Welcome and congratulations on being accepted to Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey!
We are so excited for you to join our vibrant community of nearly 1,200 makers—dancers, filmmakers, musicians, theater artists, visual artists, and designers. We know that this is a big decision, so we’re here to help you through the process of choosing the right program for you.
Ready to BE A SCARLET KNIGHT?
Want to Know More?
Admitted Student Open House
Rutgers–New Brunswick Admitted Student Open House is scheduled for Saturday, April 10, 2021. This virtual event will include an 11 a.m. welcome session with Mason Gross School Dean Jason Geary and 1 p.m. departmental sessions featuring current students and faculty. The Rutgers On Demand site hosts information and live sessions on financial aid, residence life, dining, student life, and more. We hope you’ll join us!
Virtual Events
From March through May, we will be hosting many virtual events for admitted students to familiarize you with our programs and community. As these events are finalized, they will be posted on this page and sent to you via email. Be sure to follow us on social media to stay up to date with what’s happening at Mason Gross:
ART & DESIGN | DANCE | FILMMAKING | MUSIC | THEATER
ART & DESIGN
Please email admissions@mgsa.rutgers.edu for access information to these virtual events wherever not listed.
Virtual Facilities Tours
On Wednesdays at 5 p.m., join us on a virtual tour with a current student. Learn about the facilities and get the inside scoop on what it’s like to be a student. If a session is filled, additional sessions may be added. Registration is required.
Visiting Artist Lectures
The Department of Art & Design hosts a robust schedule of visiting artists and designers. We welcome recently admitted students to join us for any (or all) of these lectures. Registration is required.
Current and future gallery exhibitions can be viewed at the Mason Gross Galleries.
Monday, April 5, 5 p.m.
Drawing & Painting Workshop
Join a current BFA painting student and Undergraduate Director and painting faculty, Stephen Westfall, for an introduction to the painting concentration. Bring your questions.
Friday, April 9, 5 p.m.
Photography Workshop
Join current BFA photography students and photography faculty, Miranda Lichtenstein and Adam Putnam, for an introduction to the photography concentration. Bring your questions.
Wednesday, April 14, 4 p.m.
Design Area Session
Join a current BFA design student and design faculty, Jacqueline Thaw and Mindy Seu, for an introduction to the design major. Bring your questions.
Friday, April 16, 5–7 p.m.
BFA Thesis Exhibition Launch and Virtual Reception
The BFA Thesis reception is an event to celebrate the hard work of graduating seniors in Art & Design, allow exploration of virtual galleries featuring their culminating projects, and engage with the artists. We hope you can join us!
Thursday, April 29, 6 p.m.
4-D Fundamentals End of Year Live Screening
The talented students in 4-D Fundamentals – a foundations class specializing in screen-based techniques – present their end of year screening of video shorts, for the first time online.
DANCE
Thursday, March 25, 7 p.m.
Dance and Parkinson’s Program Presentation
Join faculty member Jeff Friedman and current BFA dance students to learn more about the Dance Department’s partnership with the New Jersey Parkinson’s Disease Information and Referral Center. Bring your questions.
Wednesday, April 7, 7 p.m.
Dance Education, Pilates, and Soma Center Overview
Join faculty member Frederick Curry and alumni to discuss the Masters in Dance Education, Pilates certificate, and Soma Center. Bring your questions.
April 14–15, 7:30 p.m.
DancePlus Spring: Virtual presentation of dance films featuring original choreography by award-winning guest and faculty artists.
April 27–29, 7:30 p.m.
Student Dance Concert: Virtual presentation of dance films featuring original choreography by Mason Gross dance majors and their collaborators.
May 5–6, 7:30 p.m.
BFA Senior Thesis Concert: Virtual presentation of dance films featuring original choreography by BFA senior dance majors and their collaborators.
FILMMAKING
To help introduce you to the filmmaking program, faculty and staff have created a series of videos for you:
Program Overview
Facilities Tour
Equipment Overview
Documentary Film Lab
Please email admissions@mgsa.rutgers.edu for access information to these virtual events.
Virtual Facilities Tour
On Mondays at 4 p.m., join us on a virtual tour with a current student. Learn about the facilities and get the inside scoop on what it’s like to be a student. If a session is filled, additional sessions may be added. Registration is required.
Friday, April 16, 2–4 p.m.
The Visiting Filmmaker Series presents a Q&A with director Robert Eggers following an independent screening of his 2019 film The Lighthouse, which stars Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson. Registration is required.
MUSIC
Unless otherwise listed, please email admissions@mgsa.rutgers.edu for access information to these virtual events.
Virtual Facilities Tour
On Fridays at 4 p.m., join us on a virtual tour with a current student. Learn about the facilities and get the inside scoop on what it’s like to be a student. If a session is filled, additional sessions may be added. Registration is required.
Composition
Join current composition students every Monday at 12:35 p.m. for Composition Practicum. For access, email Carl Wirshba carle.wirshba@rutgers.edu.
Jazz
To participate in our jazz events, email Marc Stasio, Coordinator of Jazz Studies, at marc.stasio@rutgers.edu.
- On Mondays at 12:35 p.m, join current students for Jazz Assembly, featuring a new jazz guest artist each week.
- Observe a live jazz class and/or rehearsal.
- Arrange a complimentary 30-minute lesson with a jazz faculty member.
Monday, March 8, and Sunday, May 2, 7:30 p.m.
Rutgers University Mingus Ensemble directed by Abraham Burton
Wednesday, March 10, and Monday, May 3, 7:30 p.m.
Rutgers University Jazz Ensemble directed by Conrad Herwig, featuring pianist Bill O’Connell
Piano
To schedule a complimentary lesson with piano faculty, contact Robert Grohman, Coordinator of Keyboard, at rgrohman@mgsa.rutgers.edu.
Monday, April 12, 12:30 p.m.
Guest Artist: Ingrid Clarfield, nationally-recognized performer, clinician, and author presenting on piano pedagogy.
Strings
Admitted students are welcome to join any (or all) of the upcoming master classes below. For access, email Jonathan Spitz, Head of Strings.
Friday, March 26, 7–9 p.m.
Master Class with Christian Colberg, Principal Violist of the Cincinnati Symphony
Monday, April 12, 12:35–1:55 p.m.
Masterclass with cellist Christine Lamprea
Monday, April 19, 10 a.m.–12 p.m.
Masterclass with Nitai Zori
Voice
Thursday, April 29
Opera Theater Rutgers presents L’Orfeo
Rutgers University Voorhees Choir
Since the pandemic has kept so many of us isolated and unable to sing with others, we decided to do a “duet with us” version on TikTok. Anyone can go to the following link and solo over the choir in the last minute of the song.
https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMeQCub9q/
Rutgers University Glee Club
Winds & Percussion
Please email Todd Nichols, Director of University Bands, for access at toddni@mgsa.rutgers.edu.
- Observe a symphony band rehearsal Tuesdays 7–9 p.m.
- Join the Marching Scarlet Knights: http://join.rutgersbands.com/2021-rutgers-marching-band-registration
- Schedule a meeting to discuss the Rutgers University band program and answer common questions including:
- Enrollment and time commitment
- Participation requirements
- Placement auditions
- Semester calendars
- How to balance schedules
- Marching Band and Pep Band offerings
- Concert Band offerings
THEATER
Please email admissions@mgsa.rutgers.edu for access information to these virtual events.
Virtual Facilities Tour
On Tuesdays at 2 p.m., join us on a virtual tour with a current student. Learn about the facilities and get the inside scoop on what it’s like to be a student. If a session is filled, additional sessions may be added. Registration is required.
March 18–20 and 25–27, 7:30 p.m.
Rutgers Theater Company presents a series of evenings featuring virtual performances of one-act plays by Meghan Hart, Don Nigro, Christopher Fry, and Young Jean Lee.
April 22–24, 7:30 p.m.
Rutgers Theater Company presents Antigone by Sophokles
April 29–May 1, 7:30 p.m.
Rutgers Theater Company presents The Motherf**ker With the Hat by Stephen Adly Guirgis