wagging your tail and be prepared to bow-wow your fellow trick-or-treaters. No matter what your favorite kind of dog is, Mutts Gone Nuts on April 6 will leave you howling for more with the most talented dogs in the world doing barrel tricks, dancing, magic, and jump rope routines.

Enjoy even more Mutts Gone Nuts with the April 7 performance at the Center’s sister venue, Hylton Performing Arts Center! For more information, visit Hylton’s website.

The Okee Dokee Brothers

Coming to the Center on April 21, The Okee Dokee Brothers infuses bluegrass music and playful lyrics with childhood wonder, hoping to spark a desire in children to explore their surroundings and imaginations. Take this opportunity to tour the great outdoors and most importantly, discover costumes for this year’s trick-or-treating. Whether you dress up as a ladybug or a flower, endless get-up ideas wait right outside your door and with the help of The Okee Dokee Brothers, you can uncover all the wonders of nature! Watch their music video for "Walking with Spring" and catch some ideas for special nature looks.

New experiences and discoveries aren’t just limited to Halloween, the Center invites audiences to join the Family Series all year by subscribing! To learn more about how the whole family can enjoy performances this season, visit the Family Series website.

Topics

CFA

Hylton Center

Family Programs

Introducing a New Name for Mason Arts’ Digital Platform: Mason Arts Amplified

Zoe Harr — Fri, 01 Sep 2023 18:35:55 +0000

Introducing a New Name for Mason Arts’ Digital Platform: Mason Arts Amplified Zoe Harr Fri, 09/01/2023 - 14:35

In This Story

Adrienne Bryant Godwin

Mason Arts' “digital venue” is evolving once more with a new name for the online platform: Mason Arts Amplified. Formerly known as Mason Arts at Home, this curated collection features arts experiences, including digitally released performances, panel discussions, behind-the-scenes talks with artists, and more.

Director of Programming Adrienne Bryant Godwin notes, “Over the past few years, artists and audiences learned that we didn’t need a theater to be able to engage with inspiring artistic works. After launching Mason Arts at Home in April 2020, we quickly saw the incalculable benefits of providing access to high quality arts programming on a digital platform.” Mason Arts Amplified features 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 faculty, students, and alumni from George Mason University’s College of Visual and Performing Arts.

“Mason Arts at Home was established at the height of the pandemic, when we most needed digital access to the arts— and when we were all encouraged to stay ‘at home.’ With the new title, Mason Arts Amplified, the streaming platform is growing beyond its pandemic roots and asserting itself as a mainstay digital venue in the Mason community.”

-Digital Programming Producer Julie Haberstick

Mason Arts Amplified is a digital resource for experiencing the arts at Mason. Create a free account and explore the current offerings, such as Honoring our Veterans: Selections from CAMMO Voices recorded at the Hylton Center, in addition to upcoming Visual Voices events from the Mason School of Art. Haberstick adds, “As the platform grows, Mason Arts Amplified will continue to not only showcase the work of students, faculty, staff, and professional artists, but also expand the ways Mason's College of Visual and Performing Arts serves its mission to make the Arts a pervasive presence in Northern Virginia.”

For more information, including frequently asked questions about the platform, visit the Center for the Arts' Mason Arts Amplified website.

Topics

CFA

College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA)

Hylton Center

Meet the Maestro

Zoe Harr — Mon, 31 Oct 2022 17:11:28 +0000

Meet the Maestro Zoe Harr Mon, 10/31/2022 - 13:11

Artistic Director and Conductor Peter Wilson leads the American Festival Pops Orchestra at the Hylton Center on December 9 and the Center for the Arts on December 10.

Last spring, Maestro Peter Wilson picked up the baton, becoming the new artistic director and conductor of the American Festival Pops Orchestra (AFPO), effective the 2022-2023 season. No stranger to AFPO, Maestro Wilson was the orchestra’s longtime concertmaster and principal violinist, and we’re excited to see his official AFPO conducting debut in Holiday Pops: Songs of the Season at the Hylton Center (12/9) and the Center for the Arts (12/10). In the meantime, we sat down with AFPO's new maestro to learn a little bit more about him.

As we know, you are a skilled violinist and conductor, but if you could learn to play any additional instrument overnight, what instrument would you choose? Why?

PW: I’ve always had this fantasy of being a rock or jazz drummer. Even when I was a little boy studying the violin, I was drawn to the drum set parts in pop songs on the radio. Let’s face it; there’s something really cool about being able to lay down some great drum solos! Coincidentally, my dear friend and amazing AFPO drummer, Harold Summey, started out as a violinist when he was growing up, so I guess I’ll just have to live vicariously through him! He got to live my dream!

You have played at countless venues, including the Kennedy Center and the American Embassy in Paris. If you could perform anywhere in the world, where would you want to perform and what piece would you open the concert with?

PW: I have never been, but think I would love to conduct a concert at the Hollywood Bowl, just because of its rich history and the magical performances that have happened there. Perhaps I could take the AFPO there one day and conduct a concert of film music, featuring John Williams! I might have to open that concert with Aaron Copland’s “Fanfare for the Common Man.”

After serving 30 years as String Section Commander for “The President’s Own” U. S. Marine Band, what lessons did you learn from that experience that you try to implement in personal and musical endeavors now?

PW: Of my 30 years as a Marine violinist of The White House, I served 13 years as String Section Commander, and I learned so many things along the way that shaped who I am today as a person and a leader. In my subordinate role in middle management, I learned to listen to everyone else’s ideas during meetings before offering my own opinion on matters; and as a leader of those in my section, I learned to celebrate the uniqueness of each member and champion them to have their own voice rather than expecting the same from everyone. As long as folks are meeting their responsibilities, the job is far more engaging with the diversity of personalities and artistry.

You take pride in your goal to promote new works of music. What elements draw you to a particular piece of music?

PW: I appreciate composers who offer a unique voice within the traditions of our art form. There’s never only one way to be introduced to new music, and sometimes one discovers a composer by accident because his or her work appears on a concert you are attending. Circumstances can also play a role in how music is received. I’m drawn to anything that moves me, but I always seek out the contrasts in works. In my experience, drawing attention to contrasts, whether dynamic, textural, or tonal, is what brings out the magic in a work, old or new.

Who is a musician, alive or deceased, that you wish you could share dinner with, and what would you talk about first?

PW: Honestly, even having worked with John Williams on two occasions, I never was able to have dinner with him! That would be an absolute delight, and I would enjoy asking him questions about how he conceived some of his most iconic themes. I would then dive deeper into his career as a conductor and perhaps explore how he got orchestras to create the sound he had in his head as a composer. He is an idol as well as a mentor to me, and simply being in his orbit is a thrilling experience.

You’ve had the privilege of meeting many musical legends including Sting, John Williams, Billy Joel, Stevie Wonder, and Bruce Springsteen. Who are the top three musicians with whom you wish you could collaborate?

PW: Well, two of those five were musicians I had the privilege of collaborating with (John Williams and Stevie Wonder), and those experiences were mind-blowing and life changing. Billy Joel has been a lifelong idol of mine, and he’s had violinists in his band from time to time when touring. He might have to be first on my list, and it would be an absolute dream-come-true to collaborate with him. I’m a big fan of Bruno Mars and Silk Sonic, so finding a way to collaborate with them would be a bucket list event. As a conductor, it would be thrilling to collaborate with violinist Gil Shaham, as I have always been an enormous fan of his artistry.

What are you looking forward to most in your new post as Artistic Director and Conductor of the American Festival Pops Orchestra?

PW: I have such a deep respect for all the musicians who make up the AFPO. After all, they have been my friends and colleagues for at least 12 years, and this tremendous ensemble has become family to me. I look forward to not only making great music with them but finding new ways to showcase their amazing talents. Equally important to me is maintaining the engagement we have with our wonderful audiences who have supported us for so many years. This is truly one of the unique elements of the AFPO concert-going experience. We break the fourth wall and connect with our audience at every level. I loved this during my many years serving as AFPO concertmaster. I look forward to our Hylton Center and Center for the Arts communities taking greater ownership of their orchestra. It belongs to them as much as to the musicians on stage, and there is nothing greater than the magic that is created when the AFPO and the audience combine their energies. I cannot wait to continue this great journey of celebrating the best of this Pops Orchestra genre!

Purchase your tickets now for Holiday Pops: Songs of the Season at the Hylton Center (12/9) and the Center for the Arts (12/10), and welcome Maestro Wilson to the podium.

Topics

Whitman Brown

Pam Muirheid — Mon, 29 Aug 2022 17:29:15 +0000

Whitman Brown Pam Muirheid Mon, 08/29/2022 - 13:29

Chief Business Officer, CVPA

Biography

Whitman Brown Joined CVPA as the Chief Business Officer in August 2022. He comes to us from the Georgetown University School of Medicine, where he has held a series of increasingly responsible positions in the finance and operations area for the past 13 years, culminating as Senior Associate Dean and Chief of Operations. At Georgetown, Whitman has worked on issues ranging from accreditation to instructional and administrative technology, financial and strategic planning, and capital project management. He has been honored with the President’s Excellence Award and Georgetown University Medical Center’s CARIS award (Compassion, Achievement, Respect, Inspiration and Service). Whitman received a dual BA in History and Religious Studies from Maryville College in Tennessee and the MBA from George Washington University.

Degrees

MBA, George Washington University
BA in History and Religious Studies, Maryville College, Tennessee

Annie Hunt

Pam Muirheid — Thu, 05 May 2022 16:09:49 +0000

Annie Hunt Pam Muirheid Thu, 05/05/2022 - 12:09

Publications Coordinator, CVPA

Contact Information

Email: ahunt26@gmu.edu

Biography

Annie Hunt is currently the Publications Coordinator for the College of Visual and Performing Arts at George Mason University where she has been part of the marketing team since January 2020. She has supported the Center for the Arts, the Hylton Center and the academic units through project management, editing, and graphic design. She has more than 15 years of experience in the world of publication design, project management, and marketing. Additional experiences include working with the Shakespeare Theater Company, Wolf Trap, and Strathmore, as well as with local small businesses and nonprofits in the D.C. area. She holds a BA in Theater Arts with a minor in History from Loyola Marymount University and an MA in Public History from California State University, Sacramento.

Degrees

MA in Public History, CSU Sacramento
BA in Theater Arts, minor in History, Loyola Marymount University

Rachelle Etienne-Robinson

Pam Muirheid — Thu, 05 May 2022 16:00:59 +0000

Rachelle Etienne-Robinson Pam Muirheid Thu, 05/05/2022 - 12:00

Digital Marketing Assistant, CVPA

Contact Information

Email: retienne@gmu.edu

Biography

Rachelle Etienne-Robinson is a multi-talented creative. Rachelle was born in Queens, NY, and raised in Fairfax, VA. Her love for the arts developed in middle school and led her to further her education, obtaining a BFA in Fashion Design from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY. Rachelle’s experience spans the fields of design, fashion, media, events, education, film, and arts administration. She has worked for various organizations like Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, the Knot Inc., the District of Columbia Public Schools, the Arts Council of Fairfax County, and the Black Dress Exhibit. In 2017, she and her husband founded Substantial Art & Music, a multimedia organization focused on providing consulting services to the visual and performing arts community. Rachelle joined the CVPA team in January 2022.

Gabriel Celeste

Pam Muirheid — Thu, 05 May 2022 15:47:11 +0000

Gabriel Celeste Pam Muirheid Thu, 05/05/2022 - 11:47

Graphic Designer, CVPA

Contact Information

Phone: 703-993-9811
Email: gceleste@gmu.edu

Biography

Gabriel Celeste is currently the Graphic Designer for the College of Visual and Performing Arts at George Mason University where he has been part of the marketing team since 2022. As Graphic Designer, he is in charge of the creation of designs and redesigns for projects under the CVPA, Hylton Performing Arts Center, and Center for the Arts brands. He is a graduate of George Mason University, holding a B.A. in Graphic Design and a minor in Photography.

Passing the baton: Celebrating Maestro Tony Maiello’s tenure with the AFPO

Anonymous — Mon, 02 May 2022 14:21:52 +0000

Passing the baton: Celebrating Maestro Tony Maiello’s tenure with the AFPO Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 05/02/2022 - 10:21

Maestro Tony Maiello

The American Festival Pops Orchestra’s (AFPO) May 14 performance will mark our beloved Maestro Anthony Maiello’s final performance with the orchestra, capping off 12 years of leadership. To celebrate this milestone, we asked the maestro about what he’s loved about this time, and what’s next for him.

What is a favorite memory of your time with the AFPO?

I’ve loved all the concerts with the AFPO. My favorite ones are the holiday concerts. There is so much joy in presenting music that puts everyone in the holiday spirit! I experience great satisfaction watching everyone leave the concert feeling uplifted, smiling, and being kind to each other. That is the greatest gift of all for me.

In the upcoming concert you’ll be literally passing the baton to AFPO’s new maestro, Peter Wilson, the orchestra’s longtime Concertmaster and Principal Violinist. Please tell us what you are looking forward to for audiences with Peter on the podium.

It is my hope that Peter will continue not only to serve the AFPO musicians, but more importantly serve the audience members with his programming. Our AFPO audience members attend our concerts because the music touches their hearts, minds, and souls. It changes how they feel as human beings. This key factor of performing music that audience members enjoy is essential to the existence of the orchestra and the core of its mission.

How do you plan to keep music in your life after stepping away from this role with American Festival Pops Orchestra?

I cannot live without music. It is essential to my mental and physical well-being. Oxygen, food, water, shelter, and clothing are necessities in life. For me, music is a necessity in my life. It touches the very core of my existence. I will always play, sing, write, and listen to music as long as I am alive and have the physical and mental capacity to do any or all of these things. No one knows what life brings us in its final moments. What I do know is that music always brings me to a place of joy, goodness, happiness, appreciation, and thankfulness. Sharing it with others is a gift and a blessing. I'm grateful I will continue to be able to share that with others in my role as Professor of Music in Mason's wonderful Dewberry School of Music. What more could one ask for?

Don’t miss Maestro Maiello’s final performance with the American Festival Pops Orchestra on Saturday, May 14 at 8 p.m. in Broadway’s Best, featuring Lisa Vroman, at the Hylton Center. Purchase tickets today!

Topics

Hylton Center

Don’t Miss Maestro Maiello’s final performance!

Anonymous — Fri, 18 Mar 2022 18:14:11 +0000

Don’t Miss Maestro Maiello’s final performance! Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 03/18/2022 - 14:14

Maestro Anthony Maiello

We hope you’ll join us for a very special American Festival Pops Orchestra (AFPO) performance on Saturday, May 14 at 8 p.m. at the Hylton Performing Arts Center. Maestro Anthony Maiello reunites with Broadway veteran and soprano Lisa Vroman for a musical tribute to Broadway in an evening of timeless tunes by Rodgers and Hammerstein, George Gershwin, Cole Porter, Andrew Lloyd Webber, and more! What makes this performance extra special is that this will be Maestro Maiello’s final performance with the orchestra. Read his personal note below and join us to celebrate his 12 years on the podium as founder and conductor of the American Festival Pops Orchestra!

Dear American Festival Pops Orchestra friends,

These past 12 years as founder and conductor of the American Festival Pops Orchestra (AFPO) have been among the greatest highlights in my career. I write to you to share that after a wonderful 12 years with the AFPO, the May 14 “Broadway’s Best” concert at the Hylton Performing Arts Center will be my final performance with the orchestra. The timing of this departure feels right, and I believe in leaving on a high “note.” Please know that I have loved EVERY MINUTE on the podium in front of this fine orchestra and our loyal AFPO audience!

It is time to pass the baton, and I am pleased and excited to announce Maestro Peter Wilson as the next Artistic Director and Conductor of The American Festival Pops Orchestra. Many of you know Peter as AFPO’s longtime Concertmaster and Principal Violinist. His extensive career as a violinist, conductor, arranger, and composer make him the perfect musical ambassador to lead the orchestra forward. Please stay tuned for more information about Maestro Wilson and his new post in the 2022-2023 season. I know you will give him a warm welcome!

From the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU for your support of the American Festival Pops Orchestra over the years and for being a special part of the many happy musical memories I take with me moving forward. I hope to see you at the May 14 performance at the Hylton Center—we’ll make it one for the books!

Most sincerely yours,

Tony Maiello

Interested in furthering Maestro Maiello’s lifelong commitment to music education beyond the podium? Become a part of honoring Maestro Anthony Maiello’s legacy at George Mason University through the Anthony J. Maiello Scholarship Endowment. This fund provides critical scholarships to instrumental music students at Mason on the basis of academic merit and musical talent. Gifts to the endowment are invested so the scholarships honoring Professor Maiello can make a difference in students’ lives for many years to come. To make a gift in honor of Professor Maiello, visit this link, or contact Amanda Snellings at asnelli@gmu.edu or 703-993-1593.

We hope to see you on May 14 at the Hylton Performing Arts Center for this special musical celebration! Purchase your tickets today.

Topics

Hylton Center

Hylton Center

2023/2024 Local Restaurant Partners

Four local restaurants are pleased to offer a 10% discount to ticket buyers, subscribers, and Friends of the Center for the Arts and Hylton Performing Arts Center. When dining, show your ticket stub (physical or digital) or Friends membership pin to receive the discount.

Banditos Tacos and Tequila

Draper's Steak and Seafood

Ornery Beer Company

Taco Bamba Taqueria

Topics

Have a Happy Halloween with Fun Family Series-Inspired Costumes this October

Learn about the Center's 2023/2024 Family Series

Between the fun costumes and delicious candy, it’s hard to decide what the best part of Halloween is. Stand out during trick-or-treating this year with some family costume ideas from the Center’s Family Series!

Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood LIVE

Want more Daniel Tiger? Following the 5:30 p.m. performance, and only for an additional $30 per person, the whole family can meet Daniel Tiger and all of his friends, making memories that will last a lifetime in a special photo opportunity!

Mutts Gone Nuts

Enjoy even more Mutts Gone Nuts with the April 7 performance at the Center’s sister venue, Hylton Performing Arts Center! For more information, visit Hylton’s website.

The Okee Dokee Brothers

New experiences and discoveries aren’t just limited to Halloween, the Center invites audiences to join the Family Series all year by subscribing! To learn more about how the whole family can enjoy performances this season, visit the Family Series website.

Topics

Introducing a New Name for Mason Arts’ Digital Platform: Mason Arts Amplified

In This Story

Topics

Meet the Maestro

Topics

Whitman Brown

Biography

Degrees

Annie Hunt

Contact Information

Biography

Degrees

Rachelle Etienne-Robinson

Contact Information

Biography

Gabriel Celeste

Contact Information

Biography

Passing the baton: Celebrating Maestro Tony Maiello’s tenure with the AFPO

Topics

Don’t Miss Maestro Maiello’s final performance!

Topics