Philip Mason

Concertmaster Emeritus
Jackson Symphony Orchestra

Violin Soloist
October 6, 2001
April 25, 1998
February 14, 1998

Philip Mason began taking lessons at the age of 5 in Battle Creek, Michigan. Throughout high school, he studied with Olive Parkes, concertmaster of the Battle Creek Symphony. While in high school, he was chosen to perform with a string trio on the Horace Heidt National Radio Talent Show. During the summers of 1949 and 1950 he was concertmaster of the All-State Orchestra at the National Music Camp in Interlochen.

In 195 1, he began his studies at Western Michigan College (now Western Michigan University), studying violin with Julius Stulberg. During this time, he became concertmaster of the college orchestra and the Kalamazoo Junior Symphony, which was also conducted by Julius Stulberg. He was also a member of the Kalamazoo Symphony.

Upon graduation, he was named the Outstanding Music Graduate, and stayed on for one year as an interim faculty member, teaching string classes and playing in the faculty string quartet. The following year, he taught public school music in Pontiac, MI and played in the Pontiac Symphony, which included members of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. For the next five years, he taught strings and conducted the high school orchestra in Grand Haven, Michigan.

Dr. Mason began his graduate studies at the University of Michigan in 1958, where he studied with Gilbert Ross, Angel Reyes, and Stuart Canin. He received his Masters of Music degree in 196 1. He went to do his doctoral work at Michigan, where he received a teaching fellowship and assisted Professor Elizabeth Green with string music education courses. He received his Doctorate of Musical Arts in 1969.

In 1962, he was appointed to the music faculty of Albion College and invited by Richard Massman, the Jackson Symphony conductor, to become the concertmaster of the Jackson Symphony. At Albion, he taught music theory and music education courses, applied lessons for violin, viola and bass, and conducted the college orchestra. One of the most meaningful performances, out of the many he gave, was performing the slow movement of the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto at the memorial service for John F. Kennedy in November of 1963. He also taught as an adjunct instructor at Olivet College and was on the faculty of the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp. In 1985 and 1993, he toured Europe with college music groups. Dr. Mason was named Teacher of the Year in 1993.

In 1978, he became chairman of the judging committee for the Julius Stulberg International Competition, where he worked with many guest artists, including Yehudi Menuhin, Josef Gingold and Joshua Bell.  Dr. Mason has contributed immeasurably to the Jackson Symphony. He has performed many of the great violin concertos with the orchestra and most recently, assisted in establishing the chamber music series. Throughout the years, he has performed with his wife, his grandson and granddaughter-in-law, and many close friends.

Dr. Mason and his wife, pianist Coral Mason, have four daughters and twelve grandchildren. They are very active in their church and community.  Dr. Mason wishes to express his thanks and deepest admiration to Steve Osmond and to his friends in the orchestra and the community, who have made these past forty years so full of rich musical and personal memories.

     Philip Mason began his tenure as concertmaster of the Jackson Symphony Orchestra in 1962, the same year he came to Albion College as an instructor of music.  He retired from Albion as Professor Emeritus in 1994.
     Born in Battle Creek, he studied with Oliver Parkes.  During his high school years he served as concertmaster at the National Music Camp in Interlochen and also performed on national radio.  He graduated from Western Michigan University, where he studied with Julis Stulberg.  As winner of vaarious competitions he was guest artist with the orchestras of Battle Creek, Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids.  His graduate degrees were earned at the University where he worked with Gilbert Ross, Angel Reyes and Stuart Canin.  His performances as soloist and concertmaster have taken him to Europe and Carnegie Hall.  He was judging chaiman of the Julis Stulberg International String Competition for many years and worked with a number of respected artists and teachers, including Yehudi Menuhin, Josef Gingold and Joshua Bell.
     It is particularly gratifying to Dr. Mason that many of the present and former members of the Jackson Symphony have either studied or been coached by him.
     Dr. Mason and his wife coral, a pianist, were parents of four daughters, and have nine grandchildren.