Polk State graduate bound for prestigious music school in Boston

When Mason Jenkins was just 3 years old, his parents found him playing the drums with pots and pans from the cabinet. Now a member of Polk State College’s 133rd commencement class, Jenkins has been accepted into one of the premier institutions for music in the nation.

Jenkins will be taking his talents to Boston and the Berklee College of Music. Berklee is regarded as one of the best music conservatories in the country, with more than 300 Grammy Winners, among other notable alumni. Jenkins credits the Polk State Music Program with expanding his musical skillset.

“I really learned the fundamentals of music at Polk State,” Jenkins recalled. “I learned music theory for the first time. It introduced me to different genres of music and really expanded my repertoire. From symphonics to vocals, my perspective grew so much. I found out there was so much more to music than just knowing how to read notes and play.”

Ranked No. 3 by TheBestSchools, Berklee College of Music sits behind only the Juilliard School in New York and the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. For Jenkins, being accepted was a surreal feeling.

“To be accepted was an amazing, out-of-this-world experience,” Jenkins reflected. “My parents believed in me, but I was pretty on edge about it. I put a lot into my auditions. To learn that I got in, I just jumped up and down. It took a while to really set in. That’s the dream college for musicians.”

A 2022 graduate of Discovery Academy of Lake Alfred, Jenkins was a member of the Jazz Band while at Polk State.

“It was truly a community here at Polk State,” Jenkins added. “Everyone knew each other; it was a great environment. The teachers cared and paid great attention to detail. They didn’t just want you to learn but to understand what you learned and apply it. They were very positive figures for me.”

Jenkins dealt with struggles academically early on during his Polk State tenure. He credited Success Coach Keila Febo with helping his academic turnaround. Jenkins will graduate on Wednesday with his Polk State Associate in Arts and a 3.1 grade-point average.

“She was everything you would want in a success coach,” Jenkins said of Febo. “She was there for me with anything I needed, mentored me and believed in me the whole time. To be graduating with better than a 3.0 after how I started is amazing.”

Inspired by legendary musicians Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder and bassist Matt Ramsey, Jenkins specializes in bass guitar. He received his first bass guitar as a gift from his grandmother when he was 14 years old.

“All my life, I’ve loved music,” Jenkins explained. “I had always had an ear for bass, but I didn’t originally recognize what it was. Since then, it’s become my passion.”

In addition to his musical inspirations, Jenkins is fortunate to have had mentors in his life. His father, Mario Jenkins, is a professional keyboardist.

“He’s one of my biggest inspirations, if not my biggest,” Jenkins said. “He makes his own music. I want to one day be where he is.”

With seven years of experience with the bass guitar, Jenkins plays in the band for his Freedom Church of Tampa congregation. He’s also played more than 300 gigs locally. During his time at Polk State, Jenkins also got to know Jeff Phillips, a former adjunct music professor and a performer.

“He was a big mentor for me, especially from a jazz standpoint,” Jenkins added. “I’ve been fortunate to have a lot of musical inspirations.”

Set to enroll at Berklee College of Music for the Spring 2026 Semester, Jenkins will pursue a bachelor’s degree but has not yet pinned down a major. Music Production, Music Performance and Music Business are all possibilities.

“My goal is to be a professional musician,” Jenkins explained. “I want to do everything I can with music. I want to go on tour; I want to help produce records. I’d like to give lessons as well.”

Led by faculty members with decades of experience in music and music education, the Polk State Music Program is part of The Arts at Polk State and emphasizes versatility, preparing students to build careers based on their passion. Along with Music, The Arts at Polk State offers Theatre and Visual Arts. In addition to academic studies, each area offers students numerous performance and exhibition opportunities throughout Polk County. Jenkins offered advice for students considering a career in music.

“Have a goal and know where you want to be with your career,” he urged. “Music is one of those fields where it can be tough to find your way, so listen to multiple genres. That will make you versatile. Take your time, practice and keep working to develop your craft and get better. Use social media to sell yourself and chart your progress. These things have helped me.”