Mason Bands Concert: West Side Story (2026)

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

Some stories never stop demanding to be told. Tonight, two ensembles take up that challenge from opposite ends of the wind band tradition — one rooted in folk memory and lyric line, the other tracing a path from Bach's architecture to Bernstein's streets — and meet in the middle at something electric.

The Mason Symphonic Band opens with music that listens closely to where it comes from. Calvin Custer's Variations on Scarborough Fair takes a centuries-old ballad and turns it over in the light, finding new color in every facet. Frank Erickson's Air for Band slows the room down, trading momentum for breath and space. Then Frank Ticheli's Cajun Folksongs pulls the evening south, into the syncopated heat and dance-floor pulse of Louisiana — folk music reimagined with the same restless curiosity that defines this set.

The Mason Wind Symphony answers with a program built on contrast and connection. Two faces of Bach open the set: the quiet devotion of Fervent is My Longing beside the architectural precision of the Little Fugue in G Minor, proof that structure itself can be its own kind of beauty. Nicole Piunno's With Love and Grace brings a contemporary voice into the room, lyrical and unguarded. And then: Bernstein. Symphonic Dances from West Side Story, arranged by Paul Lavender, doesn't just close the evening — it ignites it, channeling rivalry, romance, and raw urban energy into one of the most enduring scores in American musical theater.

Two ensembles. Four centuries of music. One unmistakable feeling that the wind band is very much alive. 

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