CVPA Annual Report 2021-22

People who see my posts on social media have grown used to a share or link with the heading “PDM” (Proud Dean Moment). Even though pride is one of the seven deadly sins, I can’t resist the feeling when someone in CVPA does something wonderful. And sometimes I just have to kick it out into the world with that PDM sticker on it.

Well, this annual report might be watermarked PDM on every page. Reading over this book I am both proud of and humbled by the accomplishments of our college during this past year. If last year’s metaphor was the pivot/pirouette, this year the choreography had us moving more-or-less forward as an ensemble, with the occasional zig and zag, retreat, and side-step.

The stories, pictures, and numbers in this report tell of a college whose individuals accomplished many notable and some truly astonishing things in and out of the classroom, studio, stage, screen, gallery, and cyberspace; but just as importantly, they create a mosaic of a community that is multi-faceted, resilient, generous, and dedicated to making the world a better place.

So please forgive the pride I feel as I offer this report for your consideration. If you’re already a member of our community, as student, faculty, staff, parent, alum, guest artist, patron, donor, or Mason colleague, I hope you feel the same way as you read. If you’re new to the College of Visual and Performing Arts or to George Mason University, I hope you’ll take this opportunity to get to know us, and be in touch with your questions, observations, and ideas.

Cheers, Rick Davis, PDM Dean, College of Visual and Performing Arts

Manifesting the dream

School of Art Alum Lands Gig on Hollywood Blockbuster

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

Joseph Le, BFA Graphic Design ‘12, went from shooting his own films to working as an action designer on an international blockbuster with a legendary team. Growing up in Fairfax, Le wanted to major in film, but worried that he should choose a more traditional path. An animation class in his junior year with Professor Gail Scott White in the School of Art rekindled his passion for creating moving stories. Feeling adrift post-graduation, Le connected with friends in the film industry and began working with them, eventually moving into shooting and editing his own films.

As Le’s style developed and his films gained more attention, he became part of the stunt communities in New York City and Los Angeles. This led to Le connecting with his cinematic idol, legendary late 2nd unit director, stunt coordinator, martial artist, and veteran member of the Jackie Chan Stunt Team, Brad Allan. Upon seeing Le’s work, Allan invited him to Los Angeles to shoot previsualization content for his latest project, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.

After working with the film’s team and trainers, Le was officially hired and flown to Sydney, Australia, to work on the set where he developed action sequence storyboards for different fight scenes. Le is credited as an action designer on the film.

Le returned to the United States late in 2021 after working on a new live-action anime film Saint Seiya: Knights of the Zodiac, filmed in Budapest, Hungary. In April 2022, Le returned to campus, sharing his journey and advice with students from across the College of Visual and Performing Arts in a private masterclass, followed by a film screening and discussion that was open to all Mason students.

Pictured from left to right: Brian Le, Andy Le, Simu Liu, D.Y. Sao, Joseph

Still

Joseph Le developed action sequence storyboards for different fight scenes in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.

Left: Reference pose for a wire stunt gag in the bus fight

Photos provided by Joseph Le

Art renewing community

Mason’s Artwork

Transforms Northern Virginia

“Art is essential to a university’s learning environment and invites research partnerships across all disciplines,” said George Mason University Curator Don Russell. A new arts space in Arlington—Mason Exhibitions Arlington at 3601 Fairfax Drive—is one such partnership that is already generating a buzz.

“It’s great to have a really prominent artistic footprint for Mason in Arlington,” shared College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) Dean Rick Davis. Mason Exhibitions Arlington was conceived seven years ago as a jointly operated and funded beyond-the-classroom space that would be for visual arts, small performances, screenings, and meetings.

Beyond the new gallery, the Murals at Mason project (a program of Mason Exhibitions) is bringing largerthan-life artwork to bold and brilliant reality all over town. In the Corner Pocket, a student hang-out spot on campus, sits a mural by Lecsi Pillar, BA Art and Visual Technology ‘22. At Mason’s Potomac Science Center, a mural by artist TakerOne called “Fauna of Belmont Bay” is part of Murals at Mason’s larger eco-consciousness mural series titled Elements and the result of a university-community partnership. In addition, seven new murals grace the walls of Manassas Mall, painted by local and/or student artists.

“For student artists who have never done murals but want to learn, Murals at Mason provides mentorship throughout the project while still empowering the students to learn through the experience,” said Yassmin Salem, BA Integrative Studies ‘20, program manager for Murals at Mason.

“Art at its best can transform the deepest darkest moments of human experience in a way that allows us to approach it,” said Davis. “Great poetry, drama, music does that, and certainly great visual art does that, because we can stand in front of it—it invites us in.”

This mural, entitled “Fauna of Belmont Bay,” is part of the Murals at Mason’s larger eco-consciousness mural series called Elements. Photo by Evan Cantwell

Opposite page (from top to bottom): Mural artist Lecsi Pillar with mural for the Hub’s Corner Pocket Photo by Sierra Guard; Mural artist TakerOne works on mural called “Fauna of Belmont Bay” Photo by Evan Cantwell

Mason Exhibitions Arlington

Photo by Ron Aira

Moving into wellness

Dance for PD® Program Moves to Mason

In fall 2021, George Mason University’s School of Dance shared the transformative power of dance with the Northern Virginia community. In partnership with the Bowen McCauley Dance Company (BMDC), free Dance for Parkinson’s Disease (Dance for PD®) classes were open to the public and offered on Mason’s Fairfax Campus in October and November.

Dance for PD,® a non-profit program of Mark Morris Dance Group, is a movement-based class that begins slowly with warm-ups and progresses to combinations of movements that correspond with a variety of uplifting music. The class offers not only physical benefits, but also reduces the dancers’ social isolation, which is commonly associated with this neurological disease.

The Dance for PD® program is a continuation of BMDC’s priority to continue serving the Parkinson’s community following the conclusion of the company’s 25th and final season in September. As announced during BMDC’s final performance at the Kennedy Center, the Dance for PD® program will continue to offer free fall classes for the public within the Kennedy Center, Maryland Youth Ballet, and George Mason University. Serving participants within the Northern Virginia community, Mason’s hosting of Dance for PD® programming works in tandem with BMDC Artistic Director Lucy Bowen’s commitment to PD resources remaining accessible across the Washington, D.C., area.

Bowen led classes on campus and worked with Assistant Professor Shaun Boyle D’Arcy to incorporate Dance for PD® instruction into Mason’s School of Dance education curriculum, ensuring that the next generation of dancers can carry on this important work. Shaun D’Arcy adds, “Dance serves as such a natural conduit for bringing people together and promoting well-being. The Dance for PD® program has beautifully demonstrated this for years, touching so many lives.”

Participants in the Dance for PD® program take a bow during an event at the Kennedy Center.

Photo provided by Dance for PD®

“ Dance serves as such a natural conduit for bringing people together and promoting well-being. ”

Shaun D’Arcy, Assistant Professor, School of Dance

Participants in a Dance for PD® class at Mason explore movement and music in a class with Lucy Bowen McCauley in October 2021.

Photos by Shaun Boyle D’Arcy Top photo provided by Dance for PD®

Exploring the change

New Guest Artist Series Makes Inclusive Theater a Reality

Knowing that it’s critical for students to engage with their industry while studying at Mason, Djola Branner, director of the School of Theater, created the new program Guest Artist Series: Creating Anti-Racist Theater. The idea: Bring conversations with prominent voices and changemakers in theater to the Mason community to discuss strategies, examples, and success stories.

The 2021–22 series spanned the fall and spring semesters with a focus on exploring race and power in the work of each guest artist. The fall lineup included writer and director Tlaloc Rivas; artist, scholar, and facilitator Omi Osun Joni L Jones; and playwright/television writer Julia Cho alongside playwright/director Chay Yew. Each guest joined Branner for 90-minute conversations that drew Zoom audiences of up to 70 guests. Participants tuned in from across the United States, including guests joining in from Texas, California, Massachusetts, and Georgia.

The spring series brought actress, playwright, and activist Nikkole Salter; playwright, activist, and lawyer Mary Kathryn Nagle; and director, artist, writer, and activist Luis Alfaro. In addition to guests sharing their insights on how to change the industry for the better, Mason students were encouraged to embrace the combination of activism and artistry as seen in Nagle’s plays (she is one of the country’s most produced Native playwrights and an enrolled citizen of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma). Jones and Branner discussed how their work creates space for BIPOC narratives by drawing from a theatrical jazz aesthetic. Alfaro, a Los Angeles native who teaches at the University of Southern California, talked about “looking around the table” to see who wasn’t represented in the decision-making process for theatrical work and then consciously adding those missing people and diverse perspectives into the room. Branner will continue the series in the 2022–23 season, bringing even more insightful leadership into the Mason community.

Pictured from left to right: Tlaloc Rivas, Omi Osun Joni L Jones, Julia Cho, Chay Yew

Pictured clockwise from top: Nikkole Salter, Djola Branner, Luis Alfaro, Mary Kathryn Nagle Photos provided by the artists

“ The idea: Bring conversations with prominent voices and changemakers in the theater to the Mason community to discuss strategies, examples, and success stories. ”

Educating with art

Mason Community Arts Academy Endures and Emerges Even Stronger

In March 2020, as the pandemic shutdown became a reality, Mason Community Arts Academy (MCAA) rose to the challenge with breathtaking speed. Within a week, they reimagined their instruction and moved classes and experiences online. Private lessons and theater classes continued to meet, providing much-needed consistency and a creative outlet for students, as well as faculty and staff, who were learning how to navigate a new version of daily life.

Their fully online summer of 74 programs saw 1,023 students from 32 states and 11 countries, increasing their reach more than they ever imagined. MCAA remained online for the following year, transitioning to modified in-person programs from summer 2021 to spring 2022, carefully adhering to safety guidelines while gradually adding more program options and increasing the number of participants with each season. Following an intricate hybrid model for private lessons and a strategic approach to resuming group classes, MCAA’s resilient faculty and staff welcomed audiences back to theater showcases, music recitals, and an art show in spring 2022, and are approaching prepandemic numbers across all of their programs.

Though outreach programs looked different than in previous school years, through their Instruments in the Attic donation program and the in-kind support of Day Violins, the Academy’s “Gotcha Day” provided over 100 instruments to teachers from local school systems, who were just returning to school and looking to rebuild their music classes. During the summer, MCAA offered 108 programs, working with nearly 1,600 students, while over 300 students attended music lessons. Though it was challenging along the way, their extraordinary faculty and staff have remained resilient, learning and using new technology, while maintaining a standard of excellence in their programs through all modes of teaching.

Helping local arts

Jacquemin Family Foundation’s Gift Supports the Hylton Center’s Future

John and Tracie Jacquemin have committed to a five-year, $1,000,000 pledge from the Jacquemin Family Foundation in order to support the Hylton Center’s building fund and endowment. Serving as a recital hall and community gathering place, The Large Rehearsal Hall has been named The Jacquemin Family Foundation Rehearsal Hall in their honor.

“We are so grateful to John, Tracie, and their family for their transformational support of the Hylton Performing Arts Center,” said Rick Davis, executive director of the Hylton Center and dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts. John Jacquemin is a current member of the George Mason University Foundation Board of Trustees and has formerly served on the university’s Board of Visitors. He is the president and CEO of Mooring Financial Corp., a private investment firm based in Tysons, Virginia. The Jacquemin Family Foundation supports charitable causes across Northern Virginia and the Greater Washington, D.C., region, especially in the fields of education, the arts, environmental conservation, housing, hunger, and early childhood education.

Both John and Tracie deeply appreciate the role of the Hylton Center as a vital gathering place for the region’s arts community. “ The Hylton Center is a real jewel for this part of Virginia,” said John Jacquemin. “Making our support for it visible in this way represents the commitment I feel to Mason after all my involvement with the university.” The impact of the Jacquemins’ philanthropy at Mason extends well beyond the Hylton Center. The Education Abroad Scholarship, established in 2016, provides yearly financial support to students that study abroad. Tracie Jacquemin notes, “It may be only a $1,000 grant, but that money might have paid for their airfare, or given them spending money, so that they could enter the program.” The Jacquemins are also involved with the Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation (SMSC) in Front Royal, where they established a research fellowship to fund PhD candidates.

Photo by Evan Cantwell

John and Tracie Jacquemin Image provided by the Jacquemin

Opposite page: The

Photo by Evan Cantwell

Hylton Performing Arts Center

Robert K. Purks Faculty Enrichment Endowment

The College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) is proud to encourage the continued creative development and expansion of our faculty, offering them time and resources to pursue the interests that energize them beyond their classrooms. Established in 2018 by Robert Purks, a long time Arts at Mason Board member and supporter, The Robert K. Purks Faculty Enrichment Endowment provides perpetual support to further the research and creative activity of faculty in the College.

Grant Winners

Samirah Alkassim, Film and Video Studies

Traveling to Jordan to conduct research for her upcoming book A Journey of Screens in 21st Century Arab Film and Media (Bloomsbury, forthcoming 2023)

Mark Cooley, Art Distribution for his documentary Fighting Indians, which premiered in November at the American Indian Film Institute

Victoria Ellison, Art Attending a workshop on the art of Nihonga—a traditional Japanese mineral painting technique—so she may share one of Japan’s oldest art practices with Mason students

Robert W. Gillam, Director of Music Technology Researching, writing, and sharing electro-acoustic musical compositions that amplify the benefits of National Parks

Peter Kimball, Film and Video Studies Bringing his award-winning American Sign Language play Millstone to the big screen

with on-set ASL interpreters and ASL coaches during the film’s pre-production

Edward Knoeckel, Music Implementing problembased learning (PBL) methodologies in a Music for Non-Majors course and spearheading a pilot study to analyze the effect of implementing the PBL learning style in a music appreciation course at Mason

Juana Medina, Art Integrate the stories, livelihoods, and cultural practices of Zapotec women of Teotitlán del Valle, Mexico, into a children’s book

James Justin Plakas, Film and Videos Studies; Art Merging historic photographic processes with motion picture film to create his multimedia project “Camaro Lucinda”

Justin P. Sutters, Art Attending a year-long leadership training program, School for Art Leaders, hosted by the National Art Education Association (NAEA) in Bentonville, Arkansas

Research Grants

Center for the Arts

Great Performances at Mason: Camille A. Brown and Dancers National Endowment for the Arts Grant for Arts Project

Great Performances at Mason: Cartography George Mason University Office of Research, Innovation, and Economic Impact

Great Performances at Mason: Cartography Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation ArtsCONNECT

Great Performances at Mason: Sphinx Virtuosi National Endowment for the Arts Grant for Arts Project

Great Performances at Mason: SW!NG OUT National Endowment for the Arts Grant for Arts Project

Great Performances at Mason: SW!NG OUT New England Foundation for the Arts National Dance Project

Center for the Arts and Hylton Performing Arts Center U.S. Small Business Administration Shuttered Venue Operators Grant

Christopher d’Amboise, Dance The LIVE Center Mentoring Series Grants for Arts Project award, National Endowment for the Arts

Hylton Performing Arts Center (above) Education Initiative: Dan and Claudia Zanes: Songs of Streets and Sunshine—Brooklyn Virginia Commission for the Arts Artists in Education Express Grant

Hylton Presents: Acrobuffos Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation ArtsCONNECT

Hylton Presents: Ballet Hispánico National Endowment for the Arts Grant for Arts Project

Veterans and the Arts Initiative City of Manassas

Creative Forces®: NEA Military Healing Arts Network

Published Works for 2021–22 Academic Year

Samirah Alkassim, Film and Video Studies

Contributed chapter 13, “Twilight Reflections in Single Frames and Short Sequences,” to the book ReFocus: The Films of Jocelyne Saab: Films, Artworks and Cultural Events for the Arab World

Co-edited the book Global Horror: Hybridity and Alterity in Transnational Horror Film

Angela Ammerman, Music

Published her new book, The Music Teacher’s Guide to Engaging English Language Learners, which includes chapters written by Dr. Charles Ciorba, director of Music Education, and Dr. Linda Monson, director of the Dewberry School of Music

Tommy Britt, Film and Video Studies

Published the essay “Variations on ‘the lonely walk’ in the films of Kathryn Bigelow” in Kathyrn Bigelow: A Visionary Director, a special issue of New Review of Film and Television Studies

Charles Ciorba, Music

Published the article “The Creation and Validation of a Jazz Theory Measure: Implications for Improvisation Education” in the International Journal of Music Education

Niyati Dhokai, Veterans and the Arts Initiative

Published the paper “Music Workshops as a Pathway to Community Engagement for Military Veterans” in Journal of Applied Arts & Health, Volume 11, No. 3 Tele-Arts Engagement Guide in support of Creative Forces®: NEA Military Healing Arts Network (2021)

Heather Green, Art

Published essays as part of the What Sparks Poetry: Books We’ve Loved series on Poetry Daily include “On Camille Dungy’s TROPHIC CASCADE”; “On Dan Beachy Quick’s STONE GARLAND”; “Heather Green on ‘Fable for a Genome’”; “Heather Green on ‘Villains’: Speaking Truth and Nonsense”

June Huang, Music

Published the article “What’s in Your Glinda Bubble? Finding Peace in Performing” in the American String Teachers Journal

Seth A. Hudson, Game Design

Published the paper “A Research-Based Approach to Game Writing Pedagogy” in Transactions of the Digital Games Research Association, Volume 5, No. 3

Carole Rosenstein, Arts Management

Published “Living Cultural Heritage and the Traditional and Folk Arts in the Nonprofit Sector: Data on Scope, Finances, and Funding” a report for the Alliance for California Traditional Arts (ACTA) with Schar School’s Dr. Mirae Kim and Drexel University’s Neville Vakharia; From ACTA: “The study contributes to a small but increasingly imperative body of research on arts and cultural organizations that serve nine underserved communities and communities of color”

SAMIR AH ALKASSIM, FILM AND VIDEO STUDIES

JUNE HUANG, MUSIC

TOMMY BRITT, FILM AND VIDEO STUDIES

Photos provided by subjects

Mason Faculty and Staff Awards

Emily Green, Associate Professor, Music (pictured)

Presented with the Teacher of Distinction Award from George Mason University

Amanda Kraus, Film and Video Studies

Recognized for her 15 years of service at George Mason University

Notable Faculty and Staff Accomplishments

Samirah Alkassim, Film and Video Studies

Participated in the “Globally Connected Dissidence of the 60s and 70s” panel, presenting the work of Jordanian filmmaker Khadijeh Habashneh, for the online Global Women’s Film Heritage Networking Symposium that was organized by the Centre for Communication, Cultural and Media Studies (CCCMS) at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, held from January 10–14, 2022

Participated in the 2022 Society for Cinema and Media Studies Conference Roundtable, “Publishing on and Around the Middle East - Contemporary Directions and Challenges”

KJ Mohr, Professor, Film and Video Studies

Presented with the Adjunct Faculty Service Award from George Mason University

Samantha Sinagra, Academic and Program Manager, Film and Video Studies

Presented with the Exceptional Support Award from George Mason University

Robert Yi, Assistant Director, Art (pictured)

Named one of the top 10 academic advisors at George Mason University for the 2021–22 academic year

Sara Barger, Film and Video Studies

Hosted the DC Student Film Fest (sponsored by the DC Commission on the Arts & Humanities and Women in Film & Video D.C.) at The Wharf on Friday, September 17, 2021, which screened 16 short films by student filmmakers in Washington, D.C.

Lisa Billingham, Music Accompanied her student Bryan Stenson, DMA candidate in choral conducting, to present during poster sessions at the American Choral Directors Association, Southern Region conference in Raleigh, North Carolina

Tommy Britt, Film and Video Studies Had a reading of his script Ashlee Knows presented by the Cindependent Film Festival

Hans Charles, Film and Video Studies

Worked as cinematographer for Bitchin’: The Sound and Fury of Rick James, a documentary of legendary funk artist Rick James, directed by Sacha Jenkins; the film screened at Tribeca Film Festival

Served as the Director of Photography on W. Kamau Bell’s new docuseries, We Need to Talk About Cosby, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2022, and is now available on Showtime

Worked as the cinematographer for CW’s new series All American: Homecoming

G. Chesler, Film and Video Studies

Selected as an advisor in the inaugural ITVS Humanities Documentary Development Fellowship, funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) to support independent documentary filmmakers and advisors working in the humanities

Rick Davis, Dean Wrote the libretto for "Stations of Mychal," a song cycle for tenor, viola, and piano with music by Kevin Salfen, featuring former faculty, tenor Rick Novak. The cycle was performed at the late Fr. Mychal Judge’s home church in New York City as part of the 20th anniversary commemorations of 9/11 and has since had multiple performances

GLEN M c CARTHY, MUSIC

Niyati Dhokai, Veterans and the Arts Initiative

Named one of Diverse: Issues in Higher Education 2022 Emerging Scholars

Shared her presentation on “Expressive Coping Techniques” at the 2022 Virginia Women Veterans Summit

Emily Green, Music

Named a Mason Fenwick Fellow; The Fenwick Fellowship is awarded annually to a Mason faculty member to pursue a research project that uses and enhances the University Libraries’ resources while advancing knowledge in his or her field. Dr. Green’s research project is titled “Musical Practices of Early Black Virginians”

June Huang, Music

Shared a presentation on teaching communication skills through chamber music at the American String Teachers Association Conference, held from March 16-19, 2022, accompanied by nine Mason students: Joanna Zakzewski, Annette Lee, Jaclyn Kitcoff, Crystal Williams, Eddie Adams, Paige Sharkey, Brian Bera, Alex Keitt-Saenz, and Robert Katz

Nikyatu Jusu, Film and Video Studies

Named one of Variety’s 10 Directors to Watch for 2022

Premiered her feature film Nanny in the U.S. Dramatic Competition at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival and received the Grand Jury Prize

Received the first ever Motion Picture Association Creator Award for Nanny; the film was screened at the New Directors New Films 2022 event presented by Film at Lincoln Center and The Museum of Modern Art

Ed Knoeckel, Music

Composed a score for the film Selahy, which was recently selected to be screened at the Bentonville Film Festival in Bentonville, Arkansas

Glen McCarthy, Music

Led a clinic for music educators in Fairbanks, Alaska, for the organization Teaching Guitar Workshops!; also serves as Executive Director of this organization, which helps school music educators start or enhance classroom guitar programs and deliver more music making opportunities to children

Kevin McDonald, Music Presented his research “Hearing the American Civil Rights Movement in the Music of Max Roach” at the annual Jazz Education Network conference in Dallas, Texas

Juana Medina, Art Published the children’s book I Will!: A Book of Promises, which was featured in the Washington Post as one of the best children’s books of 2021

Sang Nam, Game Design

Accepted into the Fulbright Specialist Program to work in Tunisia with colleagues in Le Centre International Tunis pour I’Economie Culturelle Numerique, which is the institution in charge of heritage (sites, monuments, museums, collections, cultural properties) to build capacity in game designing and virtual reality for their teams

Sang Nam and Eric Piccione, Game Design

James Casey, Virginia Serious Game Institute Presented at the 2021 5th UNESCO International Conference on Learning Cities (ICLC) in Mason Korea

Presented a talk on “How Game Communities Will Help Shape Education” earlier this year at Dublin Learning City, an international UNESCO conference

Darden Purcell, Music Presented “Shaping the Sound: Attaining Authenticity in Your Jazz and Pop Vocal Ensemble” with the Mason Jazz Vocal Ensemble at the American Choral Directors Association Southern Region conference in Raleigh, North Carolina

May Santiago, Film and Video Studies

Presented her paper “Queer Authorship, Spectatorship, Gaze, and Sensibility in Horror” at the Final Girls Film Festival in Berlin, Germany

Russell Santos, Film and Video Studies

Served as the editor for Jon Batiste’s music video Freedom, which won Best Music Video at the 64th GRAMMY Awards

Paul Zdepski, Art Completed a solo exhibition covering the last 24 years of his work at the Shenandoah Museum of Contemporary Art

NIKYATU JUSU, FILM AND VIDEO STUDIES

MAY SANTIAGO, FILM AND VIDEO STUDIES

Young Alumni Commissioning Project Award Winners

Juan Megna, Music

2023 recipient of the Young Alumni Commissioning Project Award including $5,000 in commissioning support; the award will support Megna’s new project, titled Trailblazer, an album of original compositions that will build a dialogue between jazz and Afro-Brazilian genres

Carlehr Swanson, Music

2023 Young Alumni Creative Development Award winner including $3,000 in commissioning support; the award will fund her new project Growing Pains, an extended play record of original music, combining the styles of jazz, R&B, and gospel, exploring love, loss, faith, and hope along the transition to adulthood

Kyle Finnegan, Film and Video Studies

2023 Young Alumni Creative Development Award winner including $3,000 in commissioning support; the award will support his new documentary film, exploring the complicated role of MSG (monosodium glutamate) in the United States, as influenced by pervasive misinformation and the uniting love of food across cultures

Meagan Arnold, Hannah Looney, Mike Rose, Film and Video Studies

2023 Young Alumni Artistic Support Grant winners including $2,000 in unrestricted support; the grant will support the creation of Momentum/Memoriam, an experimental music video that explores and contextualizes the group’s grief over the loss of their late collaborator and Mason alum Jason Cortez, BA Film and Video Studies ‘15

Mohammed Saffouri, Film and Video Studies

2023 Young Alumni Artistic Support Grant winners including $2,000 in unrestricted support; the grant will support the development of his first narrative feature film, a deeply personal story about the experience and perseverance of a Muslim-American immigrant woman in the United States

Saffouri’s senior thesis film, Touchline (Khat At-tamass), premiered in North America at the Tribeca Film Festival and was the first Jordanian film and the first film from George Mason University to be selected by the Festival

Touchline also screened at Malmo Arab Film Festival in Sweden, won the Jury Award at the Franco-Arab Film Festival in Amman, Jordan, and was a semi-finalist at Flickers’ Rhode Island International Film Festival

Current Student & Alumni Achievements

Michael Barranco, Music Invited to present his dissertation topic, “The Sound of Metal: Timbral Characteristics of Crash Cymbals, Triangles, and Tambourine” at the Athens Institute for Education and Research 13th Annual Visual and Performing Arts Conference in Athens, Greece

Dominique Bianco, Music Awarded Vocal Jazz Soloist - Undergraduate College Outstanding Performance in the 45th Annual DownBeat Student Music Awards

Eduardo Fajardo, Music Selected to perform for the Marina Piccinini International Masterclasses in summer 2022 in Marlboro, Vermont

Carlos E. Figueroa Dasilva, Music Accepted into the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra Diversity Fellowship Program, which encourages greater racial and cultural diversity in the orchestra field by helping to provide meaningful opportunities for talented minority musicians to achieve their full potential

Stephanie Fuselier, Arts Management Accepted the position of managing director of Joy of Motion Dance Center in Washington, D.C.

Megan Hajdo, Film and Video Studies

Had her film A Clean, Well-Lighted Place accepted by the 2021 Virginia Emerging Filmmakers Festival, presented by Shenandoah University at the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema in Winchester, and was a finalist for “Best FirstTime Filmmaker”

Alexander Hammett, Film and Video Studies

Won the Best Director Award at the Miami Indie Film Festival for his latest film, Tale of Tarot

JUAN MEGNA, MUSIC

Taj Kokayi, Film and Video Studies

Won Next Wave Initiative’s Spike Lee Directing Award, a project focused on amplifying emerging Black artists

Alexandra Kowalski, Music

Received the Paul and Ginny Ebert Horn Studies Scholarship Award

Drake Leach, Theater

Performed in Signature Theatre’s production of She Loves Me! from March 2-April 24, 2022, while a senior at Mason

GaYoung Lee, Music

Won a Gold Medal in the 2021 Grand Maestro International Music Competition; the Grand Maestro International Music Competition, a worldwide competition organized by the Concours de Musique et des Beaux Arts Canada, is judged by a panel of international concert artists, university professors from renowned musical institutions, and experienced pedagogues

Marcia McCants, Music

Performed at the Colour of Music Festival in South Carolina and with the festival at PASIC (Percussive Arts Society International Convention) in Indianapolis

Julie McDonald, Music

Won a piccolo/C flute spot in the Professional Flute Choir for the National Flute Association’s 2022 Convention taking place during summer 2022 in Chicago

Adelina Mitchell, Theater

Originated the role of Ruth in Olney Theatre Center’s world premiere production A.D. 16!, which followed her recent appearances in Signature Theatre’s production of Rent and Round House Theatre’s production of Quixote Nuevo

Alicia Rodriguez, Film and Video Studies

Worked as 1st assistant director on Hess (2021), which screened at the Cannes International Pan African Film Festival and Toronto Independent Film Festival

Nicholas Thompson, Music Joined The President’s Own United States Marine Band in a full-time role, after previously holding the principal clarinet seat with the Lima (Ohio) Symphony Orchestra and the Flint (Michigan) Symphony Orchestra

Dylan Toms, Theater

Performed in Signature Theatre’s production of She Loves Me! from March 2-April 24, 2022

Kristine Tran, Ryan Strong, Music

Awarded The NAMM President’s Innovation Award from The NAMM Foundation, which honors college students who demonstrate excellence in the field of music and who are interested in pursuing a career in the music industry

Alaa Zabara, Film and Video Studies

Selected to participate as a director in the second cohort of the CBS Leadership Pipeline Challenge; the mission of this program is to empower early-career storytellers to step into creative leadership positions and to reconfigure the entertainment industry’s “talent pipeline” to make it more equitable

Zabara’s film Selahy was an official selection of the Bentonville Film Festival in Bentonville, Arkansas, chosen to compete within the festival’s Competition Shorts program

MOHAMMED SAFFOURI, FILM AND VIDEO STUDIES

ADELINA MITCHELL, THEATER

Photos provided by subjects

At Arts Emerging, In-Person Arts Performances Return to Mason

A welcome return to live, in-person arts performances and exhibitions was celebrated on September 25, 2021, at George Mason University’s Center for the Arts. Arts Emerging: A Celebration of Renewal brought more than 300 people to the Fairfax Campus on a Saturday evening for a festive event that pulsed with artistic energy and the spirit of community. Combining outdoor and indoor performances by students, faculty, and alumni including art exhibits, film screenings, hands-on activities, and more, Arts Emerging launched the 2021–22 Center for the Arts season, while also marking the 20th anniversary of the university’s College of Visual and Performing Arts. Arts Emerging raised more than $155,000 with proceeds supporting CVPA student scholarships, Mason Community Arts Academy, Green Machine Ensembles, and the Great Performances at Mason season at the Center for the Arts.

The LIVE Center Mentoring Series Brings Big Dance Names to Mason

The LIVE Center Mentoring Series, a new initiative from the Center for Live Interactive Virtual Education (the LIVE Center) within George Mason University’s College of Visual and Performing Arts, connects some of the biggest names in the performance world to students around the country. The first event of the series featured Tony Award-winning choreographer, director, filmmaker, and dancer Justin Peck on April 25, 2022. The event was produced and streamed live using the LIVE Center’s Window Wall projection technology and Zoom from the National Dance Institute Center for Learning & the Arts (New York City, New York) to participating students at Mason’s School of Dance (Fairfax, Virginia) and the Baltimore School for the Arts (Baltimore, Maryland). The class was moderated by Mason Heritage Professor of Dance and founder of The LIVE Center Christopher d’Amboise. Funded in part by a $10,000 Grants for Arts Projects award from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), this was the first of three events planned for this series in 2022.

Top two photos by Sierra Guard; Bottom photo by Evan Cantwell

Pictured from top to bottom: Dean Rick Davis at Arts Emerging; Dewberry School of Music students perform at Arts Emerging; The LIVE Center class

The Guiding Light and Legacy of the Dewberry Family Shines On

Sid Dewberry, whose advocacy and generosity impacted countless students and helped transform the entire Mason community, died on July 16, 2022. He was 94. The commitments from Dewberry and Reva, his wife of 72 years who died June 14, 2022, created avenues for expanded student experiences and allowed the university to grow its impact and reputation on several fronts, particularly in the areas of engineering and music. Hallmarks of the Dewberry legacy can be seen throughout the university. Dewberry Hall in the Johnson Center on the Fairfax Campus is named for the family, as is the Sid and Reva Dewberry Civil, Environmental, and Infrastructure Engineering Department and the Reva and Sid Dewberry Family School of Music.

Their philanthropy has inspired a new transformative gift from son Barry Dewberry and his wife Arlene Evans’s, which will set the stage for an upcoming capital initiative to reimagine the Center for the Arts for generations to come. This lead gift ensures that the arts at Mason will continue to connect the campus and community with new voices, honored traditions, and lasting memories.

Full details about the Center for the Arts capital initiative to reimagine the venue, as well as Barry Dewberry and Arlene Evans’ leading gift, will be announced at a future date.

Director of Diversity Joins the College’s Leadership Team

Supporting Mason’s continued commitment to creating an environment that fosters, expands, and celebrates anti-racism and inclusive excellence, Director of Diversity Shá Norman (they/she) joined the college in February 2022, bringing with them more than ten years of experience in program administration in education non-profits and higher education institutions. While teaching students performing arts and creative writing across the Chicago metropolitan area, they became deeply aware of the inequities students with marginalized backgrounds faced in education systems. This led to their passion for not only the work of advocacy for equity in education but also administering the programs and support that insulate marginalized students and educational opportunities that support the professional development of administrators, faculty, staff, and program instructors.

Photos provided by subjects

Pictured from top to bottom: Reva and Sid Dewberry; Shá Norman, director of diversity, CVPA

The Artist-in-Residence Program Returns in Person

During the 2021–22 season, the Center for the Arts and the Hylton Performing Arts Center hosted six Mason Artists-in-Residence for a variety of research and engagement activities around the artists’ performances, both on and off all three of Mason’s Virginia campuses. Kaneza Schaal, Sphinx Virtuosi, Camille A. Brown and Dancers, SW!NG OUT, Ballet Hispánico, and Maria Schneider all took part in events welcoming and working with community members, Mason students and alumni, staff, faculty, and students from local elementary and high schools. Aligning with the university’s commitment to expand diversity, equity, and inclusion, many of these artists showcased diverse perspectives and performers, including Sphinx Virtuosi, the dynamic self-conducting chamber orchestra of top Black and Latinx musicians, and Ballet Hispánico, now the largest Latinx cultural organization in the United States.

Harris Theatre Resumes its Rightful Place at the Heart of Arts at Mason

After 18 months of renovations, Harris Theatre reopened for performances. The proscenium theater seats 460 and is one of the most used spaces on campus. The renovation features an expanded lobby, an updated ticket office, designated restrooms for patrons and for performers, a new entrance near the walking meditation garden, and a marquee to announce upcoming performances. “It is CVPA’s busiest venue for student performances, in addition to hosting visiting lectures, panel discussions, and screenings,” said Julie Thompson, executive director for Mason’s Center for the Arts. “The theater’s location on Wilkins Plaza and next to Horizon Hall is a newly prominent spot on campus.” The new garden and the labyrinth found between Horizon Hall and the renovated Harris Theatre, adjacent to the new mini amphitheater that sits on the former site of Robinson Hall, are visual artifacts signaling Mason’s commitment to the well-being of its community.

Pictured from top to bottom: School of Dance students pose with company members from Camille A. Brown and Dancers after a masterclass; meditation garden construction; remodeled Harris Theatre

Top photo by Elissa Loch; Middle photo by Shelby Burgess; Bottom photo by Emily Schneider

Legacy Giving

The College of Visual and Performing Arts acknowledges the forward-looking generosity of the following individuals who have established legacy gifts to support the future of the Arts at Mason.

Mr. Ronald A. Boykin

• Thomas Michael Brawley

Agnes M. Brown Mr. & Mrs. Sidney O. Dewberry

Ruth A. Eaves • Stevie and Gardner Gillespie Linda E. Gramlich • Lee-Ann Heflin • Charles and Shirley Joyce Jerry Long, in Memory of Pat Long • Carol Mattusch • Mark D. Monson in honor of Nancy G. Monson • Mary Ballard Postma and Hans Postma • Ms. Elizabeth C. Price and Mr. Mike Brown • Shirley B. Rice • Jeffrey and Shawn Robertson Dr. Victoria N. Salmon and Mr. John J. Salmon • Darlene M. Scott Inge Wekerle Steiner • Leo and Linda Stoltz • Mildred E. Tasker • Violette Thouvenin Daniel Tucciarone and Thomas Sabal • Captain Robert Warakomsky, USCG (Ret.) and Patricia Warakomsky • James L. and Barbara W. White

Scholarships and Programming Endowments

The College of Visual and Performing Arts acknowledges the forward-looking generosity of the following individuals and organizations that have established scholarship and programming endowments in the college.

Grace Aitel Award Endowment (Strings)

Ms. Susan Aitel and Mr. Jonathan Goldman, 2020

The Beck Foundation Scholarship for Computer Game Design

The Beck Foundation, 2018 Dr. Barry and Velma Berkey Music Scholarship Endowment Dr. Barry Berkey and Mrs. Velma Berkey, 2004

John S. and Judith T. Bland Memorial Scholarship Endowment (Vocal Studies)

Mrs. Robyn David and multiple donors, 1989 Dr. Sam di Bonaventura Memorial Scholarship Endowment (Strings)

Ms. Darlene M. Scott, 1999 Jean Carrington Cook Piano Scholarship Endowment (Piano) C. Barrie Cook, M.D., 1995 Lucy C. Church Scholarship Endowment (Vocal Studies)

Mr. and Mrs. Randolph W. Church, 2003 de Laski Scholarship Endowment (Music, Dance, Theater) de Laski Family Foundation, 2001

The Paul and Jenny Ebert Horn Studies Scholarship Endowment

Paul and Jenny Ebert, 2019 Emerging Artists Scholarship Endowment Linda E. Gramlich, 2019

Fairfax Spotlight on the Arts—Spotlight Scholarship for the Arts, 2005

Fairfax Spotlight on the Arts—Ruth Haycock Endowed Scholarship in Piano

The Honorable Jane Woods and Fairfax Spotlight on the Arts and multiple donors, 2006 Fairfax Spotlight on the Arts Scholarship in Music for the Mason Community Arts Academy, 2004

Fairfax Spotlight on the Arts—The Thomas Galen Scott Memorial in Music Education, 2015 Gillespie Scholarship Endowment

Gardner and Stevie Gillespie, 2019 Heritage Chair in Arts and Cultural Criticism Endowment

Multiple Arts Gala Committee Donors, 1986 Heritage Chair in Music Endowment

Multiple Arts Gala Committee Donors, 1992 Hylton Performing Arts Center Endowment

Multiple donors, 2006 George W. Johnson Endowment and Joanne Ferris Johnson Scholarship Dr. and Mrs. George W. Johnson, 1996 Joanne Johnson Dance Scholarship Endowment Dr. and Mrs. George W. Johnson, 2005 Joseph M. Kanyan Music Scholarship Endowment

Multiple Donors, 2002 Kidd/Stearns Dance Talent Scholarship Endowment Ms. Donna L. Kidd and Dr. Peter N. Stearns, 2018 Howard Vincent Kurtz Theater Scholarship Endowment

Professor Howard Vincent Kurtz and friends, 2008 Kathleen A. Lieder and Lloyd C. Fell Student Scholarship Endowment in Music Performance/ Vocal Studies

Dr. and Mrs. Alan G. Merten, 2006

The Patricia A. Long Scholarship Endowment (Jazz Studies)

Jerry Long, in Memory of Pat Long, 2018 Anthony J. Maiello Music Endowed Scholarship Fund Anthony J. Maiello and multiple donors, 2016

Linda Garner Miller Scholarship Endowment (Dance)

Ms. Elizabeth Price and Mr. J. Michael Brown, 2002 Mack and Paulette Miller Theater Scholarship Endowment Mack and Paulette Miller, 2019

Dr. Linda Apple Monson Music Endowment Fund Multiple Donors, 2011

Dr. Linda Apple Monson Scholars Endowed Fund

Mr. and Mrs. Sidney O. Dewberry, and multiple donors, 2018

Nancy G. Monson Scholarship Endowment for the Visual Arts

Mr. Mark D. Monson, 2013

Joey Noufal Endowed Scholarship (Art)

Vicky Noufal, Martha Engle and Reid Herlihy, and friends and family, 2017

Mildred Elaine Tetsell Parker Scholarship Endowment (Vocal Studies), 2004

Peterson Family Foundation Scholarship Endowment (Music)

Carolyn and Milt Peterson, 2000

Peterson Excellence Endowed Fund for the Arts

Peterson Family Foundation, 2015

Peterson Family Endowed Scholarship in the Vocal Arts

Peterson Family Foundation, 2015

Elizabeth “Buffy” Price Dance Scholarship Endowment

Ms. Elizabeth C. Price and Mr. Mike Brown, 2020

Robert K. Purks Faculty Enrichment Endowment

Robert K. Purks, 2017

Carol M. Robinson and Peter R. Barcher, Ph.D. Scholarship Endowment (Vocal Studies)

Peter R. Barcher, Ph.D. and multiple donors, 2015

Pamela A. Roe Music Scholarship Endowment (Athletic Bands)

David and Pamela Roe, 2008

Noah J. Seidenberg Scholarship Endowment (Art)

Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Seidenberg, 2006

Joseph D. Shirk Memorial Music Scholarship Endowment

Mrs. Jean E. Shirk and multiple donors, 2000

Brower “BC” Spransy Memorial Scholarship Endowment (Theater)

Martha Engle and Samantha W. Engle Price, 2019

Shirley Udelson Memorial Scholarship Endowment (Music Composition)

Mr. Michael E. Udelson, 1997

The Captain Robert Warakomsky, USCG (Ret.) and Patricia Warakomsky Music Scholarship Fund

Robert and Patricia Warakomsky, 2018 Wells Fargo Arts Endowment Wachovia Foundation, 1993

A student from CVPA’s class of 2022 shows off their cap while waiting in line. Photo by Evan Cantwell

The College of Visual and Performing Arts expresses its sincerest gratitude to the following donors who made generous gifts in support of our programs and students from July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2022.

$1,000,000+

Barry Dewberry and Arlene Evans

The Cecil and Irene Hylton Foundation

The Jacquemin Family Foundation

$100,000+ Shirley B. Rice

$25,000-$99,999

Susan J. Aitel and Jonathan Goldman Amazon Web Services

Agnes M. Brown Revocable Trust Lucy Church

Compton and Duling, L.C.

F.H. Furr Plumbing, Heating, Air Conditioning, and Electrical Evelyn M. Kiley

Mrs. Jacqueline B. Mars Carol Merchant Kirby and Peter Kirby National Endowment for the Arts Jon and Anne Peterson Peterson Family Foundation Sandy Spring Bank Seeley Foundation

Dr. Peter N. Stearns and Ms. Donna L. Kidd Bob and Pat Warakomsky

$10,000-$24,999

The Albertsons Companies Foundation Anonymous (2)

Penny M. Barrows, in memory of John Barrows Michael Brown and Elizabeth Price City of Manassas Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metro Area and Andrew and Jennifer Flagel Dominion Energy Employment Enterprises, Inc.

George Mason University Office of Research, Innovation and Economic Impact Mark and Sharon Gottlieb Insight Wealth Management, Inc. ManTech International Corporation

The Mather McAleese & Associates, P.C. McNichols Family Foundation Micron Technology, Inc.

Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation Miller Toyota of Manassas

NDIA

Lola Reinsch

Savant Wealth Management

Sumeet and Joya Shrivastava Stanley Martin Homes Buck and Julie Waters

Inge Wekerle Steiner Living Trust

$5,000-$9,999

Bill and Helen Ackerman Anonymous Sharon and Joseph Apricena

Mrs. Lillian B. Ballard

Dr. and Mrs. Barry Berkey Bowen McCauley Dance Carney Foundation

The Christopher Companies Donald Coulter and Rosemary Enright Didlake, Inc.

Dr. Kimberly K. Eby and Dr. José M. Cortina

Randall and Anna Edwards Fairfax Spotlight on the Arts, Inc. Kilburn and Carol Fulton John H. Foote and Rosamond Tompkins Joyce Goche-Grimes Holladay Properties Brian Jones Clara and John Kelly Limelight Insights by Shugoll Claire Machosky-Ullman and Al Ullman McCarthy Family Charitable Foundation Eric and Kristin Merten Linda and Phillip Miller Mack and Paulette Miller N.V.P. Inc.

NOVEC

Odin, Feldman and Pittleman, PC Don and Sonja Palomaki

The Hon. J. Chapman Petersen and Mrs. Sharon K. Petersen Mr. and Mrs. William Reeder Richard W. Averill Foundation James B. Skaggs Glenn E. Smith

Truist

Daniel Tucciarone and Thomas Sabal United Bank, Inc.

UVA Prince William Medical Center Viventum, Inc.

Wall Foundation Walsh Colucci Lubeley Walsh PC Sherry Watkins

$2,500-$4,999

Anonymous Jerry Archer and KT Archer J. Barrows LLC

Dr. Robert and Mrs. Sheryl Bass Dianne and Gerard Blais Blankingship & Keith, PC Joanna and Richard Boales Anne and John Bolger Anne Caputo Lavern Chatman

Mr. William E. Clayton Joseph and Margaret Contrucci Dr. Rick Davis and Ms. Julie Thompson Mr. J. Matthew Dawson Peter Dickinson and Katie Largent Russell Gestl Stevie and Gardner Gillespie Mr. Steven Golsch and Mr. Jim Nedohon Guitar & Accessories Marketing Association

Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Hamerschlag Thomas and Lovey Hammel, Employment Enterprises, Inc. Linda and Harlan Harber Hardy Insurance Agency, Inc.

Jason Hickman and Sarah Pitkin

Dr. Joy R. Hughes and Mr. Kenneth Lee Shirley Joyce Joseph and Virginia Kanyan Dr. Dennis Layendecker and Mrs. Myriam Layendecker Linda and Buford Lewis Thomas and Pamela Maskey Dr. Carol C. Mattusch and Dr. Richard S. Mason Kathleen McKay

Mr. Val S. McWhorter

Meridian Financial Partners Sarah L. Merten Amy and Robert Moore

Julia Morelli and Dan Rainey Susan and Michael Murphy New England Foundation for the Arts James Noel OBXtek Mr. and Mrs. Rexford G. Parr William and Sandra Pate

Lawrence and Rachel Payne Bruni Peters

Kathryn Pile

Robert and Ida Portland Edward and Marilyn Pratt

The Presser Foundation Norma Jean Reck

Aaron Rodriguez

Steven and Dru Ann Rolander

Dr. Victoria N. Salmon and Mr. John J. Salmon

Diane and Gary Schnurrpusch

Sheron and Richard Seraydarian Marcia and Robert Settle

Mary J. Sherman

Soil Consultants Inc.

Eloise C. Stinger

Leo and Linda Stoltz

Annabelle and David Stone

Luke Torian

Ednamae and John Trevey

Van Metre Companies Foundation, Inc.

Vanderpool, Frostick & Nishanian

Verizon Foundation

Michael and Janice Ward

Gregory and Nicole Washington John and Ann Wheeler

Douglas Whipple and Gabriella Kardos

$1,000-$2,499

Mary Aldacushion

Bob Allen

Jan and Peter Alten American Battlefield Trust

Mr. Robert Anderson III Anonymous (3) Brad Antle

Debra Atkinson Linda Beckman

Jim and Sally Bennett Nadine Bishop Nicole and Kenneth Bland Bert S. Boyd

Leah and Bill Brogdon Buchanan Partners, LLC Zofia Burr

Cameron McEvoy PLLC

Prof. Mark Camphouse and Ms. Elizabeth Curtis Pat and Pat Carroll

City of Fairfax Foundation for the Arts Paula B. Compton Anne C. Cook

Crepe Amour Linda A. Crites

Sandra Cummins-Haid and Allen Haid Jane Daly Gabbay

Steven and Kate Danziger

Louis Delair, Jr. Michael and Alison Dixon

AJ and Joan Driscoll

Brian and Bebe Drummond Marla and Dennis DuBois

Jan Duga

Ms. Debra Duncan

Peter and Lenore Farrell

Robert and Elizabeth Fini Mr. and Mrs. Ronald D. Fleming

Suzanne and Edward Gaffney

Linda and Shelly Gersten MaryAnn Ghadban

Kay and John Gilbert

Bernard and Cynthia Giles-Parker

Glory Days Grill

William H. Gordon

Benjamin and Kristiane Graham William and Jacqueline A. Gravell

Susan Graziano

W. James and Gayle E. Green Sandra and Derrick Grimes

Molly Grimsley

John and Tammy Hanks

Mr. Ronald A. Harris

Kathleen and Michael Havey James W. and Sarah D. Hazel

Robert Hedrick

Alan and Mary Beth Hemer

Alice Darling Heyer

Sam and Lillian Hill

Kathie and Tom Hoerner

Barbara Jacksier and Everett Chasen

Deb Jewell and Greg Hair

Harry and Zoe Poole Foundation

Elijah Johnson

Maryam and Hamid Kasmai

Eileen E. Kennedy

Carol and Bruce Kissal

Ronald Knecht

Komara Financial Concepts

JeanMarie Komyathy

Brian Kreischer and Sarah Maxwell

John and Dona Kreischer

Mr. Kevin M. Lastorino and Ms. Denise Kitay

Mr. Samuel H. Laudenslager

Law Office Of Krista L. Newton PLLC

Dr. and Mrs. Christopher Leet

B. Timothy and Barbara Leeth

Leidos

Mr. John T. Lewis

Literary Managers & Dramaturgs of the Americas Lockton Companies

Jerry Long

Sandra and John Long Jim and Betty Mast Susan and Glen McCarthy Denise and Juan McPhail

Donald Metz

MGN Family Foundation

Ms. Patricia A. Miller

Vince and Carolyn Modugno

Drs. Keith and Linda Apple Monson

Matthew Morris and Shelby Olson

Sang U. Nam

Douglas and Laura Newton

Dr. Michael W. Nickens

Martin and Kristina Nohe Jay and Sally O’Brien

Christine M. O’Hare

Vincent J. Oppido

David Petersen

William and Judy Porter

Mary Ballard Postma

Judith Potock

Prince William NAACP Quantum Search Partners

Red Zeppelin Productions

Sue Reid

Dr. Elaine Rendler-McQueeney

Edward and Nancy Rice Charles and Eileen Ricks Curtis and Lynn Robb

Robert W. Baird and Company Mark and Dawn Roddy Kay and Ray Rongley

Roberta Roumel

Melanie Sams and Thomas Sulek Ken and Joanne Schoonover

William and Pamela Sebesky

Dr. Carol S. Shapiro and Lt. Col. Donald E. Morgan Mark and Andrea Silverman

Mindy K. Sims

Virginia Singh

Judith and Donald Smith

Ms. Marilyn T. Smith

Rosemary and Hugh Smith Walter and Janice Smith

SPARK - PWC Public Schools Education Foundation

David and Kate Strand Frank and Pat Sturgeon Martha R. Sullivan Patricia Swart Jean and Kosmo Tatalias Leslie Thornton Steve Tipton Charlie and Mary Tompkey Mrs. Nina Swan Toups Richard and Wenda Travers Dr. James Trefil and Dr. Wanda O’Brien-Trefil Rhonda and Michael Troutman Eric and Karen Ullman

Kathryn J. Van Der Kamp Alivette and Brinell Vigo Katherine and James Villani Roy and Margaret Wagner Ernie and Diane Wakeham Sally and Ken Wall Ken and Tobi Walsh Maura and Ed Weiner Durie and Donald White Joan R. White Rachel and Jonathan Wist Nancy and Thomas Zacharczyk

$500-$999

The 123 Club

Alan Abramson and Alexander Wilson John and Toni Acton Mr. and Mrs. Gary Allen Anonymous (3) James and Heather Aram Leigh and Michael Baca Susan M. Bardenhagen Bob and Terry Barnes Deborah Beals

Katherine Beyda and Michael Amundson Bennett, Atkinson & Associates, P.C. Dr. Lisa A. Billingham and Mr. James Schober Dr. Reinhardt H. Bodenbender and Sharon L. Wagnitz, RN Patricia Bray and Marshall Groom Melissa and David Broeckelman-Post Drew Brown

Jeanne Broyhill and Joseph Ventrone Mr. Constantine Bugg Joan Bullmer Janet C. Burchard Jean E. Callahan Craig and Kris Campesi Judy Canyock Charles and Annetta Cheek Louis and Gail Chmura Colleen Clokus

Joseph and Jocelyn Colao Donald and Joyce Connery Louis and Patricia D’Alessandro Donna and Jeffrey Davis Patti DeBuck

Peter and Sally DiGiovanni Diane Dubois David and Karen Duncan Mary and Michael Dvoroznak Ronald and Shirley Edwards David E. Feldman, Esq. Mary and Patrick Finnigan Sandy Fletcher

Mr. William J. Forster Alan J. Friedman Ms. Virginia McGehee Friend Carol and Kilburn Fulton Jeanne and Dale Gaddy Robin and Michael Garcia Brian Gilligan and Emily Marciniak Richard and Lynn Greene Steven and Kelly Harms

George and K. Lenore Hart

Mr. Nicholas M. Horner

Amy and David Houser

Selena Hutchinson and Marcus Livingston Mel and Carla Jaranson

Jule Jewell

JL Tree Service

Ms. Kristin Johnsen-Neshati and Mr. Amin Neshati

William Johnson

Christopher and Toni Jones

Mr. Edward Jones

Ms. Joan Kasprowicz Kathleen and John Kehoe

Robert Kelberg and Gertrude Sherman

Mrs. Phyllis Krochmal

Connie and Paul Kyle

Edward Lanpher and June Kronholz Bill and Barbara Lidell

Kelly Loughran

Joseph Magalski, Leanna Giancarlo, and Nadia Alice and Matt Magelssen-Green

Jim Perry and Ann Mason

Matz, Blancato and Associates

Mr. David McCormack and Lisa McLeod

Erin Mclaughlin and Stuart Rosenberg

Alice K. Mergler

Mr. Charles E. Meyer

Mark D. Monson

Joe Morra

Morrissette Family Foundation NVM Contractors, Inc. Cass and Lisa Panciocco

Leonard Pennisi

Mrs. Mary S. Petersen

Sean Porter Ed and Susan Powell

Elaine Pulakos

Stephen Race

Paul and Margaret Reagan

Karen Reedy Regency Ladies Golf Association Joan and Patrick Reilly Eileen and Kara Roberts

Jenn W. Robinson

Carl Rowan, Jr.

Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Seidenberg Erik and Anne Shannon Kathleen and George Shultz Charles and Moo-Lan Silver Patrick and Nancy Snellings

Sylvia Spengler

John Stirrup

Bobby Surface Rachel Swartz Sydrus Aerospace Tai Chi Manassas Troy and Amy Tanner

John Theon Tracie D. Thomas

Armstrong and Krista Tran Catherine and Phil Turcotte

Sally Turner University Mall Theatres, Inc. Mr. Marion M. Wall

Ed and Maria Ward George and Marty Whipple William D. Wides

John and Laurene Wilkin Verbena Williams

Diane Wilson

Adam J. Winsler, Ph.D. and Kathy Preisinger Debra Wisniewski

Janice Sutera Wolfe and James Wolfe Denise and Brian Womble Daniel and Margaret Wotring Philip and Helen Zubaly

Arts at Mason Board

Victoria Salmon, Chair Steven Golsch, Vice Chair

Anne Caputo, Treasurer Joe Catalano, Immediate Past Chair

Annie Bolger

J. Michael Brown

Paul Burke

Lavern Chatman

Ex-Officio Members

Jenna Day

Mason Community Arts Advisory Board

Jennifer Disano Osher Lifelong Learning Institute

Jonathan Goldman Faculty Arts Club

Gardner Gillespie Sharon Gottlieb

Ronald J. Hubbard Jolanda N. Janszewski So Lim

John Mason Tim McEvoy Val McWhorter

Molly Grimsley

CVPA Alumni Chapter

Linda Harber President, Friends of Music

Mack Miller President Emeritus, Friends of Theater

CVPA Faculty/Staff Board Members

Djola Branner

Director, School of Theater

Elizabeth (Libby) Curtis Director, Mason Community Arts Academy

Rick Davis Dean, CVPA Executive Director, Hylton Performing Arts Center

Niyati Dhokai Director, Veterans and the Arts Initiative

Hasan Elahi Director, School of Art

Cynthia Fuchs Director, Film and Video Studies

Adrienne Bryant Godwin Director of Programming

Appointed by the Dean (2021)

Susan Graziano Director, CVPA Development

Lisa Kahn Associate Dean, Academic Affairs

Dennis Layendecker Heritage Chair Professor, School of Music Mary Lechter Associate Director, Mason Community Arts Hyla London Director of Marketing and Communications

Scott Martin Director, Virginia Serious Game Institute

Linda Monson Director, School of Music

Paulette Miller Ida Portland Robert K. Purks

Mark Shugoll

Jay Speer

Matthew Tait Edward Weiner

Eloise Stinger

President, Friends of the Center for the Arts

Sang Nam

Director, Computer Game Design Program

William Reeder Director, Arts Management Program Heritage Chair for Arts and Cultural Criticism

Karen Reedy Director, School of Dance

Don Starr Associate Director, School of Art

Julie Thompson Executive Director, Center for the Arts

John Wilkin Chief Financial Officer, CVPA Robert Yi Associate Director, School of Art

Hylton Performing Arts Center Executive Board

Jason Hickman, Chair

Sheyna Burt, Vice Chair

Rick Davis, Secretary Jatin Ambegaonkar

Heather S. Aram Sheryl Bass

Phillip Bongiorno Ron Carmichael

Joyce Connery Dawn Davis

Seth Hendler-Voss Denise (Deb) Jewell Denise McPhail

Krista Newton Kris Nohe Pat Pate

Rene Stewart O’Neal

Amy Tanner Ann B. Wheeler

Randall Edwards, Emeritus

Carol Merchant Kirby, Emeritus