Connecting Artists and Audiences
Each season, as part of George Mason University’s College of Visual and Performing Arts, the Mason Artist-in-Residence program invites artists with distinctive voices to the Hylton Center to make our venue their home.
Artists participate in a variety of activities designed to engage and inspire diverse audiences both at the venue and in the community. Learn more about the Mason Artist-in-Residence program.
2025–26 Mason Artists-in-Residence
Time for Three
Sunday, Oct. 26 at 2 p.m.
Ranaan Meyer, double bass and vocals
Nick Kendall, violin and vocals
Charles Yang, violin and vocals
The Grammy and Emmy Award-winning trio Time for Three (TF3) makes its debut at the Hylton Center. Time for Three defies convention and boundaries by showcasing excellence across different genres, including classical music, Americana, and singer-songwriter. Consisting of Charles Yang (violin, vocals), Nicolas "Nick" Kendall (violin, vocals), and Ranaan Meyer (double bass, vocals), TF3 combines their instruments and voices in a remarkable sound, establishing a distinct voice of expression that resonates with listeners worldwide. The trio has collaborated with today’s most esteemed composers and artists; worked with Robin Wright to compose the music for her directorial film debut Land; and graced top stages around the world. Time for Three is committed both on and offstage to encouraging the next generation of musicians. As a Mason Artist-in-Residence, TF3 will work with the community through classes and workshops in conjunction with its performance.
Soles of Duende
Saturday, Feb. 21 at 8 p.m.
A multicultural, all-female trio based in the rhythms of tap, flamenco, and kathak classical Indian dance, Soles of Duende are on a lifelong mission to elevate the joy of collaboration and connection through dance and music. Comprising Puerto Rican American Amanda Castro (tap), Mexican-American Arielle Rosales (flamenco), and South Asian American Brinda Guha (kathak), Soles of Duende is a 2023 Bessie Award nominee that “offers just the kind of art we need right now” (Dance Magazine). The trio uses dance and music to highlight their connection amidst their beautiful differences to uplift the forms they each champion. As a Mason Artist-in-Residence, Soles of Duende will also work with the community through classes and workshops surrounding their performance.
The Artist-in-Residence program at the Hylton Center is supported in part by BION.
This engagement of Soles of Duende is made possible in part through the ArtsCONNECT program of Mid Atlantic Arts with support from the National Endowment for the Arts.
2024–25 Mason Artists-in-Residence
In fall 2024, the GRAMMY Award-winning Villalobos Brothers, who are redefining contemporary Mexican music, blending Mexican folk music with Latin, jazz, rock, and classical shared their music, culture, and family with a variety of communities. The Brothers performed interactive concerts at Covington-Harper, Jenkins, and Swans Creek elementary schools in Prince William County; led orchestra and music technology masterclasses at Colgan and Potomac High Schools; participated in an insightful discussion about the crossover of music and immigration in collaboration with George Mason’s Honors College and Institute for Immigration Research; taught a class for the Lifelong Learning Institute – Manassas; and celebrate Día de Muertos with community members at the Manassas Park City Library.
In February 2025, Elena Moon Park & Friends led elementary age students and lifelong learners in collaborative music and art workshops as the Hylton Center’s first Hylton Family Series artist-in-residence. Third grade students at Haydon Elementary School in the City of Manassas, listened to music and sounds and drew what the music made them imagine they would see out the window of a train trip. These illustrations were then animated and featured in the field trip and public performances of Elena Moon Park & Friends. Residents of The Wellington at Lake Manassas used music to talk about memories and used some of the Haydon students artwork as a jumping off point to expand the art and story. The band ended their residency week activities with a field trip performance for elementary age students from Prince William County, City of Manassas and Manassas Park.