Redmond Patch Whiz Kids: Composers Alexandra Shield and Graciela Lagraba

Names and ages: Alexandra Shield, 11, and Graciela Lagraba, 9

School:

Accomplishment: Graciela and Alexandra wrote original music compositions that have been selected for the Washington State PTA's annual Reflections art contest.

Key to Awesomeness: Rosa Parks music teacher Cynthia Dean says Graciela and Alexandra are two talented composers who wrote their own songs without her help.

"I was very proud that they did this," Dean said. "Most kids don’t jump in and enter a musical piece … it is something pretty special.”

Dean said fourth-grader Graciela likes to make up and sing songs on a regular basis. Her piece, "Together We Can," is named after the Reflections contest's theme for 2011. The song's lyrics expand around the idea of collaboration: "Together we can improve / Together we can improve / We can stay together / And we can work hard / And we can have unity and cooperation, cooperation."

Sixth-grader Alexandra's piece includes parts for both the flute and piano. When performing the song, Dean said Alexandra plays piano while her friend Emma Clinton accompanies her on the flute. The duo has performed in front of the LWSD school board and at a PTSA founders' luncheon. Alexandra has taken piano lessons with Wayne Slater of the Pied Piper Music School since second grade; at school, she also plays the flute, sings in the school choir and participates in Dean's African drum group.

The girls' pieces are now being judged at the state level, where they could be selected for a national PTA contest. Thank you to Cynthia Dean for the nomination!

Do you know a kid or a program that everyone in Redmond should know about? Submit your nomination in our comment box below or e-mail the information to Caitlin.Moran@patch.com. Be sure to include all of the following information:

• Nominator's Name
• Nominator's E-Mail
• Whiz Kid's Name
• Whiz Kid's Age
• Whiz Kid's School
• Whiz Kid's Accomplishment
• Whiz Kid's Key to Awesomeness (what made him/her successful?)

If your nominee is selected, we'll contact you about getting a photo of the young person or team. For questions, e-mail Caitlin.Moran@patch.com.