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Mason was also involved in a youth orchestra program called the Austin Soundwaves, which caters to underserved children in East Austin.

Doug Dempster, the dean of the College of Fine Arts and the University of Texas-Austin, said that faculty from the school regularly teach in the program and \"I've been watching Draylen blossom in the program for the last few years.\"

\"PHOTO:
Dana Wygmans
PHOTO: Shown here is Draylen Mason, a victim of one of the Austin bombings, left, posing with his orchestra teacher Dana Wygmans.
>

\"He was a remarkably and precociously talented bass player whose talents developed enough through the program for him to audition into top music schools,\" Dempster said in a statement.

Dempster said that Mason was set to start as a freshman at the Butler School of Music at the University of Texas next year.

\"PHOTO:
Dana Wygmans
PHOTO: Shown here is Austin explosion victim Draylen Mason, third from left, performing on the bass during a concert.
>

\"The loss of any child is heartbreaking. The loss of a child with such conspicuous ambition, talent and determination is the cruelest kind of heartbreak. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, teachers, and fellow students,\" he wrote.

Austin police said Mason's mother, whose name they did not publicly disclose, was injured in the blast as well and is in stable condition at a local hospital.

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