Draylen Mason Fellows Program
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
APPLICATION DEADLINE FOR 2025-2026 IS MARCH 14, 2025
FELLOWS APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
Applications are open to rising freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior high school musicians (note: students of all musical styles and backgrounds are permitted). Throughout the course of one year, Draylen Mason Fellows will receive lessons and mentoring sessions from musicians, industry professionals, and community leaders.
ELIGIBLE INSTRUMENTS AND VOICE TYPES
Winds: flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, saxophone
Strings: violin, viola, cello, bass (acoustic or electric), guitar (acoustic or electric) , vihuela, guitarron, harp
Brass: trumpet, horn, trombone, euphonium, tuba
Percussion: marimba, vibraphone, or xylophone, drum set
Voice: any style and range
Piano or other keyboard instrument
APPLICATION DEADLINE FOR 2025-2026 IS MARCH 14, 2025
Questions about applying to the Draylen Mason Fellows Program?
ALL DRAYLEN MASON FELLOWS PROGRAM APPLICANTS WILL SUBMIT THE FOLLOWING:
(1) Application Form - link here >>
(2) Recommendation Form (submitted by the recommender) - link here >>
(3) Video Recording of a musical excerpt of their choosing - the link to this is submitted with your application form
(4) Video Essay - the link to this is submitted with your application form
(5) Submit by March 14, 2025
PART 1: APPLICATION FORM
To be completed by the applicant
All DMFP applicants will submit an application form (see button below), which will require basic information about the applicant, contact info, and other material, as well as the links to the video recording (part 3 below) and video essay (part 4 below).
PART 2: RECOMMENDATION
To be completed by the recommender
All DMFP applicants are required to obtain a recommendation - recommenders should follow the button below to complete the recommendation form. Recommenders should be a person familiar with the applicant’s work, but should not be a family member or friend. Acceptable recommenders may include your private instructor, orchestra/band/ensemble director, chamber music coach, etc.
PART 3: MUSIC AUDITION RECORDING INSTRUCTIONS
ELIGIBLE INSTRUMENTS AND VOICE TYPES
Winds, brass, strings, percussion, piano, keyboard, and voice types are eligible to audition for DMFP.
AUDITION RECORDING INSTRUCTIONS
In a two to four-minute video, please record a musical excerpt that best represents you as a performing musician. This piece or song may be from solo repertoire (etudes, sonatas, concertos, etc.), chamber music, or orchestra/band. It may also be an original composition, song, improvisation, etc.
RECORDING REQUIREMENTS
Using a smartphone (or similar device), please record all audition excerpts with a full and clear view of the applicant and their instrument. Please find a space to record with little or no background noise or distractions. A classroom, practice room, living room, office, etc. is recommended.
**Note: We are evaluating the applicant based on their audition and not the quality of the recording. Applicants do not need to use any special equipment, microphones, cameras, etc. Android or iPhone quality recordings are more than sufficient.
UPLOAD TO YOUTUBE REQUIRED
Please follow the instructions below to upload to YouTube.
YouTube Upload Instructions: Google Doc | PDF
PART 4: VIDEO ESSAY RECORDING INSTRUCTIONS
VIDEO ESSAY RECORDING INSTRUCTIONS
In a three to four-minute video, please address the following:
(1) Discuss an important social issue to you. Why is it important/meaningful to you?
(2) What have you done to affect change in your community?
(3) Why do you want to be a Draylen Mason Fellow? What can you add to the program?
RECORDING REQUIREMENTS
Using a smartphone (or similar device), please record all audition excerpts with a full and clear view of the applicant and their instrument. Please find a space to record with little or no background noise or distractions. A classroom, practice room, living room, office, etc. is recommended.
**Note: We are evaluating the applicant based on their audition and not the quality of the recording. Applicants do not need to use any special equipment, microphones, cameras, etc. Android or iPhone quality recordings are more than sufficient.
UPLOAD TO YOUTUBE REQUIRED
Please follow the instructions below to upload to YouTube.
YouTube Upload Instructions: Google Doc | PDF
PART 5: SUBMISSION
Submit part 1, part 3, and part 4 in the DMFP Application Form >>
Recommendation forms (part 2) are submitted by the recommender, not the applicant.
Questions?
Please contact our program assistant, Dr. Gabi Mora-Fallas
Email: gabi@austinsoundwaves.org | Call/Text: (512) 927-6070