This Spring, we are thrilled to bring you a new Steel (Pan) Band Percussion Ensemble for high school and middle school students, led by Academy percussion faculty and Mason School of Music Graduate candidate David Singhaus. Repertoire will focus on the traditional “music of the islands” such as calypso and soca, but will also explore jazz, pop and classical arrangements!

David Singhaus, who is currently studying under Mason School of Music Steel Pan Faculty Victor Provost,  brings a wealth of passion and experience to the classroom.

“I have a rich experience with the Steel Pan instrument,” explained Mr. Singhaus, “having learned how to play in my high school steel band at Dover High School (in Ohio), continuing to master the instrument at The University of Akron, and now studying and performing at George Mason University as part of my Graduate program. I have also traveled to the island of Trinidad to perform with the group known as the Nutrien Silver Stars Steel Orchestra to learn from the best of the best in the field. It was there that I performed for Panorama, the National Steel Band Festival, and also during Carnival. The positivity and pride I experienced gave me a new insight and mindset in how I approach the instrument, and I try honor those who helped the instrument become the success is has become today!”

View an example of steel pan performance from the University’s Steel Pan Ensemble:

The types of music associated with the steel pan are calypso and soca. Calypso is the folk music of Trinidad and Tobago, and it’s style comes from West African Kaiso rhythms and Western European harmonies from the French. Many of the singers, known as calypsonians, would often use the music as social commentary, singing about a wide variety of subjects such as the government, international events, or most often about Carnival. Carnival, known in the US as Mardi Gras, is a religious celebration that takes place before Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent. Out of Calypso came the music of soca, which is short for “Soul of Calypso.” Created by Lord Shorty in the 1970’s, it was created to bring together the African and Indian populations on the island by using musical rhythms from their respective cultures. It was also meant to bring the younger generations back to listening to traditional calypso music.

“Students can expect to experience something that is totally different from their usual music programs at their schools,” said Mr. Singhaus. “Steel pan has a magic that brings about the most positive emotions and attracts everyone around it. Whether it’s the signature sound of the instrument or it’s look, I have never seen a person who doesn’t have a smile on their face when listening or playing. There is nothing like it in the world today, and it’s a one of kind experience that will positively impact students for years to come, as it did for me all those years ago!”

While calypso and soca are most often associated with steel pan, the instrument is capable of performing multiple genres of music. One of the most popular genres pan has crossed over into is jazz, thanks to the likes of Andy Narell and George Mason’s own Victor Provost. They can perform funk tunes, rock and roll, and the steel band is also capable of performing full arrangements of classical music by Mozart, Bach, and Beethoven.

The Spring 2019 class will meet on Sundays, beginning in March, at the Performing Arts Building on the Mason Fairfax campus. The ensemble will present a festive performance at the end of the session for all to enjoy. Grab your mallets and sign up today!

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE STEEL BAND ENSEMBLE AND REGISTER

Pictured above: Madison Perry

Academy Voice Teaching Artist Jennifer Keller has a thriving private lesson studio of hard-working vocal students. Like a proud parent, she wanted to share some of their accomplishments from this past year, including audition and competition achievements.

“I wanted to pass this list along with some student pics as kudos from my studio so far this year,” gleamed Ms. Keller, who is a Mason School of Music alum. “They are doing so well, and I am so proud to be a part of their musical journeys!”

Madison Perry, a Junior at Saint John Paul the Great Catholic HS, auditioned and gained a spot in the 2018 All Virginia choir this past April. Because she qualified for All State, Madison had the opportunity to audition for the National Association for Music Educators (NAfME) All National Honors Ensemble (Mixed Choir). Madison was awarded a spot in the 120-person High School choir with her peers from around the country. The All National Honors Ensembles consisting of top music students in Mixed Choir, Jazz, Symphony and Concert band,  performed at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort on November 28, 2018. Madison recently also auditioned for and made it to the 2nd round of the Annual Classical Singer National Competition (High School Division) being held in May 2019 in Chicago IL. She also just got the lead in her school production of Cinderella, and she was recently notified that she made it to the second round of the Orpheus High School Vocal Competition!

Esther Anderson is part of the Robinson Singers at Robinson Secondary School, and she participated in their annual Major Works performance of Dan Forrest’s Jubilate Deo a few weeks ago. She practiced for it since before school started in August, and the performance included a full orchestra, a harpist, and an organist.

Pictured above: Esther Anderson

Ben Carroll was cast as Egbert in the Acting For Young People (the Academy’s theater program) production of Twinderella.

Teddy Carroll was cast as King Roger in the Acting For Young People production of Twinderella.

Tanvi Breinig, a student at W.T. Woodson High School, has attended District chorus the last three years, attended All State chorus for two years, and participated in the Washington National Opera Young Associates program where she sat in on rehearsal observations of the Washington National Opera. She is frequently chosen to perform in special concerts.

Sophia Julius performs with the Louise Archer ES chorus and the Girl Scouts chorus, and participated in the National Christmas Tree Pageant of Peace.

Congratulations to all of these wonderful students – your hard work and dedication are paying off! (And thank you Jennifer for spreading the news!)

LEARN MORE ABOUT PRIVATE LESSONS AT THE ACADEMY

The Associated Chamber Music Players (ACMP) will host a livestream chamber music class featuring the Catalyst Quartet on Saturday, February 16, 2019. Chamber players and students of all ages and levels can gain tips and insights into playing technique and interpretation through the study of specific works in this FREE online event.

Participate in groups, ensembles, or individually on your computer and mobile devices, and engage with the class throughout the session (2:30-4:30PM EST) via a live chat feed on Facebook, connecting with the event and each other. Online participants experience the session as if they were in the room.

Studying Debussy’s String Quartet in G Minor, Op.10 and Nepomuk’s Dances I – Arrival, a lively and accessible piece by Brazilian-American composer Marcelo Zarvos, Catalyst Quartet will work with two talented learning quartets at the National Opera Center in New York. A multi-camera crew from VirtualArtsTV will deliver every detail of the workshop in a close-up, real-time high-quality stream to players everywhere. The program ends with a performance by Catalyst Quartet featuring selections from Villa-Lobos’s String Quartet No. 1 and Catalyst Quartet’s arrangement of Piazzolla, Angel Suite.

The Catalyst Quartet

ACMP provided a generous sponsorship last year to one of the Academy’s chamber-centric summer music programs, Ovations Summer Strings Academy (Summer 2019 is now open for registration!), and we look forward to working with them again in the future.

Take advantage of this great – and free – opportunity!

LEARN MORE AT ACMP’S WEBSITE