Classical music, jazz, blues, gospel and theater comes to George Mason University this weekend

George Mason University's Center for the Arts has always prided itself on presenting something for everyone and this weekend of performances is no exception. The venue, located on Mason's Fairfax Campus, will present three fantastic performances that encompass everything from beautiful classical music to soul-stirring jazz, blues and gospel to a theatrical adaptation of one of the finest works in the literary canon. 

Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2012, the New York City-based American Symphony Orchestra will appear on Friday, Nov. 2, bringing a program featuring Brahms' Serenade No. 1 and Beethoven's bold and heroic "Eroica" Symphony No. 3. Longtime music director and conductor Leon Botstein - who has served as the president of Bard College since 1975, a post he assumed at the young age of 28 - celebrates his 20th anniversary with the ASO this season.

Saturday, Nov. 3 features the arrival of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame legend Dr. John, or the "Nite Tripper" as he is known to his longtime fans, who teams up with Gospel Music Hall of Fame inductees The Blind Boys of Alabama, who first raised their voices together in song more than 70 years ago. Together, these American music icons will perform a concert titled "Spirituals to Funk," based on the legendary Carnegie Hall concerts of the 1930s and featuring rousing jazz, blues and gospel music. 

The weekend concludes with America's premier radio theater company, L.A. Theatre Works, which presents Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice" in honor of the 200th anniversary of this cherished British novel. Set in the English countryside, the story navigates through the intricacies of marriage, manners and morals among polite British society, and follows the tumultuous courtship between the headstrong and independent Elizabeth Bennet, who wishes to marry for love, and the arrogant but honorable Mr. Darcy. Broadway and television veterans Nicholas Hormann and Jane Carr star as Mr. and Mrs. Darcy. 

If you can't make it out to the Center for the Arts this weekend, there are more exciting events on tap in November:

• The School of Music presents the University Singers, University Chorale and Women's Chorale on Nov. 4 with a performance that features the world premiere of "Song of the Shulamite" by celebrated composer Donald McCullough;
• The School of Art presents "The Gulag Paintings" by Nikolai Getman (located in the Mason Hall Alumni Gallery on the ground floor of Mason Hall) through Nov. 9;
• The Mason Jazz Ensemble teams up with the Fairfax Law Foundation for its 11th annual "Jazz 4 Justice" concert on Nov. 9;
• The Shaolin Warriors of China bring the art of Kung Fu to the stage with "Voices of the Masters" on Nov. 10 and 11;
• The Mason Dance Company presents its Fall Concert on Nov. 15-17;
• Pianist Jeffrey Siegel brings his second Keyboard Conversations® concert, "Claude Debussy - Clair de Lune and Beyond" on Nov. 18;
• Grammy-winning vocal ensemble Chanticleer performs "A Chanticleer Christmas" on Nov. 24; 
• Virginia Opera presents Strauss' deliciously witty "Die Fledermaus" on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1.

For more information about these or other events at George Mason University's Center for the Arts, please visit cfa.gmu.edu. To purchase tickets, please call 888-945-2468 or visit cfa.gmu.edu or the Center for the Arts box office, open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.