Green Machine

George Mason creates more spaces for students to gather with new building

Colleen Rich — Mon, 03 Jun 2024 20:18:30 +0000

George Mason creates more spaces for students to gather with new building Colleen Rich Mon, 06/03/2024 - 16:18

��AV broke ground on the Activities Community Wellness Building on the Fairfax Campus on Monday morning. The facility is designed to enhance campus life by providing a gathering place for students to engage with each other and deepen their sense of belonging at the university.

Professor Michael "Doc Nix" Nickens takes a selfie during the groundbreaking of the Activities Community Wellness Building. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

The groundbreaking featured remarks from George Mason President Gregory Washington, representatives from Facilities and University Life, and associate professor of music Michael “Doc Nix” Nickens, leader of the Green Machine band ensembles.

“This is truly a students-come-first building,” said Rose Pascarell, vice president for University Life. “It’s really about listening to the needs of students who have consistently said to us: ‘We want more space to gather. We want to be able to come together more easily. We want to engage with each other.’ Which is exactly what we know is part of the magic sauce of George Mason and actually the secret sauce of student success and student retention.”

The groundbreaking featured remarks from George Mason President Gregory Washington, representatives from Facilities and University Life, and Professor Michael “Doc Nix” Nickens. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

The 25,000-square-foot concrete and tension fabric structure, to be located behind the Recreation Athletic Complex, will be built by Hoar Construction in partnership with Powers Brown Architecture and civil engineer IMEG Corp. and is scheduled for completion in 2025. The $11 million building will feature two full-sized basketball courts and meeting spaces for the university's 350-plus student groups, and it also will provide practice space for the Green Machine.

“If anything personifies our students, our diversity, our rich heritage, our innovation, our spirit, it actually is the Green Machine,” Washington said. “So having that entity have a focal point, a centerpiece, a gathering point, a rallying point, is probably one of the most important things we can do.”

Nickens, who fought back tears during his brief remarks, is thrilled that his ensembles will now have a space they can call home.

“If you think we have delivered so far, you wait till we move [into] this spot,” Nickens said, motioning to the construction site, pierced moments later by a line of gold shovels.

Learn more about the Green Machine

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George Mason's Green Machine Ensembles Bring the Rock, the White House Provides the Roll

Emily Schneider — Thu, 04 Apr 2024 16:25:43 +0000

George Mason's Green Machine Ensembles Bring the Rock, the White House Provides the Roll Emily Schneider Thu, 04/04/2024 - 12:25

Students, faculty, and staff of the Green Machine Ensembles pose together in front of the White House at the annual Easter Egg Roll on April 1, 2024. Photo by Joshua Cruse & Nathaniel Henry / Green Machine Ensembles

Being invited to perform at the White House is an exciting honor for any ensemble, but for ��AV’s Green Machine Ensembles, it’s an environment where they are quickly becoming comfortable. Following their inaugural performance at the White House Easter Egg Roll in 2023, the ensembles were invited back for the beloved annual event on April 1, 2024. Despite gloomy weather, the Green Machine Ensembles showed delighted crowds how the rain can’t keep them down with a high-energy performance that kept guests mesmerized.

“Our students are engaged, enthusiastic, and dedicated,“ said Matthew Dievendorf, assistant director of academics, research, and audio production, Green Machine Ensembles. "This performance, however, required another level of preparation, not only in a musical sense but in a professional sense. Our students demonstrated admirably that they were ready to perform in a venue that required punctuality, poise, and responsibility."

“Both years this has been a really fun performance, and what makes it really special is the amount of different people we see that we don’t usually get to perform for,” said Kenny Yi, who will graduate with a BS in finance in May. ”It’s a really amazing way to get to have fun and perform for such a diverse audience. The coolest part for me this year was getting to talk to a Secret Service agent, and he told me he was excited when he heard we were coming back because he loved the variety and diversity of music we play, which is what I believe is truly one of the cornerstones of the Green Machine: celebrating diversity and inclusivity through our music.”

Guests at the annual White House Easter Egg Roll pause in front of the Green Machine Ensembles as they perform. Photo by Joshua Cruse & Nathaniel Henry / Green Machine Ensembles

In the vibrant world of the Green Machine, individuals with diverse skill sets and varying levels of experience come together to create something extraordinary. Comprising musicians, dancers, actors, artists, and more, this remarkable university ensemble celebrates the beauty of individuality while fostering a sense of unity. The initial invitation to perform at the White House Easter Egg Roll came from the ensembles’ previous performance for the Department of Education's Special Projects Division. The students' enthusiasm, talent, and infectious energy made them the perfect choice for this annual family-friendly event on the iconic White House South Lawn.

“It was a really great opportunity to perform at such a prestigious event two years in a row,” said Taye Folk, who is working on an MA in international security. “It was so cool to see how many people were surprised and excited to be welcomed to the White House by our energetic group, and it was really awesome to get to have our picture taken on the White House Lawn! Getting to perform alongside Jonesboro High School was electric and really exciting to see such talented young musicians having such a blast performing.”

Members of the Green Machine Ensembles dance as they play during their performance at the 2024 White House Easter Egg Roll. Photo by Joshua Cruse & Nathaniel Henry / Green Machine Ensembles

Members of the Green Machine Ensembles cheer for the Jonesboro High School Marching Band performing at the annual White House Easter Egg Roll on April 1, 2024. Photo by Joshua Cruse & Nathaniel Henry / Green Machine Ensembles

Guests gather in front of The White House on April 1 for the annual Easter Egg Roll. Photo by Joshua Cruse & Nathaniel Henry / Green Machine Ensembles

The theme for the White House Easter Egg Roll for the last three years was “Eggucation,” making this event an even more perfect fit for the Green Machine, whose ensembles are dedicated to learning as a community. Since its creation in 2006, inspired by the Men's Basketball team's epic NCAA Final Four run, the Green Machine has become a vital part of the Mason community. Made up of musicians, dancers, actors, artists, and more, this group creates unforgettable experiences that reflect the values and essence of Mason. The Green Machine has a clear and impactful mission: to deliver diverse and innovative performances for various events and venues. Captivating audiences with its electric energy and unmatched creativity, from exciting sports games to important university ceremonies, lively student recruitment events, and prestigious competitions.

Performers with the Green Machine Ensembles add a little snap to their performance at the White House Easter Egg Roll. Photo by Joshua Cruse & Nathaniel Henry / Green Machine Ensembles

Students performing with the Green Machine Ensembles can't hide their joy at the 2024 White House Easter Egg Roll. Photo by Joshua Cruse & Nathaniel Henry / Green Machine Ensembles

Wet weather at the 2024 White House Easter Egg Roll can't stop the music of the Green Machine Ensembles. Photo by Joshua Cruse & Nathaniel Henry / Green Machine Ensembles

“It was an amazing experience to get to perform at the White House!” exclaimed psychology major Bianca Natal. “Seeing so many people stop and listen to us, dance with us, and cheer with us all while we were at such a prestigious venue was a truly unique and exciting experience.”

Jeremy Freer, associate director of the Green Machine Ensembles, said, “We’ve striven to keep the Green Machine as inclusive as humanly possible for over 17 years now. No matter what instrument you play, audio engineering experience you want to have, or level of commitment, we make a space for you. The result of this policy is a group that has shaped itself over a decade and a half, bringing in amazing human beings and expanding our instrumentation with strings, harp, guitar, keyboard, mallet percussion, auxiliary percussion, vocalists, rappers, and scratch DJ's.”

Green Machine Ensemble performers get into their groove at the 2024 White House Easter Egg Roll on April 1, 2024. Photo by Joshua Cruse & Nathaniel Henry / Green Machine Ensembles

Members of the Green Machine Ensembles can't stop smiling as they put on an incredible performance for the crowds at the 2024 White House Easter Egg Roll. Photo by Joshua Cruse & Nathaniel Henry / Green Machine Ensembles

Their commitment to inclusivity and celebrating individuality makes the Green Machine so unique. No matter your skill level or level of commitment, this fantastic group welcomes anyone with a passion for making music and who wants to be part of something truly extraordinary. In the true spirit of "All Together Different," the Green Machine celebrates the communities’ students are already part of, as well as the ones they form while at George Mason, providing a judgment-free space where students can explore their musical talents, form lifelong friendships, and express themselves artistically.

The Green Machine ensembles are all smiles after their second spectacular performance at the annual White House Easter Egg Roll. Photo by Joshua Cruse & Nathaniel Henry / Green Machine Ensembles

In This Story

Prof. Jeremy Freer

Learn more about the Green Machine

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College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA)

White House

White House Easter Egg Roll

student performers

Campus News

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

Dewberry School of Music

Podcast - EP42: His sound is renowned

Damian Cristodero — Tue, 06 Sep 2022 19:18:52 +0000

Podcast - EP42: His sound is renowned Damian Cristodero Tue, 09/06/2022 - 15:18

In This Story

Gregory Washington

Dr. Michael Nickens

Dr. Michael Nickens, an associate professor of music in ��AV’s Reva and Sid Dewberry Family School of Music, tells Mason President Gregory Washington how he transforms from his mild-mannered persona into Doc Nix, the flamboyant leader of the Green Machine, the nation’s No. 1 pep band. The band doesn't play mechanically, Nix says. There are times its members are collectively “exploring the universe in that moment. And those are the moments that feel like we have really accomplished something.” Actor Bill Murray is a fan of the band, and Nix is pretty good on the tuba.

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Access to Excellence podcast

Podcast Episode

podcast

Reva and Sid Dewberry Family School of Music

College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA)

ARTS by George! Showcases the Arts at Mason and Raises Scholarship Funds

Zoe Harr — Tue, 06 Sep 2022 17:06:54 +0000

ARTS by George! Showcases the Arts at Mason and Raises Scholarship Funds Zoe Harr Tue, 09/06/2022 - 13:06

In This Story

Rick Davis

“An evening like no other,” ARTS by George! makes its in-person return on September 24. The philanthropic event, headlined by Emmy^® and Tony Award winner Kristin Chenoweth, raises support for student scholarships in visual arts, dance, music, theater, game design, film, arts management, as well as for the Mason Community Arts Academy, Green Machine Ensembles, and the Great Performance at Mason season at the Center for the Arts. Since its creation in 2006, ARTS by George! has raised more than $2 million for the arts at Mason.

“More than any single performance or exhibition or screening could ever do, ARTS by George! offers a window into the life and work – the very heart – of this great College of Visual and Performing Arts,” notes Rick Davis, Dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA). “In fact, it’s kind of a stained-glass window, composed of many colors and shapes and designs representing the many programs we offer, and it casts a beautiful light on the interplay of students, faculty, professional guest artists, and the communities that we all serve.”

School of Music students perform at a previous ARTS by George! event.

ARTS by George! begins by bringing hundreds of CVPA students and faculty together to collaborate in a series of behind-the-scenes showcase performances and exhibits, ranging from musical cabarets to virtual reality demos. From the School of Music, a taste from the many offerings including jazz, piano, symphony orchestra, opera, as well as special performances by The Green Machine. Introducing its upcoming production of the laugh-out-loud love story Head Over Heels, Mason School of Theater will perform highlights from the musical featuring music of the Go-Go’s and more! Additionally, guests will be invited to performances from the School of Dance, student film screenings from the School of Film, and Computer Game Design demonstrations. Programming begins at 5 p.m., presented across 10 open studios and rehearsal halls on Mason’s Fairfax campus, which will also have sumptuous beverage and cuisine stations offered throughout.

Co-chairs of ARTS by George! Anne Bolger and Steven Golsch emphasize the importance of the event, stating, “This benefit raises important scholarship funds to help our talented students and community arts partners and share their art and inspire the world. We are proud to support these programs and students as they fulfill their lifelong dreams.”

Kristin Chenoweth headlines the event on September 24.

After the thrilling showcase festivities, guests will transition to the Center for the Arts for a Live Fund-A-Student Auction, leading up to the performance by Kristin Chenoweth. In this 8:30 p.m. concert, Chenoweth will sing music from her album For The Girls, a heartfelt tribute to the great female singers throughout history. The album includes Chenoweth’s personally charged interpretations of classic songs identified with such iconic artists as Barbra Streisand, Lesley Gore, Linda Ronstadt, Dinah Washington, Dolly Parton, and more. To learn more about Kristin Chenoweth, please visit her website. The evening culminates with a special champagne toast onstage with ARTS by George! ticketholders and Ms. Chenoweth.

This year, the winner of the Arts by George! 2023 scholarship is Film and Video Studies student, Tiffany Vu. Past recipients include Erblin Nushi (Film and Video Studies, 2018), Mariah Rogers (The Green Machine, 2020), and Alana Lyons (Mason School of Theater, 2021). Student scholarships allow for the College of Visual and Performing Arts’ (CVPA) students to explore creative projects while cultivating Mason’s enriching arts education and first-class performances.

Rick Davis encapsulates Mason and its community’s excitement, stating, “We’re delighted to be back to our full expression of CVPA’s contribution to the dynamo that is ��AV.”

To learn more about Arts by George!, visit the website.

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CFA

College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA)

College of Visual and Performing Arts Film and Video Studies

Green Machine

College of Visual and Performing Arts School of Theater

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

College of Visual and Performing Arts School of Dance

Computer Game Design

Mason Community Arts Academy

Mason welcomes its largest, most diverse freshman class to date at New Student Convocation

Colleen Rich — Fri, 19 Aug 2022 20:30:51 +0000

Mason welcomes its largest, most diverse freshman class to date at New Student Convocation Colleen Rich Fri, 08/19/2022 - 16:30

In This Story

Gregory Washington

President Gregory Washington at the 2022 New Student Convocation at EagleBank Arena. Photo by Ron Aira/Creative Services

��AV President Gregory Washington welcomed thousands of new students Friday by informing them they had already made two of the most important decisions of their lives—whether and where to go to college.

“I contend to you, these are great choices!” Washington told the newest Patriots at a spirited New Student Convocation at EagleBank Arena. Mason this fall welcomes the largest (about 4,200) and most diverse freshman class in its history.

Washington rattled off several points to support his contention—the opportunity to work alongside world-class faculty at a top research university, diverse student demographics that resemble what the country will soon look like, bountiful internship and job opportunities in the Washington, D.C., region, and a host of others.

“They’re all keys to your success,” Washington said, with special shout-outs to first-generation students and community college transfers. “Just take a key and open a door…. Mason is a place where the only limits are the limits you place on yourself.”

Students learn the Fight Song at New Student Convocation. Photo by Ron Aira/Creative Services

Provost Mark Ginsberg posed a question to the students, asking, “Do you know what time it is? It’s Mason’s Time,” he said to cheers. “It’s also another time. It’s your time. It’s your time to explore. It’s your time to meet new friends. It’s your time to learn new things. And it’s your time to push yourself to new heights.”

Faculty keynote speaker Karen Akerlof, assistant professor in the College of Science, encouraged the students to engage in “good trouble” by determining what social changes they would like to see on campus, in their hometowns, or even nationally or internationally, and what actions they can take to help achieve them.

To spur opportunities for student impact, Akerlof said the Office of Community Engagement and Civic Learning (CECIL) will host monthly hour-long “community conversation circles” throughout the fall semester.

Mason student body president Sophia Nguyen told students to be open to new experiences. Photo by Ron Aira/Creative Services

“You don’t have to wait until you come back here for graduation in your robes to start thinking about and acting on the ways in which you want to make an impact on the world,” Akerlof said. “Both in and outside of the classroom, this university is a place where you can explore these questions, work with others, and make your voices heard.”

Doc Nix and the Green Machine surely got the students to make their voices heard in a different context—by teaching them the university fight song and making a date to meet back up at EagleBank Arena on October 14 to kick off basketball season with Mason Madness.

Mason student body president Sophia Nguyen recalled feeling confused and overwhelmed, yet eager, as a first-year Mason student, but said she soon busied herself in various campus activities.

Students show off their new Mason hoodies. Photo by Ron Aira/Creative Services

“You’ll find that there’s always something every day for everyone here at Mason,” said Nguyen, who held a White House internship this summer. “You just have to be open to finding it.”

Washington emphasized to the incoming students to be mindful of their mental health and to take advantage of the many resources available to help them.

“Remember one thing,” he said. “You are not alone. You are never alone—even if you might feel that way sometimes. This is indeed a family, and you are a part of that family.

“Our faculty, staff, students and alumni—we all take care of each other. And we’re going to take care of you, too.”

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Campus News

New Student Convocation

Green Machine

Center of Community Engagement and Civic Learning CECiL

Meet the Class of 2026

Freshman marches his education forward to the beat of his own drum

Mariam Aburdeineh — Fri, 03 Sep 2021 18:56:09 +0000

Freshman marches his education forward to the beat of his own drum Mariam Aburdeineh Fri, 09/03/2021 - 14:56

Nathaniel Socks. Photo by ��AV / Evan Cantwell.

As a child, Nathaniel Socks said he was restless, and could often be found tapping his hands on nearby objects. His mom enrolled him in drum lessons in second grade, he said, which led to his favorite hobby—one that taught him valuable life lessons.

“I got to see how if you put in hard work and dedicate yourself to something really hard, how cool the product can be,” the incoming ��AV freshman said. “That was one thing that really got me into drumming—you can see the progression of practicing.”

Socks said that lesson became more evident to him when he joined a community band and the marching band at Williamsport High School in Maryland, where in 2019 he helped his school win second place in the state’s annual marching band competition. He said he also excelled in his abilities playing for the competitive Old Line Independent Percussion ensemble, where he earned a spot as a bass drummer.

Besides pursuing percussion, Socks was a legislative page for Maryland state senator Paul Corderman in 2020.

“The greatest takeaway from talking to the state senators and representatives, to the people who make the bills, to past legislative pages, is that everyone is a normal person,” said Socks, an Honors College student. “You don’t have to be a superhuman to make a change; you just have to want to make a change and drive forward.”

The conflict analysis and resolution major said he’s looking forward to using the lessons of he’s learned from drumming and being a page in his academic classes.

While Socks hasn’t figured out his exact career aspirations, he said conflict analysis and resolution felt like a good fit for him, as it combines his interests of history, sociology, and foreign languages, and could provide opportunities to work for government, nonprofits, or the corporate world. He said he’s also excited to join Mason’s top-rated pep band, the Green Machine.

“I’ve heard really good things about Mason’s professors and the classes,” he said. “I’ll also be going to a school where there’s a lot of different people, so that’s really cool to be able to talk to people, not just on campus, but in class discussions and get the different perspectives.”

Conducting research with impact should also be a highlight of his undergraduate experience, he said.

“The Honors College looks very accessible in terms of the freedom to research what you would like to improve upon [in the world],” he said. “Mason and the Honors College give you the tools and opportunity to better your education in ways you maybe otherwise wouldn’t have.”

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Students

Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution

Honors College

Green Machine

'Resistance' spoken word piece wins two Telly awards

Colleen Rich — Thu, 10 Jun 2021 17:57:19 +0000

'Resistance' spoken word piece wins two Telly awards Colleen Rich Thu, 06/10/2021 - 13:57

In This Story

Dr. Michael Nickens

“Resistance,” a spoken word piece by Mason alumnus Bobby Lacy II performed at Mason’s 2020 Winter Commencement, had a profound impact on those who saw it during the video broadcast.

Now the Telly Awards, the world’s largest honor for video and television content across all screens, has recognized the piece with two silver awards for excellence in two areas of Non-Broadcast: Diversity & Inclusion and Social Impact.

“The two Telly Awards give us a clear message that we are on the right path with our work,” said Green Machine Ensembles director and associate professor of music Michael W. Nickens, aka Doc Nix. “We put our souls into our creativity, and this recognition rewards our faith and renews us helping us to continue our journey.”

Established in 1979, the international Telly Awards received more than 12,000 entries, a 15% increase driven by the pandemic, from all 50 states and five continents. Entrants are judged by a group of more than 200 leading video and television experts.

“This was not just a spoken word; it is and continues to be a window into the reality that some are forced to face,” said Lacy, who graduated from Mason in 2016 with a BA in music/voice and is now a graduate student in the College of Visual and Performing Arts’ Arts Management Program.

According to Lacy, “Resistance” was incredibly painful to write. He said this letter to his peers starts off as a double-meaning spoken word.

“I wrote on the experience of the pandemic, and I created a parallel to the experience of being a Black person in America,” said Lacy. “By the time I reach the penultimate stanza of ‘Resistance,’ I’m no longer speaking on the pandemic that the entire world faces; I’m speaking on the pandemic that my race has faced throughout history.”

Filmed in Merchant Hall at the Hylton Performing Arts Center on Mason’s Science and Technology Campus, “Resistance” ends on a charge to the graduates of George Mason to create change.

Nickens describes the performance as powerfully thoughtful and beautifully expressive.

“His word brings into focus so many of our collective thoughts, feelings, and wishes,” said Nickens.

“I want to thank Michael Nickens for not only challenging me to write this piece but for providing a framework and an inspiration from his Mason Idea spoken word from back in 2013,” said Lacy.

“We spent some great time together over Zoom sifting through many ideas and exploring possible directions,” Nickens said. “I knew immediately that this project was going to be very rewarding and yield something that would provide a lifetime of pride.”

Nickens served as writer and director on the piece, and said he hopes that the people who hear their lived experiences in “Resistance” come away knowing they are not alone.

“I hope that people that are learning about the struggles of others become more curious about people around them, and start on a journey towards better self-awareness, empathy, and collective consciousness,” said Nickens. “I hope that those that have found their experiences at our university has prepared them for life in our evolving society hear a welcoming and inspiring call to action.”

Mason also won a Silver Telly for a short film of Open Winter Guard: 2019 World Championships. A collaboration of dance and theater, Mason Open is part of Green Machine Ensembles and uses flags, replica rifles, sabers, movement and dance in an elaborate, theatrical experience. The Mason team has 30 members and competes nationwide, from January to April, ending at the Winter Guard International (WGI) finals in Dayton, Ohio.

“We’re honored and excited to receive these awards for Green Machine and the university,” said Josh Cruse, senior producer for Green Machine Media. “To me, it demonstrates the incredible impact our students have not only in their performances, but in the stories behind their performances.”