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

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

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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.

Thank you to the City of Fairfax Parks and Recreation Everybody Plays Grant program for making free tickets possible for the schooltime matinee program. This grant was funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

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ARTS by George! 2023 Raises More than $275,000 to Support Mason Arts

Zoe Harr — Tue, 10 Oct 2023 14:25:00 +0000

ARTS by George! 2023 Raises More than $275,000 to Support Mason Arts Zoe Harr Tue, 10/10/2023 - 10:25

CVPA Dean Rick Davis holds Fund-A-Student auction prior to the evening's concert. Credit: Risdon Photography.

ARTS by George! returned on Saturday, September 30, 2023, hosted by the College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) at George Mason University. The benefit event, which was headlined by GRAMMY and Tony Award winner Renée Elise Goldsberry, raised more than $275,000 for student scholarships in visual arts, dance, music, theater, game design, film, arts management, as well as for the Mason Community Arts Academy, Green Machine Ensembles, and the Great Performances at Mason season at the Center for the Arts. With donations still coming in, ARTS by George! has raised more than $4.1 million for the arts at Mason since the event began in 2006.

The event gave students and faculty from each discipline an opportunity to present behind-the-scenes showcases, film screenings, performances, and interactive experiences. Programming was held in eight open studios, venues, and rehearsal halls across Mason’s Fairfax campus, with beverage and cuisine stations offered throughout.

“ARTS by George! 2023 is in the books, and one for the books,” remarks CVPA Dean Rick Davis. “Thanks to a considerable village, this edition was quite possibly the most uplifting, free-flowing, artistically engaging version of this storied tradition. A hearty thanks to all the students, faculty, staff, and volunteers who made it work better than ever, and to Renée Elise Goldsberry for a generous, inspiring concert and toast, and to our patrons, donors, sponsors, and supporters of all kinds for whom we do the work.”

During the evening’s showcases, guests flowed in and out of three buildings on the Fairfax Campus: deLaski Performing Arts Building, Harris Theatre, and Horizon Hall. Inside deLaski, students from the Dewberry School of Music dazzled the crowd with the powerful voices of Mason Opera students or the impressive instrumental skills ranging from piano to wind symphony. The Dewberry School of Music didn’t stop the beat all night, with talented instrumental and vocal musicians presenting piano, jazz, and opera selections during the nearly two hours of student showcases.

Mason Community Arts Academy perform selections from Newsies. Credit: Risdon Photography.

Just down the hall, students from the Mason Community Arts Academy presented previews of their work and in a separate room, Film at Mason played selections on an array of television screens, inviting patrons to see what students had created in the program. In another wing of deLaski, emerging professionals of the Mason School of Dance performed to packed houses. With both intimate dance performances, as well as the Mason School of Dance’s collaboration with the Dewberry School of Music in their revival of “Come Sunday,” rooms were frequently filled shoulder to shoulder with enthusiastic audience members.

As guests made their way out of deLaski across the Johnson Center Plaza, they were enticed into Harris Theater by the sounds of Mason School of Theater students. Alternating their time on the Harris stage, students astonished the crowd with songs from their upcoming production of 9 to 5 The Musical as well as a student-written one-act play by Dyllan Hutchinson entitled “So, Two Spies Walk Into a Restaurant,” which premiered earlier in The Originals! this September. More music flowed from the amphitheater space between Harris and Horizon Hall, where Green Machine’sFife and Drum ensemble as well as Green & Gold Soul, joined by dance group Emerald Desire, kept energies high as guests ambled along the walkway into Horizon Hall.

Mason School of Theater students (left to right) Kamy Satterfield, Sarah Stewart, Emma Harris, Lexi Carter, Aiden Breneman-Pennas, and Brett Womack join Renée Elise Goldsberry on stage during the evening's concert. Credit: Risdon Photography.

Inside Horizon Hall, Mason’s Computer Game Design program and Virginia Serious Game Institute created mini studios inside the Mason Innovation Exchange (MIX), where guests explored a change of scenery with actual reality and virtual reality headsets. Also in the MIX, the School of Art and Mason Exhibitions gave guests a chance to play with printing, personalizing a postcard they could take with them as a memento of their experience, while elsewhere in the space, Mason Computer Game Design and Mason Exhibitions invited visitors to play selections from the 2023 Progress@Play Competition and Master of Art in Teaching students demonstrated 3D printing. In addition to the buffet within Horizon, Mason Exhibition’s Metamorphosis, an exhibition created by Mason faculty, decorated the space and a Dewberry School of Music student played guitar in the seating area to round out the spectacular mood in the space.

Dewberry School of Music alumni flutist Eduardo Fajardo. Credit: Risdon Photography.

After the showcases, guests transitioned to the Center for the Arts for a live Fund-A-Student Raise the Paddle event, which brought in more than $36,000 towards the total raised, prior to the performance by Renée Elise Goldsberry. Guests and concert-goers were also treated to Dewberry School of Music piano student Kai Shi and School of Music alumni flutist Eduardo Fajardo in a performance paired with personal anecdotes about the importance of student scholarships.

Capping off the evening, Renée Elise Goldsberry performed a concert culminating in multiple standing ovations, an explosive encore, and multiple sing-along moments from Hamilton fans in the exhilarated audience. Interspersed with personal anecdotes, Goldsberry emphasized the importance of student scholarships and love for young artists, noting that she started as one herself. For her final number of the evening, Goldsberry invited Mason School of Theater students Kamy Satterfield, Sarah Stewart, Emma Harris, Lexi Carter, Aiden Breneman-Pennas, and Brett Womack to join her on stage in a medley from the musical Rent. With tears and shining smiles, the students bowed with Goldsberry stepping back to gesture to the students with a proud expression on her face.

Renée Elise Goldsberry and Rick Davis lead a champagne toast on stage. Credit: Risdon Photography.

After the show, Goldsberry and Davis ended the night with a champagne toast on stage for donors, students, and George Mason faculty. Goldsberry reimagined Hamilton’s “Satisfied,” singing, “A toast to ARTS by George! and George Mason University. To the donors and the teachers who are always by your side. To the students and the hope that you provide, may you always be satisfied!"

See more images from the event by visiting a gallery of images.

ARTS by George! has raised more than $4.1 million since it began in 2006, with net proceeds going toward student scholarships and community arts programs.

It’s not too late to contribute! Make a difference in the lives of Mason Arts students, staff, faculty, community arts partners, as well as arts lovers of all ages in the region. For more information, please visit the CVPA website.

View Images from ARTS by George! 2023

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ARTS by George! Features the Talents of College of Visual and Performing Arts Students

Zoe Harr — Thu, 31 Aug 2023 19:12:22 +0000

ARTS by George! Features the Talents of College of Visual and Performing Arts Students Zoe Harr Thu, 08/31/2023 - 15:12

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Dr. William Lake, Jr.

Lawrence M. Jackson

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“An evening like no other,” ARTS by George! returns on September 30 for an evening that raises support for student scholarships in visual arts, dance, music, theater, game design, film, arts management, as well as for the Mason Community Arts Academy, Green Machine Ensembles, and the Great Performance at Mason season at the Center for the Arts. Since its creation in 2006, ARTS by George! has raised more than $2 million for the arts at Mason.

Prior to the special performance of Renée Elise Goldsberry in Concert headlining the evening, College of Visual and Performing Arts students showcase their talents in visual arts, music, game design, dance, and more. Read on to learn more about some of the stellar performances and experiences you can partake in when visiting ARTS by George!

Mason School of Theater

Mason School of Theater students will perform selections from 9 to 5, The Musical and The Originals!

Future performers of stage and screen from Mason School of Theater delight their audience with selections from two upcoming fall productions, The Originals! and 9 to 5, The Musical.

A one-act play entitled “So, Two Spies Walk Into a Restaurant” by School of Theater student Dyllan Hutchinson will be featured in The Originals! at ARTS by George! As one of six student-written and directed pieces, The Originals! offers Mason’s creative artists the chance to share their work in a variety of forms, whether it be a "bite-sized operetta” or the traditional ten-minute play.

Based on the hit 1980s movie starring Dolly Parton, 9 to 5, The Musical features three female coworkers pushed past their boiling point by workplace sexism. In this hilarious story of friendship and revenge, the Rolodex era is outrageous, thought-provoking, and even a little romantic. Mason School of Theater students will perform a preview of musical selections from this upcoming production, which will run October 20 through 29.

Dewberry School of Music

A collaboration between Dewberry School of Music and Mason School of Dance, Come Sunday features the composition of Omar Thomas, musical direction of Mason’s Dewberry School of Music assistant professor Dr. William Lake, Jr., and the choreography of Mason School of Dance associate professor Lawrence M. Jackson. Reuniting to bring this spectacular piece—originally performed in February 2023—to life, Come Sunday will be performed at ARTS by George! with Mason’s Dance and Music students.

Want to learn more about the impact of Come Sunday? Read more on the website.

The beloved Green Machine Ensembles will also appear with performances by Emerald Desire, Fife and Drum, and Green & Gold Soul. Catch a preview of the fan-favorite Green Machine below in a video from Mason Madness 2022.

Mason School of Dance students will perform at Arts by George! on September 30.

In addition to performances from the students above, there will be a spectrum of other special experiences for visitors to partake in. At The Mix, students from Mason’s School of Art will demonstrate techniques in experimental letterpress and printmaking, inviting participants to create their own special works of art. Presented by Mason Computer Game Design and Mason Exhibitions, selections from the 2023 Progress@Play Competition will be available to play. The Progress@Play Competition seeks to raise public awareness of social issues through computer games or digital art to demonstrate their potential for serious and positive impacts.

Performances from additional groups within Mason’s School of Dance, Dewberry School of Music, and Film and Videos Studies program will be scattered throughout, providing an opportunity to the work that donations and sponsorships support.

It’s not too late to become a sponsor!

Your gift makes it possible for Mason to attract and retain talented arts students, for the Center for the Arts to bring first-class performances to our region, and to provide enriching arts education to our community. To learn more about becoming a sponsor and the benefits that it includes, please visit the ARTS by George! website.

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ARTS by George! Returns with Headliner Renée Elise Goldsberry

Zoe Harr — Fri, 30 Jun 2023 17:02:41 +0000

ARTS by George! Returns with Headliner Renée Elise Goldsberry Zoe Harr Fri, 06/30/2023 - 13:02

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“An evening like no other,” ARTS by George! returns on September 30 for an evening that showcases the remarkable talents of Mason students amid an array of spectacular food and beverages, culminating with a special performance by Broadway superstar, Renée Elise Goldsberry in Concert.

Star of stage and screen, Renée Elise Goldsberry, is a Tony-, GRAMMY-, and Emmy Award winner, best known for her portrayal of Angelica Schuyler in Hamilton. In an interview with NPR, Goldsberry recalls being cast in the role, stating, “I knew the role was special. I knew there was just magic everywhere. . . It was like nothing I had ever encountered.” As a member of the original cast, she also received a GRAMMY Award when the original cast album won Best Musical Theater Album in 2016, featuring her show-stopping rendition of “Satisfied.” In addition to her most recent Broadway appearances, she has also starred in The Color Purple (original cast, Nettie), Lion King (Nala), and Rent (Mimi Marquez). Watch Goldsberry capture “commanding power, laced with vulnerability” (Houstonian) in a clip from Hamilton below.

Audiences will also recognize Goldsberry for her many television roles on shows including ABC’s One Life to Live, CBS’s The Good Wife, and Disney+’s She-Hulk: Attorney at Law. Her most recent role in Peacock’s Girls5eva sees her as a multi-faceted diva and leader of the reunited 90s musical girl group featuring fellow performers Sara Bareilles, Paula Pell, Ashley Park, and Busy Philipps Both funny and heartfelt, the television show features themes surrounding aging, fame, friendship, and family. Filmed during the height of COVID-19, Girls5eva released its first season in 2021, followed by its second season the following year to rave reviews by fans and critics alike. In a recent interview with TIME Magazine, Goldsberry discusses the experience of making this show and its importance during a global pandemic, "It sounds basic, but we’ve shot the show two seasons in a row in a surprising COVID winter and the show has really saved us. That’s what we’ve learned about humanity and what’s so crucial about art— how it helps us survive impossible challenges. In a world that is increasingly unrecognizable, here we are in the middle of it laughing.” Goldsberry’s performance earned her a nomination at the 2023 Critics Choice Awards for Best Actress in a Comedy Series.

Renée Elise Goldsberry performs at the Center on September 30.

Aside from her artistic endeavors, Goldsberry aims to use her platform and talents to inspire conversation about social justice and arts education. In a 2018 interview with the National Endowment for the Arts, Goldsberry states, “There’s a new Mozart, a new Miles Davis, a new Misty Copeland, a new Matisse potentially languishing in a math class somewhere. If we fail to introduce them to art, we fail humanity.” By discussing these issues, Goldsberry aims to provide a future that emphasizes the importance of arts being offered in schools. She continues, “If there is anything young people need, it is confidence and an identity and a purpose. Arts education gives that to so many people regardless of what careers they choose. Arts education also enables students to find out who they are.”

To see Renée Elise Goldsberry in action, whether it be receiving a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical (Hamilton, 2016) or performing a rendition of Justin Timberlake’s “Sexyback”, check out a YouTube playlist of her highlights below.

ARTS by George! raises support for student scholarships in visual arts, dance, music, theater, game design, film, arts management, as well as for the Mason Community Arts Academy, Green Machine Ensembles, and the Great Performance at Mason season at the Center for the Arts. Since its creation in 2006, ARTS by George! has raised more than $2 million for the arts at Mason. For more information about ARTS by George!, visit the website.

Individual tickets to Renée Elise Goldsberry in Concert go on sale August 1. Subscribe to the Center for the Arts today and receive early ticket access to this event as well as additional benefits including discounts all season long, free ticket exchanges, and priority access to seating. For more information, visit the subscriptions website.

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

College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) School of Music

College of Visual and Performing Arts Film and Video Studies

College of Visual and Performing Arts School of Dance

College of Visual and Performing Arts School of Theater

School of Art

Computer Game Design

Mason Community Arts Academy