OLLI

Osher Lifelong Learning Institute honored for its contributions to arts education

Lauren Reuscher — Wed, 15 Nov 2023 18:05:55 +0000

Osher Lifelong Learning Institute honored for its contributions to arts education Lauren Reuscher Wed, 11/15/2023 - 13:05

The ArtsFairfax Awards celebrate visionary contributions to arts and culture in Fairfax County. On Oct. 26, ArtsFairfax honored the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at ��AV with its Education Award for providing exceptional arts education and opportunities to the community.

Participants in an OLLI Mason workshop taught by the LADAMA quartet, former Mason Artists-in-Residence

For more than 30 years, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI Mason) has offered educational, cultural, and social opportunities for adults in their retirement years. A nonprofit affiliate of ��AV, OLLI Mason offers more than 600 courses each year on a broad spectrum of subjects, as well as clubs, social events, and excursions.

As Fairfax County’s local arts agency, ArtsFairfax distributes public funds for the arts, connects artists and arts organizations to each other and other sectors, and promotes arts and culture activities for residents.

“OLLI Mason exists to bring intellectual stimulation, social engagement, and arts and educational enrichment to its membership, as well as the wider community,” said Jennifer Disano, executive director of OLLI Mason. “ArtsFairfax champions our efforts and lifts us up as an example of excellence within Fairfax County as a premier educational institute—this is a great honor.”

Volunteer-run and member-driven, OLLI Mason offers classes and activities designed and taught by its members, Mason faculty, and regional experts. Through courses in creative arts, music, writing, poetry, and more, OLLI sparks the creativity and interests of its intellectually curious and active senior membership.

Disano expressed gratitude for the volunteers and supporters who contribute to OLLI programs. “We owe much of our success to the all-volunteer OLLI teacher corps, nonprofit partners, and Mason departments, especially the College of Visual and Performing Arts and the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, for their contributions to art appreciation courses within our organization,” said Disano.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, OLLI Mason has expanded its methods of delivering courses and is providing new experiences and programs for its members. Programming is available in person, on Zoom, and in hybrid formats. A robust archive of over 1,000 recorded lectures is available in its electronic library.

With over 1,200 members, the institute’s impact continues to grow. One of its latest partnerships is with local retirement communities, where OLLI provides programming to residents.

“The 2023 ArtsFairfax Awards honorees demonstrate how the arts revitalize communities, improve our wellbeing, and spark creativity in unexpected places,” said Linda Sullivan, ArtsFairfax president and CEO. “We’re thrilled to celebrate each of these awardees for enriching the lives of Fairfax County residents.”

View the complete list of ArtsFairfax awardees.

More about Osher Lifelong Learning Institute

Topics

Campus News

OLLI

Osher Lifelong Learning Institute

Retirement

arts education

College of Visual and Performing Arts

College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Around Mason (E-Files)

Faculty and Staff News

Mason Artist-in-Residence Silkroad Ensemble Leads Events Across Campus and Community

Zoe Harr — Fri, 27 Oct 2023 15:52:41 +0000

Mason Artist-in-Residence Silkroad Ensemble Leads Events Across Campus and Community Zoe Harr Fri, 10/27/2023 - 11:52

Buy Tickets

Learn About Mason Artist-in-Residence Program

Returning for their second of three years as a Mason Artist-in-Residence, Silkroad Ensemble and Artistic Director Rhiannon Giddens present the world premiere of American Railroad, an initiative that maps American music through the various communities involved in building the late-1800s Transcontinental Railroad and its connecting railways. In its description of the project, Silkroad explains that though corporations and the American government financed the railroad, the people who built it are the focus of this program—Indigenous and African Americans as well Irish, Chinese, Japanese, and other immigrant laborers whose contributions have been largely erased from history. American Railroad highlights untold stories and amplifies unheard voices from these communities.

“The American Railroad project has been years in the making, and the program we've created for our first tour is only the beginning. In it, we shed light on those who have been erased or overlooked throughout American history and merge with it Silkroad's unique ability to amplify voices from a multitude of backgrounds and cultures. The result is a tapestry of stories, traditions, and musics that have shaped our multifaceted cultural identity, and that must be heard and recognized,” stated Giddens.

Want to learn more about the American Railroad project? Read Silkroad Ensemble’s description.

As a Mason Artist-in-Residence, Silkroad artists will also work with the community through classes and workshops surrounding the performance, which are detailed below.

In a session with the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI), three Silkroad artists—Karen Ouzounian (cello/vocals), Shawn Conley (bass), and Kaoru Watanabe (Japanese flutes/percussion)—will lead a musical morning that includes individual demonstrations and a participatory Q&A with OLLI participants.
Silkroad Artistic Director Rhiannon Giddens joins Silkroad artist Mazz Swift in a “Beyond the Note” Roundtable event, cohosted by the Dewberry School of Music, that includes conversation with BIPOC College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) students Darren Badley, Telah Harper, and Alyssa Cabassa, as they discuss the successes and challenges experienced by BIPOC musicians and artists.
As part of Mason’s Folklore Program, the course “Global Folklore” taught by Professor Debra Lattanzi Shutika will be joined by Silkroad artist Kaoru Watanabe (Japanese flutes/percussion) and guest artists on the American Railroad program Pura Fé Crescioni (lap-steel guitar/vocals) and Francesco Turrisi (frame drums/accordion) for a special class session that will include musical demonstrations and a participatory Q&A with more than 70 students in attendance.

Silkroad Artistic Director Rhiannon Giddens joins Silkroad Ensemble at the Center on Nov. 5.

In addition to the activities above, multiple Silkroad artists have taken part in a semester-long Mason Honors College course for fall 2023, “The Silk Road and the Railroad: An artistic exploration of the Transcontinental Railroad in American history and culture.” Taught by College of Visual and Performing Arts Dean Rick Davis, this academic course explores the many cultures, histories, music, and narratives of the Transcontinental Railroad, providing context to Silkroad’s newest initiative. Earlier this semester, Silkroad artists visited the class for discussions and will offer an opportunity for students to watch a Silkroad Ensemble rehearsal prior to the November 5 performance.

To learn more about this fall 2023 Honors College course, check out a recent article with Professor Rick Davis.

Get your tickets today and join Silkroad Ensemble with Rhiannon Giddens on November 5 for the powerful world-premiere performance of American Railroad.

Topics

CFA

Mason Artists-in-Residence

Rick Davis

folklore

College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) School of Music

Dewberry School of Music

OLLI

Honors College

Campus News

Master of Social Work Student Wins Mason’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute Scholarship

John Brandon Cantrell — Wed, 04 May 2022 16:44:01 +0000

Master of Social Work Student Wins Mason’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute Scholarship John Brandon C… Wed, 05/04/2022 - 12:44

The OLLI Scholarship will help Francesca Keesee support students’ academic success in higher education.

Congratulations to Master of Social Work student Francesca Keesee for receiving the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) Scholarship for the Department of Social Work. The merit scholarship recognizes Mason students who have shown significant academic achievement and community involvement while completing their program.

“I have always loved learning—whether through formal schooling, out-of-school activities, or furious Googling,” said Keesee. “My love of learning motivated me to become an educator when I was 19 years old, and I have been involved with informal education for youth and adults ever since.”

“Part of my love for education and learning stems from the community it creates. Classrooms, camps, clubs, and other learning groups come to life with the spirit of engaged students,” Keesee said. “OLLI is a clear example of a positive community that brings people together in the spirit of continued growth.”

The OLLI Scholarship will help Keesee have a “multidimensional career” as an educator in higher education and to create a dynamic atmosphere where students can connect with their professors while exploring their educational interests.

“I would like to facilitate a space where students feel supported and excited to engage with the material,” said Keesee. “The social work program has exposed me to the most diverse educators I have ever had, and it motivates me to be another example of a successful woman of color educating future practitioners.”

Learn more about the OLLI Scholarship at George Mason.

Topics

OLLI

Scholarship Recipient

Awards

Social Work News

CHHS News

College of Health and Human Services Department of Social Work

OLLI

Osher Lifelong Learning Institute honored for its contributions to arts education

More about Osher Lifelong Learning Institute

Related Stories

Topics

Mason Artist-in-Residence Silkroad Ensemble Leads Events Across Campus and Community

Buy Tickets

Learn About Mason Artist-in-Residence Program

Want to learn more about the American Railroad project? Read Silkroad Ensemble’s description.

Get your tickets today and join Silkroad Ensemble with Rhiannon Giddens on November 5 for the powerful world-premiere performance of American Railroad.

Topics

Master of Social Work Student Wins Mason’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute Scholarship

The OLLI Scholarship will help Francesca Keesee support students’ academic success in higher education.

Topics