Mason Abrell, YC’2026, an undergraduate double major in Global Affairs and Physics, is one of forty-eight Yale College juniors recognized by the Council of the Heads of Colleges for their scholarship, character, and contributions to college life.
The Joseph Lentilhon Selden Memorial Award, “given each year to a member of the junior class of Yale College whose verve, idealism, and constructive interest in music and the humanities exemplify those qualities for which Selden is remembered.”
Abrell’s citation reads:
“Mason Abrell is a model of verve and idealism whose musical interests expand beyond his own performance to include promoting music education for young students. Since his arrival at Yale, Mason has played the flute in the Davenport Pops Orchestra and currently serves as the Davenport Liaison for DPops, helping to connect this outstanding musical ensemble to the life of its namesake college. Mason is also a strong advocate for music education, helping to promote interest in and access to music programs for younger generations through exposure and enrichment programs that encourage younger students to explore the powerful and enriching world of music.”
Abrell commented, “I am so grateful to Davenport College and the Council of the Heads of Colleges for the honor of the Joseph Lentilhon Selden Memorial Award, especially in being peers with so many talented musicians who also received the award. Truly though, I think this award belongs to the Davenport Pops Orchestra as an organization more broadly, for all of the incredible work that so many amazing musicians and people have put into making music accessible to wider audiences, including younger generations which may not be super excited for a Tchaikovsky concerto, but love a full-orchestra rendition of Star Wars or Coconut Mall. Specifically, the DPops board has put in countless hours into organizing concerts, outreach to local schools, and arranging accessible music, has truly impacted not only the local community’s relationship with music, but Yale students’ relationship as well, reconnecting with the fundamental joy of making music. So, thank you to the orchestra for all of your hard work and support in making this award possible, thank you to all the various levels of Yale administration that have allowed us to thrive over the years, and thank you to the Yale community more broadly for always supporting us. With that, I hope to see you all at our next Woolsey concert in the spring!”
This story was adapted from the May 2, 2025 Yale News story.