Mason Bands Concert: Dope.*

Please review Details for event info and free student ticket FAQ before registering.
 

dope /dop/
noun

1. a person or thing that is extremely cool, exciting, or impressive.
2. a term reclaimed in popular culture to signify excellence, authenticity, and creative innovation.

The third concert of the Mason Bands’ 55th Anniversary season, Dope, is a celebration of power, identity, and unapologetic expression. Featuring music by some of today’s most dynamic and visionary composers, this program amplifies Black voices and honors the trailblazing artistry that continues to shape the sound of now.

The program includes Kevin Day’s Glasshouse, performed by the 55th Anniversary Pierrot Chamber Ensemble—a work that explores fragility, groove, and intensity through jazz-inflected harmony and contemporary rhythmic language.

Will Healy’s Noctuary, presented in collaboration with vocalist Adiza Gustama and rapper Chris Thompson, seamlessly blends classical textures, hip hop, and spoken word. The Mason Wind Symphony proudly serves as a consortium partner for this work, which offers a powerful meditation on dreams, identity, and transformation.

Also featured is Omar Thomas’ Forward/Still—a poignant and defiant tribute to the endurance and progression of Black Americans across generations. Evocative and unflinching, the work challenges audiences to reflect, remember, and move forward.

The title work, Katahj Copley’s Dope, is a vibrant, genre-bending celebration of Black musical legacy. Structured in three movements—UNDENIABLY, UNAPOLOGETICALLY, and UNDISPUTEDLY—the piece draws inspiration from artists like Kendrick Lamar, Thundercat, John Coltrane, Robert Glasper, Tyler, the Creator, Kamasi Washington, and more. From gritty grooves to expansive harmonic colors, Dope is both a tribute and a statement: confident, creative, and proudly Black.

The Mason Bands are also excited to share the stage with the West Springfield High School Wind Ensemble, conducted by Wolson Gustama. This collaboration highlights the ongoing partnership between George Mason University and music educators in the region who are shaping the next generation of performers and creators.

Together, these works form a concert experience that is bold, expressive, and unmistakably dope.
 

Free Student Ticket FAQ  

Where do I pick up my tickets? Free student tickets must be picked up in person from the Ticket Office with your Mason ID at the venue noted on your registration on the day of the event, beginning one hour prior to the event. 

How can I sit with someone else? Students wishing to sit together must request adjacent seats at the Ticket Office when picking up tickets together one hour prior to the event.

What if I need to buy another ticket? Please visit the Ticket Office with your Mason ID as soon as possible. Student discounts may be available. A limited number of free student tickets are available at the Ticket Office for you to reserve with your purchased ticket. The Ticket Office will release your Mason360 registration.

What if the registration is full? Please visit the Ticket Office with your Mason ID. A limited number of free student tickets are available at the Ticket Office, and if those have run out, student discounts may be available. 

How do I contact the Ticket Office? Email us at (text) cfatix@gmu.edu or (voice) 703-993-2787. 

Access services questions? Contact the Accessibility Coordinator at (text) cfatix@gmu.edu or (voice) 703-993-8881. 

Read more about the Free Student Ticket policy: cvpa.gmu.edu/freetickets