School of Music student receives Chadab Foundation Commission

Michael DeMarco, a Dewberry School of Music doctoral student in music composition at George Mason University, has been selected for the Chadab Foundation Commission.

The commission provides $2,500 in funds to support the composition of a piece, five to seven minutes in length, that will combine jazz with Persian pop and folk music influences. It's one of several scholarships that The Chadab Foundation-which provides financial assistance to promising young artists-has awarded since its creation in 2012, and it is the first time the commission has been offered at George Mason.

DeMarco said he was delighted and honored to receive the foundation's support. "The opportunity to write for large ensemble as a young composer is rare," he said. "I am also grateful for the ongoing mentorship of the George Mason music faculty. Their support and guidance are and will continue to be crucial in the composition of this work."

As part of the selection process, DeMarco, who is enrolled in the Doctor of Musical Arts in Composition program, was required to submit a portfolio and a project proposal. School of Music faculty evaluated the applications based on a variety of criteria that included the strength of the proposed works along with evidence of leadership and artistic growth by the applicants.

During his time at George Mason, DeMarco, who is a drummer as well as a composer, has heard the premiere of many new works, including Night on the North Sea for solo tuba and electronics, Resistor for the PATHOS Trio, and Stop the Motion for Pierrot ensemble and percussion, which was performed by Director of Concert Bands William L. Lake Jr. in the inaugural Mason Wind Symphony Resonare Project Call for Scores.

DeMarco's At the Foot of the Pantheon was commissioned by the Maryland Classic Youth Orchestras symphony and premiered at the Music Center at Strathmore; it received a secondary performance at New York City's Carnegie Hall in June 2026 as part of the New York Symphonic Invitational.

"A deepening understanding of the rich musical traditions around the world continues to inspire me and my appreciation for music and its many forms." -Michael G. DeMarco

DeMarco says he is looking forward to a "fruitful" collaboration with School of Music faculty, including Professor and Mason Jazz Ensemble Director Jim Carroll, as he works on his project over the next several months. And he is eager to enhance his knowledge of Persian pop and folk music: "A deepening understanding of the rich musical traditions around the world continues to inspire me and my appreciation for music and its many forms."

As for the piece itself, which will be premiered by the Mason Jazz Ensemble sometime next spring, DeMarco envisions "a work intertwining the complex histories of jazz and Persian music."

"As a musician, I am excited to embark on this journey of learning, exploration, and creation," he said. "I am grateful to be entrusted with this unique opportunity."

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