Whiz Kid: Caley Petrucci

This week's Whiz Kid is an accomplished musician, martial artist, chess player and a dedicated volunteer.  We're thrilled to feature Mercer Island High School junior Caley Petrucci as a Whiz Kid, for her dedication to her passions as well as her commitment to sharing her skills with others.

• Name, Age: Caley Petrucci, 16 years old

• Class, School:  Junior, Mercer Island High School

• Accomplishment: Caley has been competing musically since she was in middle school, making Junior All-State as a seventh grader in flute and making High School All-State as a freshman and sophomore in bassoon. Caley plays the bassoon in the Seattle Junior Symphony Orchestra and is the principal bassoonist in the Bellevue Youth Symphony Orchestra. At Mercer Island High School, Caley plays the flute for the Wind Ensemble group and the tenor saxaphone for the Jazz Ensemble group.  Caley was one of two band musicians selected from Mercer Island High School to play at the MENC Northwest Division All-Northwest Orchestra at Benaroya Hall and earlier in the year, Caley placed first in bassoon in the WMEA Eastshore Regional Competition, allowing her to compete in the State Solo/Ensemble Contest in April at Central Washington University in Ellensburg.

• Why this is Awesome:  Caley likes to support other musicians that have not had the opportunities that she has been provided and has joined the Seattle Music Partners volunteer organization to provide free music lessons to underserved elementary and middle school students in Seattle's Central District.