News

The annual Grand Piano Celebration at George Mason University, always dedicated to the joy of music, this year celebrated something more: the spirit of generosity embodied by Sidney O. Dewberry, in whose honor the school was recently renamed.

(FAIRFAX, VA) George Mason University’s Reva and Sid Dewberry Family School of Music presents A Song of Freedom: Featuring World Premieres by Evelyn Simpson-Curenton and Michael W. Nickens, Saturday, May 8 at 8:00 p.m. as part of Mason Arts at Home. The concert celebrates unity and resilience in the face of division and uncertainty and showcases works by Black composers as well as selections inspired by the African-American experience.

George Mason University’s School of Music will be renamed the Reva and Sid Dewberry Family School of Music, in honor of the Dewberrys’ lifetime legacy of giving and generous support of the school. The decision was approved unanimously at the Feb. 27 Board of Visitors meeting.

Patricia Miller has been awarded the John Toups Presidential Medal for Excellence in Teaching from George Mason University. The medal is presented to a faculty member whose teaching exemplifies the university's commitment to ongoing innovation and excellence in delivering transformative learning experiences.

The Washington Post's story on how the School of Music became an All-Steinway school thanks to Sid Dewberry.

As a music instructor and a renowned conductor of symphony and opera, Richard Weilenmann dedicated his life to music and to developing young artists—building an enduring legacy over half a century of professional life.

If you were one of the nearly 40 million people who tuned in to President Joseph R. Biden’s Inauguration on January 20, 2021, chances are you enjoyed a significant amount of patriotic American music throughout the televised event.