One of the two victims killed by explosives police say were the work of serial bomber reportedly died just days before he would have learned that he had been accepted to a prestigious music college.

As CrimeOnline reported, 17-year-old Draylen Mason was killed is believed to have been killed while shielding his mother from the blast after an explosive device arrived at his home.

He was an accomplished musician with plans to continue playing the double bass in college, according to the Chicago Tribune.

William Dick conducted Draylen as a member of the Austin Youth Orchestra and described the “spark” he noticed in the young musician.

“When Draylen appeared, in some sense he was incandescent, like a Rembrandt painting where the light sort of comes out of him,” he said.

The conductor recalled feeling that “his little spirit was there” in the room as he played, “along with the technical proficiency he had.”

At the time of his death on March 12, Mason did not know the status of his college applications, including his interest in attending the Oberlin Conservatory of Music in Ohio.

As the New York Post reported, his teacher heard from school officials this week that he was accepted.

The decision had reportedly been made prior to Mason’s death, though the announcements were not made until this week.

In addition to Mason, 39-year-old Anthony House died as a result of an explosion blamed on Mark Conditt.

Mason’s mother was among four people injured this month in a string of attacks that ended when the suspect detonated a bomb inside his vehicle as police attempted to contact him.

[Featured image: Draylen Mason/YouTube video screenshot]