About The Draylen Mason Fellowship
2019 Update:
This past month, Austin Soundwaves announced their first class of Draylen Mason Fellows.
Read more about Draylen’s legacy and the Draylen Mason Fellow Program (#DMFP) in “DO AS DRAYLEN DID” an article by Hermes Camacho, Program Manager of Austin Soundwaves and #DMFP.
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First and foremost, everyone at Austin Soundwaves and El Sistema USA would like to thank you – our community, family, and friends – for the incredible outpouring of support that you have shown to honor the memory of Draylen Mason.
The Draylen Mason Fellows Program is a full-scholarship initiative of Austin Soundwaves designed to honor the legacy of Draylen Mason and help further the musical and personal development of high school musicians. Up to five students per year will be chosen for the program, and they will receive intensive weekly private instruction as well as access to an international network of musicians, mentors, and past fellows. Fellows will also get to participate in two summer retreats and will receive up to $2,000 during the course of the fellowship to offset costs related to the development of their creative work. Most notably, fellows will work together throughout the year on a capstone performance project that will use art as a means to bridge divides in their community and address a pressing social or political issue that is meaningful to the group.
“We want to make sure that we honor Draylen in the most meaningful way possible,” said Slevin. “Music changed Draylen’s life, and I think he would want to see us share that gift with as many students as possible.”