A Delaware native living in Los Angeles is the newest member of the chart-topping acapella group, Straight No Chaser.
Freedom Young is a University of Delaware graduate, and a musician, specializing in doo-wop versions of modern-day songs.
Young started to do musical theater and choir while growing up in Delaware, and joined an acapella group while at UD.
He notes that he started creating music while at UD during his junior year.
Young is joining Straight No Chaser right before their nationwide ‘25th Anniversary Celebration’ tour starts this fall.
The group reached out to Young earlier this year in March by email when someone in their group retired to see if Young was interested in auditioning for the group.
Young describes that initial email.
"We heard your name come up, and you know we decided to extend an invitation to you and see if you were interested in auditioning. There aren't too many opportunities that come like this, and especially in acapella. I mean they are elite so I jumped at the opportunity,” said Young.
It was a no-brainer for Young not only because of the group’s notoriety, but because he says they fit him so well both personally and professionally.
"I feel like it was oh wow there is definitely some crossover in what I naturally do and what I naturally gravitate towards as an artist. I think that would be a great fit, but also I saw that they had families. Actually my partner and I are expecting in November," said Young.
Young also does educational arts programming for U.S. Embassies around the world as a Cultural Ambassador with the U.S. State Department.
