Canton Patch Whiz Kid: Grace-Mary Burega

Name: Grace-Mary Burega

School: A sophomore at .

Key to Awesomeness: An all-star student and musician.

Accomplishments: Grace was nominated by her parents for this week's Canton Patch Whiz Kid. The Canton High sophomore excels in music and keeps busy with her musical career.

She "is an outstanding musician, playing eight woodwinds. She started with the alto saxophone in Grade 4 at the (School,) then added clarinet and flute in her private lessons while at the ," her father, Paul, said in his nomination. "Going into high school, she picked up the tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone, piccolo and bass clarinet followed by the alto flute."

"She has been part of the all-town band, middle school band, middle school jazz band, high school band, high school jazz band and mentored all-town band members on saxophone/flute/clarinet. She has performed at junior district, junior jazz district, and with the Honors Band at Carnegie Hall in February 2011 on clarinet."

Grace "is currently enrolled in the New England Conservatory Prep school, performing bass clarinet in the Renaissance and Baroque Wind Band on Fridays, and in the jazz certificate program on Saturdays," he father said. The Canton High student is "performing on baritone saxophone, flute and clarinet as well as studying jazz composition, jazz theory, jazz history, and jazz styles. She has performed in the pit band in the Stoughton production of Annie Get Your Gun on clarinet and flute, and in the Canton High musical productions. She performed this past summer at the South Shore Conservatory Flute Ensemble on Alto Flute, and plays alto saxophone in the Canton High Band. She also performs with the , which meets most Thursday nights at the Canton Legion."

Congrats, Grace!