BU's Dr. Alan Mason invited to play piano for President Bush's Hanukkah party
Nov 30, 2007
Contact: Sara Lotfy
305-899-3188
305-899-3188
BU's Dr. Alan Mason invited to play piano for President Bush's Hanukkah party
MIAMI SHORES, Florida — Barry University’s Dr. Alan Mason, associate professor of music, will be the pianist for President George Bush’s Hanukkah party at the White House on Monday, Dec. 10, at 5 p.m.
"The Barry community and I are very pleased that Dr. Alan Mason’s exquisite talent is recognized by the Zamir Chorale and the White House,” said Barry University President Sister Linda Bevilacqua, OP, PhD. “This is a well-deserved honor.”
Mason was invited by Mathew Lazar, the conductor of the Zamir Chorale (a national Jewish choir), and Cantor Alberto Mizrahi, a solo singer. The Zamir Chorale and Cantor Mizrahi are the vocal music performers at the concert and party. Mason will be the pianist and accompanist.
“We are so proud of Dr. Mason for all of his accomplishments. He has definitely established himself as an outstanding pianist in his field when he was invited by the White House to perform,” said Silvia Lizama, Department Chair for Fine Arts.
Several previous Presidents have lit a Hanukkah menorah by visiting nearby synagogue’s or Jewish organization, but President Bush is the first President to host a Hanukkah party and menorah lighting ceremony for invited guests inside the East Room of the White House.
The evening’s festivities will include a program of Jewish vocal and choral music, accompanied by Dr. Mason on the piano.
"Having seen videos of President Bush's Hanukkah festivities from recent years, I am in awe at the seriousness, sacredness, and respect he has for this Jewish Festival of Lights,” Mason said. “I am honored to perform on the White House Steinway, a piano that has been played on by the most famous musical personalities throughout modern history."
Mason has been teaching piano, music history, and accompanying the choir at Barry University since 1996. He has a flourishing professional career as a pianist in sacred and secular Jewish music, having played at the Limmud Conference in Nottingham, England and at several national conferences of the Union for Reform Judaism. His playing is featured on several CDs of Jewish vocal and choral music, and has several works published by Transcontinental Music, the world’s premier publisher of Jewish music.
For more information, contact BU’s Mason at 305-899-3428.
"The Barry community and I are very pleased that Dr. Alan Mason’s exquisite talent is recognized by the Zamir Chorale and the White House,” said Barry University President Sister Linda Bevilacqua, OP, PhD. “This is a well-deserved honor.”
Mason was invited by Mathew Lazar, the conductor of the Zamir Chorale (a national Jewish choir), and Cantor Alberto Mizrahi, a solo singer. The Zamir Chorale and Cantor Mizrahi are the vocal music performers at the concert and party. Mason will be the pianist and accompanist.
“We are so proud of Dr. Mason for all of his accomplishments. He has definitely established himself as an outstanding pianist in his field when he was invited by the White House to perform,” said Silvia Lizama, Department Chair for Fine Arts.
Several previous Presidents have lit a Hanukkah menorah by visiting nearby synagogue’s or Jewish organization, but President Bush is the first President to host a Hanukkah party and menorah lighting ceremony for invited guests inside the East Room of the White House.
The evening’s festivities will include a program of Jewish vocal and choral music, accompanied by Dr. Mason on the piano.
"Having seen videos of President Bush's Hanukkah festivities from recent years, I am in awe at the seriousness, sacredness, and respect he has for this Jewish Festival of Lights,” Mason said. “I am honored to perform on the White House Steinway, a piano that has been played on by the most famous musical personalities throughout modern history."
Mason has been teaching piano, music history, and accompanying the choir at Barry University since 1996. He has a flourishing professional career as a pianist in sacred and secular Jewish music, having played at the Limmud Conference in Nottingham, England and at several national conferences of the Union for Reform Judaism. His playing is featured on several CDs of Jewish vocal and choral music, and has several works published by Transcontinental Music, the world’s premier publisher of Jewish music.
For more information, contact BU’s Mason at 305-899-3428.
