A Celebration of the Class of 2020
COLLEGE OF VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS Thursday, December 17 | 2 p.m. | GMU-TV
A Message from the Dean Dear CVPA Class of 2020, We celebrate you today. We honor you today. We miss you today. And we are so proud (today and always) of your work as artists, scholars, teachers, managers, and students. Some of you who have been in class or rehearsal with me know that I enjoy playing around with words, and you may have heard this already, so you may skip ahead. But for the rest, linger with me on the word student for a moment. It comes from Latin (the infinitive form is studere), and the original meanings are full of life and juice. When we are students, when we study something, we engage in it with zeal. We are eager for it. We strive toward it. We care about it. I think that’s what artists do too, which is what makes studying the arts such a privilege and a pleasure. We never stop engaging, striving, caring, loving this work. Our zeal is a lifetime pursuit. It’s been our pleasure and privilege to be with you on this portion of your journey as students — in all of those rich and productive senses. Congratulations, graduates! Keep studying! Rick Davis, Dean
CVPA Spring Student Award Recipients Victoria N. Salmon Outstanding Graduate Student Award Sarah A. Fabian, PhD, Music Education Juan F. Megna, DMA, Musical Arts
Class of 2020: Creative, Resilient, Strong
Alice L. Watts Memorial Scholarship and Award Calvin Zubaly, junior, Bachelor of Music
Academic Award Recipients Studio Arts
Sophia Marie Lambert, BFA Margaret Fish, BFA Theresa Elaina Van Dyke, BFA Graphic Design
Daniela Paz Aguero, BFA Aaron Michael Burke, BFA John J. Riley, BA Master of Arts in Teaching Award
Rachel AnneMarie Jenkins, MAT
CVPA Spring Student Award Recipients ARTS MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
SCHOOL OF DANCE
Erin Isabelle Edwards Gaffney Award
Outstanding Achievement in the Major
Tanya Dieudonne, MA
Jesse Ruth Arnst, BFA Mia Chanell Brice, BFA Madeline Michelle Burr, BFA Maya Fedorenko, BFA Madeline C. Hall, BFA Jonathan David Harrison, BFA Kyla Lanae Hull, BFA Melanie Paige Jerome, BFA Veronica Kulik, BFA Sydney Rachel Lastorino, BFA Jovick Pavajeau-Orostegui, BFA Xavier Porro-Harrell, BFA Cordelia M. Roberts, BFA Kelsey Alexandra Smith, BFA
Outstanding Achievement Award
Christina Papanicolaou, MA Leadership Award
Natalie Gelbvaks, MA COMPUTER GAME DESIGN PROGRAM Achievement Award, Academic Excellence
Alexander J. Goldberg, BFA Achievement Award, Design and Artistic Achievement
Ye Sun Kim, BFA Rachel Ann White, BFA
CVPA Spring Student Award Recipients FILM AND VIDEO STUDIES PROGRAM Academic Excellence
Hannah Harmison, BA Alicia Rodriguez, BA Academic Achievement
Adrianna V. Carter, BA Professional Achievement Award
Alaa Zabara, BA Alicia Rodriguez, BA Taylor Alicia Spears, BA Service Award
Nicole Clavel, BA Elisabeth N. Angeley, BA
SCHOOL OF MUSIC Achievement Award, Undergraduate Academic Studies
Philip B. Drembus, BM, Percussion Performance Joi E. Harper, BM, Composition, Voice Nancy-Jane Grace McClain, BM, Vocal Performance Achievement Award, Undergraduate Performance
Jeongwon Bae, BM, Music Education, Flute Robert Esposito, BM, Music Education, French Horn Luke Alexander Ratcliffe, BM, Piano Performance
CVPA Spring Student Award Recipients SCHOOL OF MUSIC, CONT.
SCHOOL OF THEATER
Achievement Award, Graduate Academic Studies
Excellence in Performance
Leigh Pilzer, DMA, Jazz Studies, Saxophone Jennifer Wei Di Nino, MM, Pedagogy, Violin Achievement Award, Graduate Performance
Ga Young Lee, MM, Piano Performance Travis Jay Low, MM, Trombone Performance Christina Phillips, MM, Vocal Performance Achievement Award, Departmental Service
Tomas E. Jackson, MM, Jazz Studies, Piano
Garvey Xavier Dobbins, BFA Kathleen Marie West, BFA Excellence in Design and Production
Marcus James Sharnoff, BA Alexandria J. Wiemeyer, BFA Excellence in Writing and Dramaturgy
Rachel L. Dixon, BFA Julie E. Kashmanian, BFA Excellence in Academics
Tyler J. Shores, BA Kathleen Marie West, BFA Outstanding Achievement in the Major
Mina Maderi, BA Julia Souza, BFA
CVPA Winter Student Award Recipients COMPUTER GAME DESIGN Achievement Award, Academic Excellence
Aiden J. Gowland, BFA Genevieve Elyse Zitzmann, BFA Achievement Award, Program and Community Service
Kirk S. Lindsay, BFA FILM AT MASON Outstanding Graduates
Brianna Cabassa James Lloyd Marcus Phoon Mohammed Saffouri Gavin Thibodeau SCHOOL OF MUSIC Undergraduate Awards, Academic Excellence
Santiago Alfonzo Meza, BA Caroline Schwark, BA Graduate Awards, Academic Excellence
Seika Van Keuran, MM Estrella Hong, DMA
SPRING 2020 ART AND VISUAL TECHNOLOGY Master of Arts in Teaching Johanna Dickson Erin P. Henry Rachel AnneMarie Jenkins Jayney Riddick Vanessa Allison Webb
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Graphic Design Jaime Lynn Cooper Nicole Danielle Starkey
Bachelor of Fine Arts Daniela Paz Aguero Ghadeer Mohammad A Alakeel Jenifer Angela Bardi Alfredo Basurto Aaron Michael Burke Gabriela A. Candelario Sosa Jessa M. Carlos Aja Cenon Nicholas Conor Chipouras Camille Monique Collette Rachel E. Cooper Madeline P. Deveney Dmitri Emil Dwyer Margaret Fish Sydney Dianne Gahr Sabrina Gaytan Amanuel G. Gebre Barbara L. Haskett Patrick Hall Kearney Sophia Marie Lambert Gabriela Paz Marks Christopher James Maxwell Chandler C. Mcgraw Raghib Nadeem Leigh Palmer Humberto Isaac Portillo Jr. Molly Elizabeth Pronko Jessie Pugh Charity N. Richards Kelsey L. Russell Dallas R. Scholten Kasey Jeane Thomas Theresa Elaina Van Dyke Cody Talbert Zanowick
Bachelor of Arts Amanda Arhin Safiyah Benlafquih Tyler Alexander Castaneda Ibraheem Ismail Cattaneo Michael W. Douglas Aseel Khalid Elayan Molly Cochrane Hampel Kathleen Jane Johnson Ashley Grace Kwon
Samantha Kate Loritsch Claudia M. Molina Andrea Beatriz Montes Alarcon Rose Helen Moore Huong Nguyen Vu Alexis Andrea Penater John J. Riley Grant S. Schultz Lexi M. Swager Michael Hebreux Thornton Benjamin Paul Tobin Alaa Zabara Nancy Zheng
ARTS MANAGEMENT Master of Arts Njoud B A Alkharji Jun Chu Jennifer G. Clary Jessica O’Dell Schue Curtis Tanya Genevieve Dieudonne Clara Ruth Everhart Natalie Gelbvaks Mackenzie Elizabeth Girard Katherine Heltzel Christina Angelina Papanicolaou Yuanyuan Qiao Manuela Ines Quintero Fehr Wenqi Rao Claire Logan Renn Marla Schrettner Brianna K. St Clair Meijun Sun Shiyun Tang Yang Zhao Jiayi Zhou Xuan Zhu Yun Zhu Huangmin Zou
COMPUTER GAME DESIGN Master of Arts Kayla Patrice Harris
Bachelor of Fine Arts Marykay Leilani Anhalt Donald J. Arruda II David Matthew William Baptiste Johnny Andrew Bentacu Seth Abram Brett Raymond B. Brynteson Cameron J. Chiumento Sergio Conti Justin A. Cromartie Lauren Nicole Dansereau Julie M. Demyanovich Alison C. Ehmer
Dean Hiroki Eskew Zachary M. Fischer Zachary Taylor Garnett Alexander K. Gifford Alexander J. Goldberg Benjamin R. Johnston Elijah P. Judy Ye Sun Kim Nicholas Joseph Kapp Gabriel Pierre Lewis Ryan M. Lindsay George Lewis Lovett Scott Martin Toeray Christopher Mcclain Jr. Connor J. McNamara Jacob Merkel Vanessa Hope Nicely Christopher Garrett Ohlsson Liam Francis Owen Adam H. Pitts John Forster Riedlin Orlando L. Rivera Eduardo C. Robert Alexander Michael Schaaf Ryan Andrew Schnepfe Evan Michael Spytek Oliver B. Steenman Katja N. Swann Caleb F. Tate Tyler E. Tavaglione Madison E. Telles Xavier I. Toomer Maria Elizabeth Turmel Brayden Duvall Urso Darren Michael Walsh Rachel Ann White
DANCE Bachelor of Fine Arts Jesse Ruth Arnst Mia Chanelle Brice Madeline Michelle Burr Maya Fedorenko Madeline C. Hall Jonathan David Harrison Kyla Lanae Hull Melanie Paige Jerome Veronica Kulik Sydney Rachel Lastorino Jovick Pavajeau-Orostegui Xavier Porro-Harrell Cordelia M. Roberts Kelsey Alexandra Smith
FILM AND VIDEO STUDIES Bachelor of Arts Fabrizio Alberdi Elisabeth N. Angeley Conor P. Armstrong Reinaldo Arzola Sumona Subhasis Banerji Michael Cacciabuado Nicole Monica Clavel Blaire J. Collingwood Leonard D. Collins Elizabeth B. Cornfeld Matthew J. Dempsey Rhyan K. Elliott William Ferguson Summer Joy Fields Hannah M. Harmison Jonathan A. Ibarra Dennis N. Kramer Christopher Stephen Malone Cory Mason Alexandria Tarrant Mcalpine Jacob Morgan Christopher Michael Oakley Christopher Porter Alicia Rodriguez Nicholas Roller Christopher Lee Silva Elizabeth A. Smith Taylor Alicia Spears Avaanti Leela Sridhar Bryan Anthony Steger James Stemple Matthew Vargas Malcom Reydian Pascual Villanueva Mykael D. Wood Alaa Zabara
Shane Dylan Musgrove Anna Christina Sammel David Gordon Singhaus Ruixuan Song Jenete St Clair Zixuan Tang Christian L. Thomas Mengyuan Tong Xuelei Zhang
Bachelor of Music
MUSIC
Maria Purificacion Babb Jeongwon Bae Alexander Stephen Bertke Steven Joseph Blake Elizabeth Bozhich Hayden C. Busby Sheir E. Clark Philip B. Drembus Maya Fisher Nathan J. Graham Joi E. Harper Ross Matthew Hedlund Garrett Robert Henkle Pendar Kordnavahsi Kaitlin Lee Kelian Li Fiona Rose Madigan Nancy-Jane Grace McClain Colson Meeks Talha Sohail Mirza Alexis M. Neff Luke Alexander Ratcliffe Karen A. Smith Zachary Ian Strickland Andrew C. String Thomas E. Tyra Jr. Millicent Vazquez John S. Wehmeyer Wei Xiao
Master of Music
Bachelor of Arts
Evan Montgomery Ayars Zhencong Chen Brandon Paul Ciocco Mark J. Davis Jennifer Wei Di Nino Kari Michele Hart Daniel McNay Hill Tomas E. Jackson Sarah Elizabeth Jacob David James Jacob David Lash Elizabeth A. Leung Travis Jay Low
Marc T. Anthony Matthew I. Cesnik Anthony N. Dass Momina S. Di Blasio Taisha Lee Estrada Kaleb T. Kiracofe Vayla Lorraine Lamarra Kate Lorene Shrimpton Ruihao Wang
Graduate Certificate in Music for Well Being James C. Cantrell
Artist Certificate in Vocal Performance Na Ae Lee
THEATER Bachelor of Fine Arts Daniel Z. Almquist Shelby Claire Baker Rachel L. Dixon Garvey Xavier Dobbins Samuel F. Dunn III Allison Marie Gryder Julie E. Kashmanian David Edward LeRoy Madison Ashley McVeigh Kayla M. Schultz Marcus James Sharnoff Austin M. Shores Kira M. Simmons Julia Souza Lauren E. Sutton Jeffrey Samuel Trent Jr. Kathleen Marie West Alexandria J. Wiemeyer Logan Skyler Williams
Bachelor of Arts Ian William Dickinson Lauren Alexis Fraites Christopher M. Hunt Joohwan Samuel Kim Jared Dean Pugh Tyler J. Shores Joshua Tybias Stout
VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS Master of Fine Arts Wade Phillip McComas
SUMMER 2020 ART AND VISUAL TECHNOLOGY
FILM AND VIDEO STUDIES
Bachelor of Fine Arts
Ian Cox Zachary Crooms Devin Easley Fox Kier Ekaterina Gaetjens Sungtaek Lim Jake Musselman Jalal Reha Andrew Simko Courtney James
Jenifer Bardi John Carter Rachel Cooper Joseph Mccloskey Dallas Scholten Quinton Tucker Emily Waugh
Bachelor of Arts Amanda Arhin Priscilla Concepcion-Melendez Michael Douglas Erika Elias Xiao Gu Ashley Kwon Kathryn Pettus Benjamin Tobin
COMPUTER GAME DESIGN Bachelor of Fine Arts Andrew J Smith Richard E Bolton Jr. Vinh Nhan P Nguyen Samuel Robert Utiger Victoria A Congson Erin M Sobczak Ariel Rymer Phillips Raymond B Brynteson Dean Hiroki Eskew Benjamin R Johnston Alison C Ehmer Eduardo C Robert Nicholas Bryce Garthright Lauren Nicole Dansereau Christopher Day Vanessa Hope Nicely Johnny Andrew Bentacu Jacob Merkel Liam Francis Owen
Bachelor of Arts
THEATER Bachelor of Arts Victoria Stephenson
WINTER 2020 ART AND VISUAL TECHNOLOGY
ARTS MANAGEMENT
FILM AND VIDEO STUDIES
Master of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
Master of Arts in Teaching
Kendall Christine Chandler Yong Chen Wenbo Fan Ying Feng Yixiang Huang Lingjia Huo Xu Jiang Qi Jin Wenrui Jing Chuxin Liao Biying Ma Elisa Anne Pritchard Marla Schrettner Yingying Shi Chuhan Wang Jiaohong Yu Yue Zhang Yaxing Zhao Xueqing Zhao
Richard Arthur Clement Jr Hannah Mary Garnier Sarah Elizabeth Kladler Carey M Wolford
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Graphic Design Janel LeAnne Dillard Natalie Rose Femia Genevieve Nina McKenna
Bachelor of Fine Arts JoAnn Marie Bernardo Hannah A Bumgarner Aja Cenon Alison Elizabeth Coley Edwin Cruz Sebastian J Gallegos Justine Elise Kraynak Jacob R McCloskey Joyce Tiffany Phelps Katherine Lily Ramos Gissela Sandoval Ming Min Wang
Bachelor of Arts Ximena S Abril Villegas Eva M Al Radaideh Allison Jusmin Amaya Emma Therese Anderson Erick Alexis Argueta Anna Micaela Amelia Beyer Cecilia Faye Bigelow Thy Dieu Khanh Bui Alia Adel Elmegary Cameron Langley Hartz Yusra Abdu Hassen Jun Hee Kim Jessica Kim Samantha Kate Loritsch Charis Batingan Mendaros Julie Kim Nguyen Lucas C Pinney Louisa M Ramirez Cindy Ramos Pamela A Ramos Carina S Santillan Michael Hebreux Thornton
COMPUTER GAME DESIGN Bachelor of Fine Arts Joshua Murray-Harris Blow Justin Nicholas Boachie Thomas J Butler III Serina Gorgone Aiden J Gowland Patrick L Hare Ceasar E Howe Dillon Johnson Na Hyun Kang Lucas A Kosinski Jonathan R Leung Kirk S Lindsay Zachary D Moorman Cooper Matthiesen Morse Jackson Blaise Romero Jacob Chaim Sirotta Katelin M Snyder Jeremy Rowe Totten Korbin Andrew Whiteside Genevieve Elyse Zitzmann
Moamen Ahmed Brianna C Cabassa Tamia K Edmonds Summer Joy Fields Courtney Grooms Ali Jalil James Joseph Lloyd Marcus Yip Chun Phoon Mohammed Saffouri Jada Tenee Salter Alyssa M Swaney Gavin R Thibodeau Connor Alexander Weitz
MUSIC
THEATER
Master of Music
Bachelor of Fine Arts
Justin Constantine Paschalides Seika R Van Keuren Ziyue Xu Yao Sun Carson Ellen Kirchner Lindsey Miller Mehrnoush Aghagholizadeh Victoria Malloy Anna Lammers Molly Cheng
Colleen M Kleveno Rachel Robin Sharp Kira M Simmons Josh Vest Mark Zubaly
Music Education Licensure for PK-12
VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS
Kathryn Elaine Carbone
Bachelor of Music Angela Alessandra Estay Massimo Elias Zaru-Roque Brendan M Henry Caroline Higgins Jessica Ashley Camarata Seung Hyun Lee Alexander J Steadman Alvin Jeffrey Paz Macasero Yechan Lim Kaitlin Lee
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate, Theater Education PK-12 Alani Jane Kravitz
Master of Fine Arts Kathleen S Fitzpatrick Kevin Patrick Wallace
Bachelor of Arts Santiago Alfonzo Meza Mark S Evans Jr Joshua Escalante Anna-Christina Cooper Kendall Caroline Lee Schwark Emma Wright Xuying Yan Emily L Mayberry
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Music for Well-Being Clay Douglas Baran
Artist Certificate in Vocal Performance Na Ae Park
View additional College Celebration program details.
Spring Doctor of Musical Arts Leigh Pilzer
Mark R. Thiele
Gerry Mulligan, Soloist: Transcription
The Original Wind Band Commissions
and Analysis of his Small-Group Solos
of “The President’s Own” United States
on “Line for Lyons,” “Curtains,” and
Marine Band
“The Flying Scotsman” Benjamin Ryer Reviving, Continuing, and Transforming: Stylistically Varied Approaches to Klezmer in the Late Twentieth and Early Twenty-First Centuries
Summer Doctor of Musical Arts Christopher J. Redden-Liotta Hugo Distler’s Der Jahrkreis: A Pedagogical Journey Through the Church Year
Winter Doctor of Musical Arts
Lisa Clare Eckstein
Estrella Sejin Hong
The Wind Band Music of Mark
Musical Geometry of Chords and
Camphouse: A Study of Twelve
Melodies based on Atomic and
of His Musical Compositions, His
Molecular Models
Characteristic Sound, and the Inspiration Behind His Works
Photo by Evan Cantwell/Creative Services George Mason University
Stay involved! The College of Visual and Performing Arts boasts an alumni base of more than 7,000 from 50 states and 15 countries. The CVPA Alumni Chapter of the George Mason University Alumni Association offers a suite of career development programs plus a full schedule of events to stay connected with your fellow alumni and academic program of study. We love hearing about your success after graduating from Mason! Be sure to update your contact information and professional accomplishments at
cvpa.gmu.edu/alumni-update.
About the college
The College of Visual and Performing Arts was established to create an academic environment in which the arts may be considered both as individual disciplines and as interdisciplinary forms that strengthen each other. Courses of study in the college are designed to lead students to careers as creators, performers, teachers, managers, and scholars
of the arts, as well as to prepare students for the challenges of a rapidly changing world. In addition to providing strong programs for arts majors and minors, the college strives to ensure that the entire George Mason University student population has the opportunity to experience and study the arts as a key component of a wellrounded liberal arts education.
Administration Rick Davis, Dean, College of Visual and Performing Arts Lisa Kahn, Associate Dean, Research and Graduate Studies Kristin Johnsen-Neshati, Assistant Dean, International Programs & Critical Studies
Hasan Elahi, Director, School of Art William Reeder, Director, Arts Management Program Sang Nam, Director, Computer Game Design Program Karen Reedy, Director, School of Dance
Lauren Wagner, Associate Director, Undergraduate Academic Affairs
Cynthia Fuchs, Director, Film and Video Studies Program
Asma Omarzad, Assistant Director, Graduate Affairs
Linda Monson, Director, School of Music
Dawn Anderson Kelley, Assistant Director, Graduate Admissions and Recruitment
Kevin Murray, Interim Director, School of Theater
Drew Comparin, Undergraduate Admissions and Outreach Coordinator