David Freeman may only be 16 years old, but he’s not letting that keep him from pursuing his dream.

The young musician will begin attending the School for Creative and Performing Arts in Cincinnati in the fall. He was one of the many who auditioned for the school earlier this month.

Although the South Point resident is pursuing his career at a young age, he’s only recently come into the music business, following in the footsteps of his dad, bluegrass musician Joe Freeman.

“My dad played, and I listened to a lot of the stuff that he listened to,” Freeman said. “But I didn’t start playing until about three years ago.”

When he did finally pick up an instrument, it was not a guitar, as you might expect from a teen, but a bluegrass staple: the mandolin. (Although he may have an instrument popular in country, Freeman said he likes all genres of music.)

He may have only been playing for three years, but Freeman’s mother Cheryl said that he’s worked hard to make up for lost time.

“It’s a God-given talent, I know that,” Cheryl Freeman said. “But that is all he does is play music, from the time he comes home to the time he goes to bed. He does his homework at school so he’ll have time to work on his

music when he goes home. It’s like an obsession.”

Now all that hard work has paid off, as Freeman will move to Cincinnati with his mom to begin his junior year in the fall at the School for Creative and Performing Arts. Even those unfamiliar with the school probably know of at least one of its grads, including Drew Lachey, singer with pop group 98 Degrees and winner of Dancing With the Stars, as well as Rebecca Budig, formerly of soap All My Children.

During his audition, Freeman was asked to play on not only the mandolin, but the violin which he has also studied. For both instruments, he didn’t play a prepared piece but rather came up with something on the spot.

It was obviously enough to impress the judges, as he was accepted into classes on the spot. Freeman now begins a new chapter of his life, leaving his old friends and school behind. But, as always, he’s more concerned about his music.

“I’m not worried, I’ve changed schools plenty of times,” Freeman said.