McKenna Alise Petersen

McKenna Petersen, age 12, is from Fulshear, TX. She began taking violin lessons at age 3 with Danette Warren and currently studies with Dr. Mauricio Oliveros. McKenna is a seventh grader at Dean Leaman Junior High where she is concertmaster of the varsity orchestra. She is a member of Houston Youth Symphony’s top orchestra under the direction of Dr. Michael Webster. In 2023, McKenna performed with the Houston Civic Symphony as the junior winner of the Young Artists Competition. She was also selected as the associate concertmaster of the TMEA Region 13 Junior High Symphony Orchestra. In 2024, she placed second in the Virtuosi of Houston Concerto Competition. She has attended Institutes and Music Festivals in Oregon, New York, Tennessee, and Texas. McKenna is also a two-time National Champion Fiddler and holds state titles in Colorado, Kentucky, Oklahoma and Texas. In her spare time, she enjoys hanging out with friends, reading, swimming, rock climbing and playing piano and mandolin.