Music

Web: gmu.edu/departments/music
James Gardner, Chair
Performing Arts Building, A417
703-993-1380

• Faculty
• Applied Music Faculty
• Course Work
• Undergraduate Programs
• Writing-Intensive Requirement
• Music, B.A.
  • Degree Requirements
  • Music Major
• Music, B.M.
  • Concentration in Performance
  • Concentration in Music Education
  • Teacher Licensure (Certification)
  • Minor in Music
  • Minor in Jazz Studies
• Graduate Program
• Music, M.M.
• Admission Requirements
• Diagnostic Entrance Examination
• Foreign Language Examinations
• Comprehensive Exit Examination
• Degree Requirements

Faculty

Professors: Burton (Heritage Chair in Music), Engebretson, J. Gardner (Chair), Maiello, Miller, Smith

Visiting Professor: Sternbach

Visiting Associate Professor: Monson (Assistant Chair)

Assistant Professors: Bullard, Carroll, Kurkul, T. Owens

Adjuncts: Beckwith, Berkshire-Brown, Berger, Casagrande, Cioffi, Hendrickson, Hughes, Ker-Hackleman, Lapple, Longmyer, Lynerd, Maley, McCarthy, M. Owens, Rendler, Rosado, Sourvorova, Simbulan, Taylor

Applied Music Faculty

Bassoon. Douglas Kehlenbrink, Adjunct Associate Professor. B.S. Ball State University; M.M. James Madison University. Former faculty member, James Madison University.

Cello. Robert Park, Adjunct Assistant Professor. B.S., University of Maryland, College Park; M.M., D.M.A., The Catholic University of America; principal cellist, U.S. Army Band of Washington, D.C. (Army Orchestra and Strolling Strings).

Loran Stephenson, Adjunct Associate Professor. B.M., Curtis Institute of Music; M.M., The Catholic University of America; National Symphony Orchestra; former member, U.S. Army Band of Washington, D.C.

Clarinet. Sharon Bonneau, Adjunct Assistant Professor. B.M., B.M.E., Eastman School of Music; M.A., George Mason University; former clarinetist, U.S. Air Force Band of Washington, D.C.

Lora Ferguson, Adjunct Associate Professor. B.M., Oberlin Conservatory; M.M., The Catholic University of America; clarinetist, Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra; Capitol Woodwind Quintet.

Brian Jones, Adjunct Assistant Professor. B.M.E., Florida State University; M.M., Baylor University; D.M.A., The Catholic University of America; former member, U.S. Air Force Band of Washington, D.C.; instructor of clarinet, The Levine School of Music.

Composition. Steve Antosca, Adjunct Asistant Professor. B.A., Tulane University; M.M. Peabody Conservatory of Music of The Johns Hopkins University; Artist-in-Residence, Duke Ellington School of the Arts; Co-Chair, Composition Department at Levine School of Music.

Stephen Burton, Professor. M.M., Peabody Conservatory.

Glenn Smith, Professor. B.A., M.A., California State University, Hayward; D. Mus., Indiana University.

Conducting. Stanley Engebretson, Associate Professor. B.A., M.A., University of North Dakota; D.M.A., Stanford University; Director of Choral Studies, George Mason University; artistic director, Masterworks Chorus and Orchestra; music director, New York Avenue Presbyterian Church; former associate conductor, Minnesota Chorale.

Anthony Maiello, Professor. B.S., M.S., Ithaca College; Director of Instrumental Music Studies, George Mason University; former chairman of performance, Potsdam College of The State University of New York; former associate conductor, McLean (Va.) Orchestra.

Euphonium. Roger Behrend, Adjunct Professor. B.M.E., Michigan State University; M.A., George Mason University; solo/principal euphoniumist, U.S. Navy Band of Washington, D.C.

Flute. Judith Lapple, Adjunct Professor. B.M., Eastman School of Music; M.M., Northeast Louisiana University; former principal flutist, U.S. Air Force Band of Washington, D.C.

Thomas Perazzoli, Adjunct Associate Professor. Philadelphia Musical Academy; flutist, National Symphony Orchestra.

Guitar (Classical). Larry Snitzler, Adjunct Professor. Former student of Andres Segovia (guitar) and Nadia Boulanger (theory); international concert tours; former freelance music producer, National Public Radio.

Guitar (Jazz). Shawn Purcell, Adjunct Assistant Professor. B.M., Duquesne University; premier jazz guitarist, U.S. Air Force Airmen of Note Jazz Ensemble.

Harp. Jeanne Chalifoux, Adjunct Assistant Professor. Artist Diploma, Curtis Institute of Music; former harpist, National Gallery Orchestra and National Symphony Orchestra.

Horn. Edwin Thayer, Adjunct Associate Professor. B.M., M.M., University of Illinois; hornist, National Symphony Orchestra.

David Whaley, Adjunct Associate Professor. B.M.E., Drake University; M.M., D.M.A., University of Illinois; hornist, National Symphony Orchestra.

Koto. Kyoko Okamoto, Adjunct Assistant Professor. Bachelor in Languages, Kyoto University of Foreign Studies; Toho Kinshu Kai (Koto School).

Oboe. Lorrie Berkshire-Brown, Adjunct Assistant Professor. B.M., Arizona State University; M.M., Manhattan School of Music; oboist, U.S. Army Band of Washington, D.C.; substitute oboist, New York Philharmonic Orchestra.

Organ. Celia Amstutz, Adjunct Assistant Professor. B.A., Oberlin Conservatory; M.M., University of Maryland; M.M., D.M.A., Peabody Conservatory; recitalist; Director of Music, Fairfax United Methodist Church; Spivey International Competition winner.

William Neil, Adjunct Associate Professor. B.A., Pennsylvania State University; M.M., Syracuse University; University of Michigan; The Juilliard School; organist and keyboardist, National Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Soloists of Washington, Handel Festival Orchestra, New York Trumpet Ensemble; Director of Music, Washington Street Methodist Church, Alexandria.

Percussion. Kenneth Harbison, Adjunct Associate Professor. B.M., Eastman School; M.M., The Catholic University of America; assistant principal percussionist, National Symphony Orchestra.

Stephen Fidyk, jazz percussion. Adjunct Assistant Professor. B.M.Ed., Wilkes University; M.M. University of Maryland.

Piano. Anna Balakerskaia, Adjunct Artist Professor. M.M., D.M.A., St. Petersburg State Conservatory, Russia; piano soloist and chamber musician throughout the U.S., Europe, South America, and Russia. Former faculty member, Moscow and St. Petersburg State Conservatories.

Joanne Haroutounian, Adjunct Associate Professor. B.A., Trenton State College; M.A., TheAmerican University; Ph.D., University of Virginia; pedagogy author, lecturer, and clinician.

Linda Apple Monson, Visiting Associate Professor. B.M.Ed., M.M., D.M.A., Peabody Conservatory of Music of the Johns Hopkins University; diploma (piano performance), Santiago de Compostela, Spain; soloist, accompanist, and chamber musician in the U.S. and Europe; music director, Springfield United Methodist Church. Former faculty member of Peabody Institute, College of Notre Dame of Maryland, and Northern Virginia Community College.

Anthony Nalker, jazz piano. Adjunct Assistant Professor. B.A. James Madison University; M.A., University of Iowa; Jazz pianist, U.S. Army Band.

Saxophone. Richard Parrell, Adjunct Assistant Professor. B.A., B.M., George Mason University; M.M.E., North Texas State University; solo principal saxophonist, U.S. Army Band of Washington, D.C.

Dale Underwood, Adjunct Professor. Texas Tech University; former saxophone soloist, U.S. Navy Band of Washington, D.C.

String Bass. Glenn A. Dewey, Adjunct Associate Professor. B.M., University of Illinois; M.M., Northwestern University; bassist, U.S. Marine Band of Washington, D.C.; former double/electric bass instructor, Millikin University.

Trombone. Paul Schultz, Adjunct Associate Professor. B.M., North Central College (Illinois); M.M., Northwestern University; D.M.A., The Catholic University of America; Baltimore Opera Orchestra; former trombonist, U.S. Army Band of Washington, D.C.

Trumpet. Dennis Edelbrock, Adjunct Professor. B.M.E., University of Iowa; M.A., D.M.A., The Catholic University of America; trumpeter, U.S. Army Band of Washington, D.C., and National Gallery Orchestra.

Tuba. Roger Behrend (see listing under Euphonium).

Viola. Edwin Johonnott, Adjunct Professor. Former violinist, National Symphony Orchestra. Studied at Indiana University and Illinois University.

Ramon Scavelli, Adjunct Associate Professor. Philadelphia Musical Academy; violist, National Symphony Orchestra.

Violin. Peter Haase, Adjunct Professor. M.M., State Conservatory of Music, Katowice, Poland; postgraduate studies, Moscow Conservative and The Juilliard School; violinist, National Symphony Orchestra.

Edwin Johonnott, Adjunct Professor. Former violinist, National Symphony Orchestra. Studied at Indiana University and Illinois University.

Voice. Carla Rae Cook, Adjunct Associate Professor. B.M., University of Utah; M.M., Boston University; Postgraduate Studies, Manhattan School of Music; winner of national and international singing competitions; performing dramatic mezzo-soprano.

Stanley Engebretson (see listing under Conducting).

Kathryn Hearden, Adjunct Professor. B.M., St. Norbert College; M.M., Performers Certificate, D.M.A., Eastman School of Music; nationally known soloist and concert artist with opera companies and orchestras.

Laura Mann, Adjunct Professor. B.M., M.M., Eastman School of Music; D.M.A., University of Maryland; international opera, concert, and recording artist with European and North American opera companies and orchestras.

Patricia Miller, Professor. B.M., Boston University; M.M., New England Conservatory; Artist Diploma, Accademia di Santa Cecilia (Rome); Advanced Vocal Studies, Mozarteum, Salzburg, Austria; international opera, concert, and recording artist with North American, South American, and European opera companies and orchestras.

Anastasios Vrenios, Adjunct Associate Professor. B.M., University of the Pacific; M.M., Indiana University; soloist and recording artist, U.S. and European orchestras and opera companies.

Debby Wenner, Adjunct Assistant Professor. B.S., Frostburg State College; M.M., George Washington University; Graduate Work, West Virginia University, The Catholic University of America; former member, Metropolitan Opera Apprentice Program; performing mezzo-soprano.

Course Work

The Music Department offers all course work designated MUSI in the "Course Descriptions" chapter of this catalog.

Undergraduate Programs

The two undergraduate degree programs offered through the Department of Music, the Bachelor of Arts in Music and the Bachelor of Music, prepare students for graduate work in music and music literature, for research and professional work in musical activities, and for state licensure (certification) to teach vocal/choral or instrumental music on the elementary and secondary school levels.

Through its strategic plan, Music Outreach and the Teaching Professions, the Department of Music enables students to pursue worthwhile vocational goals as teachers, performers, conductors, and composers. The department also seeks to educate its students to reflect a concern for cultural and humanistic values as future ambassadors and advocates of music and the other arts. Through innovative learning experiences, the department provides all students in the B.A. and B.M. programs with opportunities to become effective musicians, teachers, and advocates of music. Teaching music is the principal area in which students can find employment in the private studios, public and private schools, academies, and higher education within the ever-changing workplace. Because of this, all music majors at George Mason receive some training in the teaching of music.

The Department of Music also recognizes the critical outreach role it provides in serving students from all majors as well as members of the community who significantly benefit from the values and experiences of an education in music. The department seeks to provide unique educational opportunities through its various course offerings, workshops, presentations, and performances for those seeking music enrichment.

Entrance to all music degree programs is by audition. Arrangements for an audition must be made in advance by contacting the Department of Music before the scheduled audition date. Auditions are held in November, January, and March through August (normally on the first Monday of each month except for January and August, when dates are scheduled during the university registration period).

A fundamentals of music test is given during the first week of classes to all students enrolled in MUSI 115 (Theory I). This test consists of the following: standard musical notation in treble and bass clefs; key signatures; all intervals up to a perfect octave; and all major, natural minor, harmonic minor, and melodic minor scales (ascending and descending).

Competency placement tests are required of all transfer students who desire to present transfer credit in any of the following areas: sight singing, ear training, and keyboard skills, including keyboard harmony.

Writing-Intensive Requirement

The university requires all students to complete at least one course designated "writing intensive" in their majors at the 300 level or above. Students majoring in music may fulfill this requirement by successfully completing one of the following: MUSI 331, 332, 431, or 432. Students who transfer all of these courses into George Mason may be required to repeat one of them or to enroll in some other suitable course in order to fulfill the writing intensive requirement.

Music, B.A.

Students pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree must complete a general education program as outlined below. This distribution enables students to develop a breadth of knowledge as well as the necessary skills to make the in-depth study of a major truly meaningful. In addition to general education requirements, students must also either demonstrate intermediate-level proficiency in one foreign language or complete a minor program. A minimum of 53-54 credits in music course work is required for the music major. A total of 120 credits are required for the B.A. in Music.

Degree Requirements

Music Major

¹ Certain general education requirements may be satisfied with courses in the major which would reduce the total number of credits.

² Students whose major instrument is a keyboard instrument must substitute Techniques of Accompanying I and II for Keyboard Skills I and II. They must take Keyboard Skills III or earn credit-by-examination by successfully passing the appropriate competency placement examination.

³ Students whose major instrument is voice must earn 4 credits in University Chorale, Symphonic Chorus, and/or Chamber Singers. Students whose major instrument is an orchestral string instrument must earn 4 credits in Symphony Orchestra, and students whose major instrument is a wind or percussion instrument must earn 4 credits in Symphony Orchestra, Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, or Jazz Ensemble. Students whose major instrument is the piano, harpsichord, organ, or guitar must earn 4 credits in large ensembles: University Chorale, Symphonic Chorus, Chamber Singers, Symphony Orchestra, Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, or Jazz Ensemble. Transfer students must earn at least two ensemble credits at George Mason.

⁴ All students who enroll as freshmen must take MUSI 300 for 5 semesters. Transfer students must take MUSI 300 each semester they are enrolled (excluding the Internship in Music Education semester) up to a maximum of 5 semesters. A grade of "S" (Satisfactory) must be earned each semester.

Music, B.M.

A total of 120 credits are required for the Bachelor of Music degree. Admission to a concentration normally occurs at the end of the sophomore year.

Concentration in Performance

⁶ Students whose major instrument is a keyboard instrument must substitute Techniques of Accompanying I and II for Keyboard Skills I and II. They must take Keyboard Skills III or earn credit-by-examination by successfully passing the competency placement examination.

⁷ Students whose major instrument is voice must earn 8 credits in University Chorale, Symphonic Chorus, and/or Chamber Singers. Students whose major instrument is an orchestral string instrument must earn 8 credits in Symphony Orchestra, and students whose major instrument is a wind or percussion instrument must earn 8 credits in Symphony Orchestra, Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, or Jazz Ensemble. Students whose major instrument is piano, harpsichord, organ, or guitar must earn at least 4 credits in large ensembles: University Chorale, Symphonic Chorus, Chamber Singers, Symphony Orchestra, Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, or Jazz Ensemble. Transfer students must earn at least two ensemble credits at George Mason University.

⁸ All students who enroll as freshmen must take MUSI 300 for 5 semesters. Transfer students must take MUSI 300 each semester they are enrolled (excluding the Internship in Music Education semester) up to a maximum of 5 semesters. A grade of "S" (satisfactory) must be earned each semester.

Concentration in Music Education

Virginia Licensure (Certification) to Teach

The music education concentration is approved by the Virginia State Department of Education and administered through the Graduate School of Education, which is accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). Minimum scores on the Praxis I & II tests must be achieved before state licensure can be granted.

To complete the concentration in music education, a student must satisfy the following requirements:

• Be formally accepted into the music education concentration by the departmental Music Teacher Education Committee when
  • a. 45 to 60 credits have been earned
  • b. Sight Singing and Ear Training II, Keyboard Skills III, and Theory III have been completed with a grade of C or better and
  • c. scores have been submitted for the Praxis I (Reading, Writing, and Mathematics) tests to the Music Teacher Education Committee. It is strongly recommended that students take the Praxis I tests as soon as ENGL 302 and a course in literature and mathematics have been completed
• Maintain an overall GPA of 2.800 in all course work done at George Mason University and in course work done at all institutions of higher learning combined
• Earn no grade lower than a C in music and in professional education courses needed for graduation
• Successfully pass sight singing, ear training, keyboard, and conducting proficiency examinations during the first music methods course (MUSI 461, 463, 464, or 466). Students in the voice emphasis must also pass a voice proficiency examination, and students in the instrumental emphasis must pass a musical instrument fingering proficiency examination during the first music methods course
• Complete all course work in the program sequence
• Upon completion of the above, do 15 weeks of a full-time internship (student teaching). Applications for placement, subject to approval of the Music Teacher Education Committee, are submitted to the Office of Teacher Education at the beginning of the previous semester
• Pass the Praxis II (Music: Content Knowledge) test during the internship semester (student teaching)

¹ Certain general education requirements may be satisfied with courses in the major which would reduce the total number of credits.

⁶ Students whose major instrument is a keyboard instrument must substitute Techniques of Accompanying I and II for Keyboard Skills I and II. They must take Keyboard Skills III or earn credit-by-examination by successfully passing the competency placement examination.

⁸ All students who enroll as freshmen must take MUSI 300 for 5 semesters. Transfer students must take MUSI 300 each semester they are enrolled (excluding the Internship in Music Education semester) up to a maximum of 5 semesters. A grade of "S" (satisfactory) must be earned each semester.

⁹ Students who wish to concentrate in music education must successfully pass sight singing, ear training, keyboard, and conducting proficiency examinations during their first music methods course (MUSI 461, 463, 464, or 466). Students in the voice emphasis must also pass a voice proficiency examination during their first music methods course, and students in the instrumental emphasis must pass a musical instrument fingering proficiency examination during the first music methods course.

¹⁰ Students in the instrumental emphasis whose major instrument is something other than a band or orchestral instrument must earn a minimum of 6 additional credits of undergraduate private music instruction (or the equivalent) on such an instrument, the actual number to be determined by an audition committee. Students in the vocal/choral emphasis whose major instrument is a band or orchestral instrument must earn a minimum of 6 additional credits of undergraduate private music instruction (or the equivalent) in either voice, piano, organ, harpsichord, or guitar, the actual number to be determined by an audition committee.

¹¹ Students whose major instrument is voice, piano, harpsichord, organ, or guitar must earn 6 credits in University Chorale, Symphonic Chorus, and/or Chamber Singers. Students whose major instrument is an orchestral string instrument must earn 6 credits in Symphony Orchestra, and students whose major instrument is a wind or percussion instrument must earn 6 credits in Symphony Orchestra, Symphonic Band, and/or Wind Ensemble. For students in the instrumental emphasis whose major instrument is something other than a band or orchestral instrument, 4 of the 6 required ensemble credits must be earned in Symphony Orchestra, Symphonic Band, and/or Wind Ensemble. For students in the vocal/choral emphasis whose major instrument is a band or orchestral instrument, 4 of the 6 required ensemble credits must be earned in University Chorale, Symphonic Chorus, and/or Chamber Singers. Transfer students must earn at least two ensemble credits at George Mason University.

Teacher Licensure (Certification)

Undergraduate students seeking licensure (certification) to teach vocal/choral or instrumental music on the elementary and secondary levels must earn the Bachelor of Music degree as specified under Concentration in Music Education. Students who have earned a baccalaureate degree and who are seeking state licensure (certification) to teach music must also complete this sequence of courses, which constitute a state-approved program for teacher education in music.

Minor in Music

All music minors must pass a music audition. Music minors in the keyboard area use the Keyboard Skills I credit as a music elective.

Minor in Jazz Studies

This minor is open to music and non-music majors who wish to explore America's unique art form. It is open to all instrumentalists and vocalists, including students who perform on instruments not normally associated with jazz. No prior experience in jazz is needed, but candidates must pass a music audition. Jazz studies minors in the keyboard area use the Keyboard Skills I credit as a music elective.

¹⁵ All students who enroll as music minors and jazz studies minors must take MUSI 300 for 2 semesters. A grade of "S" (Satisfactory) must be earned each semester.

Graduate Program

Music, M.M.

The expansion of professional education in the arts is paramount for the growth and development of a rich and vital cultural community and a supporting network of individual artists. The dynamics of contemporary society suggest that the impact of the arts on public life will continue to expand well into the 21st century. Each year, opportunities increase for creative work by performers, composers, sculptors, painters, dancers, actors, historians, theoreticians, and musicologists.

The Master of Music is offered as an educational channel to meet the intellectual and career needs of qualified students. It is a comprehensive and advanced program of study with a choice of concentrations in performance (single or multiple instruments), music education, composition, and conducting. The M.M. with a concentration in music education does not provide licensure to teach music in public or private schools.

Admission Requirements

In addition to fulfilling the admission requirements for graduate study, the applicant is expected to hold a baccalaureate degree in music or in another discipline with courses equaling the music requirements (minus the seven- to eight-credit teaching sequence) for the Bachelor of Arts in Music offered at George Mason.

The following admission requirements must also be met:

1. Performance: Audition (single or multiple instruments)

2. Conducting: Audition

3. Composition: Submission of a portfolio of compositions

4. Music Education: Submission of a two- to three-page paper on the applicant's philosophy of music education

Diagnostic Entrance Examination

All new graduate students are required to take an entrance examination to demonstrate competence in music history, music theory, and general musicianship. The examination is offered during a three-hour period normally on the Saturday before the first day of classes of the fall and spring semesters. All sections of the examination must be passed prior to graduation.

Foreign Language Examinations

(Vocal Performance Emphasis)

Students in the M.M. degree program (emphasis in vocal performance) must take proficiency exams in French, German, Italian, and English to prove diction competency. Students who do not pass the Italian or English diction test are required to take MUSI 525 Performance Seminar for Singers and Accompanists I. Students who do not pass the French or German diction test are required to take MUSI 526 Performance Seminar for Singers and Accompanists II.

Comprehensive Exit Examination

All students completing the M.M. in Music are required to pass a comprehensive exit examination administered during the graduation semester or, in the case of students selecting the thesis option in the music education concentration, upon completion of 24 credits of course work and immediately before beginning work on the thesis. August graduates must take this examination during the preceding spring term. This exam normally consists of a one-hour oral examination, and the questions are based primarily on the courses the student has taken at George Mason University.

Degree Requirements

A student must successfully complete 30 credits in graduate music courses. With the approval of the department, 3 nonmusic graduate credits may be taken.

The student must satisfy the following requirements:

The number of students accepted in the graduate conducting concentration is limited by the extent to which it is possible to provide students with practical experience in conducting. In most cases, each student accepted is offered an opportunity to gain conducting experience by serving as assistant conductor of a George Mason University ensemble.