Dewberry School of Music

Dr. Connor Mikula is an active performer and teacher in the Washington D.C. area and currently serves as a saxophonist with “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band in Washington, D.C. He joined the organization in 2019 and has performed regularly at the White House as well as in concerts around the D.C. area and throughout the United States.

Originally from the great state of Michigan, he holds degrees from University of Michigan (MM Music Performance) and Michigan State University (DMA, BM Music Performance & Jazz Minor). Dr. Mikula has studied under Dr. Timothy McAllister, Prof. Joe Lulloff, and Dr. Jonathan Nichol.

Throughout a career that has spanned new works for orchestras, chamber ensembles, solo performers, and multi-institution commissions, Reinkemeyer has built a reputation for music that defies traditional expectations. Her works often weave together unexpected elements—soundscapes inspired by nature, compositional structures drawn from scientific data, and reflections on urgent social issues like environmental crises and justice movements.

Dr. Patrick LeStrange, Adjunct Applied Faculty in Viola at the Dewberry School of Music at George Mason University, earned the Doctor of Music Interpretation and Master of Music from l’Université de Montréal, as well as a Bachelor of Music from the Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University. His primary teachers included Roberta Crawford, Victoria Chiang, Jutta Puchhammer-Sédillot, as well as string pedagogy studies with Rebecca Henry.

George Mason music professor June Huang sees connections between musical collaboration and peacebuilding, and she and her students demonstrate those connections with The Spheres Project, a strings faculty and student collaborative space established in 2021.

Dean Rick Davis of the College of Visual and Performing Arts shares the news of Bill Reeder's passing, and highlights Reeder's contributions and impact as the Founding Dean of the college.

Renowned American composer Ricky Ian Gordon will offer masterclasses, coaching, and public presentations in a week-long residency with the Reva and Sid Dewberry Family School of Music. During Mason Opera’s spring performances of his opera “27”, Gordon will introduce each performance with his insights about this unique and engaging opera, based on Gertrude Stein's famed Paris salon at 27 Rue de Fleurus.

Christina Ortiz is the newly appointed Recruitment and Auditions Coordinator of the Dewberry School of Music of George Mason University. Christina earned her MM degree in Vocal Performance from George Mason University and a BM degree from Texas State University in Music Education with a Kodály certification.

Praised by the Pizzicato Magazine as “enchanting,” Taylor Ann Fleshman is an award-winning soloist and active ensemble performer with a diverse performance history. Prof. Fleshman performed the world premiere of Mosolov’s Harp Concerto with the Moscow Symphony Orchestra in Russia and recorded the work with Naxos Records in 2019

Katie Franke, tenor trombonist, is the newly appointed adjunct applied trombone professor of George Mason University’s Dewberry School of Music, effective Fall 2024 semester. In October 2023, Katie Franke commenced her role as the first-ever female trombonist and low brass player in the history of the “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band. As a member of “The President’s Own,” she regularly performs at ceremonies and concerts at the White House, as well as around the D.C. area and throughout the United States.

Carlehr Swanson (Bachelor of Music, 2019) was crowned Miss Virginia 2024 on June 29, 2024, just months after performing a preview concert or her upcoming EP on George Mason's Fairfax Campus.