Recitals

Learn to be a Professional Artist

Student recitals are fundamental in becoming a professional musician or music educator. We want you to succeed and have the knowledge you need to organize the best performance possible. 

Step 1 - Register for your Recital

Before a degree recital can be scheduled, please register your recital with Dr. Carrie Ann Delaney, the School of Music Academic Program Manager.  While you register, she can review your progress with your degree and help with other recital related issues. 

Non-degree recitals are opportunities for exceptionally prepared students to give a performance that is not required for their degree. Students considering giving a non-degree recital will need to have the permission of the area coordinator before scheduling a recital date. Non-degree recitals do not take the place of juries and are not registered for credit, so there is no grade and no need to register.  They will not receive technical support, so students will need to take care of their technical needs and will not receive an archival recording. 

Step 2 - Schedule a Recital Date

To schedule a degree or non-degree recital on campus, an email will go out to make an appointment with Bridget Higgins, Operations Coordinator and recital point of contact, during the last month of the previous semester (in April for fall recitals, in November for spring recitals).  The appointment will be virtual, there is no need to be on campus for this 15 minute conversation.  Please come prepared with five potential recital dates that have been approved by your applied instructor to avoid a delay in scheduling and give us flexibility if your first or second choice isn’t available.

We will match your available dates with one of the following locations:

A hold will be placed for the date you select until all confirmations have been received. 

Step 3 - Lock in Your Recital Date 

Undergraduate, Graduate, and Doctoral Recitals 

A confirmation email will go to you, your Applied Instructor, your Collaborative Pianist, and your Area Coordinator.  Your recital date will be confirmed after everyone on the confirmation email has given their approval.

Dissertation Recitals Only 

A confirmation email for doctoral lecture recitals will be sent to you, your Committee Chair, the Director of Graduate Studies, and the Area Coordinator (piano and vocal areas only).

Area Coordinator List 

Only when the form is completed can you lock in your recital date. Forms turned in after the date cannot be guaranteed. 

Step 4 - Turn in Recital Technical Request

Using the appropriate Recital Technical Guideline as a resource, submit your technical requirements using the link that you receive the first day of classes. All degree recitals will be livestreamed and will receive an archival video and audio recording.

Recital Technical Standard Operating Procedures

Mason Jazz Handbook (Fall 2024)

On campus recitals must be done within an hour, as it impacts following recitals. If you know your recital will exceed an hour, including intermission, please choose the last recital time of the day or another location must be found. For a guideline, the required amount of music for each type of recital is as follows:

  • Junior Recital:  25 – 35 minutes
  • Music-Ed Recital:  25 – 35 minutes
  • Senior Recital: 50 – 60 minutes
  • Graduate Performance Recital:  50 – 60 minutes
  • Graduate Lecture Recital (pedagogy only): 50 – 60 minutes
  • Doctoral Recital: 2 performance recitals, 1 lecture recital, 50 – 60 minutes each

Things change as you get closer to your performance. If you find you need to make a change to your original tech request, please let Bridget Higgins or Micah Stromberg know.

Outside Recordings/Videography

Outside recordings/videography are not permitted at this time. Your recital will be recorded/videoed by the Dewberry School of Music.

Step 5 - Schedule a Dress Rehearsal

Once your technical requirements have been submitted, you will be emailed a link to schedule your dress rehearsal. Undergraduates may sign up for one hour, graduate and doctoral students may sign up for two consecutive hours. Dress rehearsals CANNOT be scheduled until technical requirements have been submitted. Please note that dress rehearsals are optional.

Students in the jazz area are asked to coordinate with Dr. Darden Purcell about reserving jazz spaces for a dress rehearsal. If you have additional needs for rehearsals, it is recommended that you utilize studio spaces as they are available.

Step 6 - Copyright Check

Now that we are broadcasting recitals on YouTube, it would be a good idea to do a copyright check as you build your recital repertoire. The Reva and Sid Dewberry Family School of Music has licenses with ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, and Global Music Rights, and the step-by-step directions will guide you so you can confirm for yourself that we can legally broadcast your entire program.  Only pieces with 100% total share can be broadcast.

How To Do a Copyright Check

Copyright Timeline for Recitals 

As early as possible: faculty and students should do their own copyright check with the attached guidelines to determine if a piece can be played on a livestream or pre-recorded video broadcast. 

1 month before performance date: students send their recital’s program order to Bridget Higgins for final copyright check. Programs are required and will be available via a link in the YouTube video description. 

Step 7 - Programs

Students are responsible for preparing their own programs and for senior performance, senior music education, and graduate students, preparing program notes as well.  The program order will be included in the video description on YouTube as well as a link to the program.

Templates for a booklet style program are available below. When creating your program, make sure the total number of pages your document is divisible by 4. For example, if you have 12 pages and need to add one more page, then you need to add 4 more pages to make a total of 16 pages. If not, there will be several blank pages as part of your program. Program note guidelines are at the discretion of your Area Coordinator or Applied Instructor. Students must have their programs authorized by both their instructor and the area coordinator before printing their programs.

Students are responsible for printing their own programs.

George Mason University Print Services, in the HUB, has better rates than off campus options. They can also be reached at 703-993-9083. You may also use the campus UPS store to print programs. If you plan to use either of these services, it would be advisable to give them 3 business days prior to the performance to complete the job. Jobs given less than 24 hours will incur additional charges.

For a booklet style program: If your program is based on the template, you have a booklet style program. Select “Booklet” from the Print Services page and select 8.5 x 11 booklet. If you have more than 4 pages in your program and you want your program to be stapled, choose a saddle stitch binding (at extra cost). The School of Music typically uses standard paper options (Inside Paper Stock & Cover Stock Options: 20 lb – white – standard) in black and white with 2-sided printing for front and back covers and no trim. If there is time, a proof is a great idea so that you can see a copy of your program before it goes to final print, which avoids making many copies of a mistake.

Program template for Seniors, Graduate Students, and Music Education Students (booklet, with program notes)

Program template for Juniors and Non-Degree Students 

Step 8 - Publicity

Posters

Students are responsible for creating, printing, and distributing their own posters. Please bring them to the front desk to receive a stamp. Posters that are not stamped will be removed. Once approved, students may post 3 posters in the MTB and 3 in the PAB in a variety of places: on the bulletin boards, on the cork strips on the 3rd floor, around the water fountains, on studio doors, or on the columns in the PAB stairs. Posters posted on painted surfaces have damaged the paint, so do not use packing tape or any other strong adhesive tape. While we want to encourage creativity, please do not use floors, windows, display screens, or other painted surfaces for posters, as they damage the finish or paint which require repairs. Once your recital has passed, please be kind, and remove them from where they were posted. Save a few as a memento, too! 

Step 9 - Miscellaneous

MUSI 300 Credit: 

All student recitals are entitled to MUSI 300 credit. Stampers will be provided for you. 

Recital Adjudicating

Area Coordinators make arrangements for applied faculty to be present for student recitals. 

Harpsichord

The harpsichord cannot be used for recitals at this time, but we look forward to providing it again in the future. 

Cancellation

Cancellation of a recital will only be permitted for a documented medical reason or an extraordinary circumstance that has been approved by Dr. Linda Monson. In the unfortunate event of a cancellation, permission to reschedule can only be granted by Dr. Monson. Cancellations will not be permitted for lack of preparation.