In This Story
In the hilltown of Perugia, Italy, the streets fill each summer with the sound of jazz. This July, that sound included the George Mason University Jazz Combo, performing before hundreds of festivalgoers at the world-renowned Umbria Jazz Festival.
“Absolutely thrilling,” said Dr. Darden Purcell, Director of Jazz Studies. “To be included at such a prestigious festival with so much history and legacy—it was truly an honor of a lifetime.”
For the students on stage, the experience brought their work into sharper focus. Standing in Perugia among some of the world’s greatest musicians, they saw firsthand how far their music—and their education—could take them.
That journey began months earlier, after the Mason Jazz Vocal Ensemble performed at the 2024 Jazz Education Network conference. Following the performance, Purcell was approached by a representative who organizes international tours for schools and believed George Mason would be a perfect fit for Umbria Jazz.
“The Umbria Jazz Festival is one of the largest European jazz festivals and is over fifty years old, starting in 1973,” Purcell explained. “Major jazz artists have performed there, including Miles Davis, Wynton Marsalis, Wayne Shorter, Sarah Vaughan, Samara Joy, and the list goes on and on. This is a performance of a lifetime for our students for sure! We performed on the Novembre IV stage to hundreds of festival goers.”
Planning took 18 months, with Purcell working closely with Global Gurus to coordinate logistics. “Dr. Shawn Purcell was the ensemble director, and he rehearsed the group for the entire year, choosing music with the students, setlists, soloists, etc. It was truly a group effort!”
Students auditioned early in the academic year to join the ensemble, which they named “Combo Italia.” Starting in September, they rehearsed every week, preparing for four performances across Italy, including stops in Siena, Ancona, and the Lago di Bracciano region.
The gravity of performing at Umbria Jazz wasn't lost on the students. “Umbria Jazz Fest is a world-class festival and celebration of jazz music,” said student Adam Lenahan. “Some all-time greats of this music have and will perform at Umbria Jazz Festival!”
For Purcell, seeing her students share a lineup with artists like Herbie Hancock, Samara Joy, and Diane Reeves was a milestone for the entire Mason Jazz program. “Performing at the Umbria Jazz Festival—as only one of five school groups on the Novembre IV stage—is extremely special and helps put George Mason Jazz on the international stage,” she said.
Lenahan added, “It means the world to me, a Mason student! Traveling the world and getting to perform this music is an aspiration of mine. To get to experience that while still in college was an amazing opportunity!”
Between performances, students immersed themselves in Italian history and culture. “Experiencing the European culture, history, art, cuisine—really everything about this trip was impactful,” Purcell said. “The students visited museums in Florence and Vatican City. They walked around the Colosseum and visited a 12th-century Medieval town, Sienna. We even visited a winery and olive oil farm in the beautiful Tuscany region and learned how they make olive oil. I just can't speak enough about the wonderful Italian culture!”
“The culture in Europe puts into perspective how new America is,” added Lenahan. “In America, an old building has been standing since 1770, and in Italy, an old building has been standing since 70.”
Through every city and performance, students lived out what Mason encourages—learning by doing, connecting through art, and finding community wherever they go.
“Being a 'road warrior' (as we call it) is tough,” Purcell said. “You are dragging bags from hotel to hotel and enduring long bus rides. Then, within an hour or so in the new town, you have to get on stage and perform. It is not easy! Our students were top notch professionals from day one and they just continued to get better with each performance.”
Student Stephen Cottis reflected, “Traveling to Italy reminded me of everything I love about music. The community and bond that existed between performers is something I constantly chase. We shared musical ideas, fed off each other's energy, and delivered a strong product for our audiences.”
“This was the BEST group to travel with!” Purcell said. “The students rolled with everything that came their way and grew much stronger for it! Jim and Janette Carroll and Ed and Maura Weiner also went on this trip, and it was such a bonding experience.”
For Purcell, that camaraderie was one of the most meaningful parts of the experience. “There was no 'I' with this group of beautiful students,” she said. “That is what the music business is all about. It is a tough career, and you've got to have friends.”
Faculty member James Carroll shared that same sentiment: “I was honored to join the tour of Italy with Jazz Faculty and Students, thoughtfully organized by Dr. Purcell, which included a meaningful visit to the American WW II Cemetery in Florence. The tour offered students valuable exposure to jazz performance in an international context and historical reflection on cultural memory.”
“I am just so thankful to have the support of CVPA when providing this opportunity for our students,” Purcell said. “These 'off-campus' events are truly life-changing and allow the students to see what is out there that they can pursue.”
Student Jeremy Fagen shared, “It was an incredible experience to be able to tour Italy with this cohort of incredible musicians. I am so grateful to Dr. Purcell for organizing this trip. It was amazing to get the chance to witness and perform live music in a variety of contexts so far from home.”
For student Ponenya Min, the trip offered a perspective beyond performance. “Our trip to Italy opened my eyes as to how far jazz has reached throughout the world,” Min said. “The appreciation and support we got from audiences and seeing Umbria happening was inspiring. It's good to know that there's opportunities all over the world and not just here.”
From their first rehearsal in Fairfax to their final stop in Rome, the tour captured what Mason is all about—curiosity, collaboration, and the courage to dream bigger. On a stage half a world away, the students didn’t just share their music; they discovered what it means to belong to something larger than themselves.
That journey began months earlier, after the Mason Jazz Vocal Ensemble performed at the 2024 Jazz Education Network conference. Following the performance, Purcell was approached by a representative who organizes international tours for schools and believed George Mason would be a perfect fit for Umbria Jazz.