Ali Rucker
Musician and Scholar

“In a crowd when someone’s laughing, surely she’s the one to blame. And her playfulness and mischief makes our lives an easy game.”  Those two lines, written by an unknown poet in the 1970’s, could have been written about Marin School of the Arts student, Ali Rucker. 

Rucker is also known for her academic success, earning a 4.3 grade point average for the past two years.  She’s enrolled in several honors and Advanced Placement courses, but says that, besides Music, science is her favorite subject.  “I really like the analytical aspects of science.  I am always analyzing people and situations, and science feeds into that aspect of my personality,” says Ali.

Not surprisingly, Ali has already received almost a dozen solicitations from some of the top colleges throughout the country.  She says that she has plenty of time to consider her options, but hopes that she will be able to get a full scholarship to her college of choice. 

Ali Rucker, who lives in Novato with her father and grandmother, attended public elementary and middle schools in Novato.   Her mother also lives in Novato, with her older sister and brother, both of whom attended Novato High School. Ali started playing the flute in 5th grade, mostly because her older sister played.  But once she started, she found that she too, loved the instrument.  Ali took private lessons during middle school with Ms. Ray, while participating in the Hill Middle School Concert band and Flute Ensemble.  Before auditioning for MSA, she practiced for up to 2 hours a day until she felt she was “good enough to make it”.  Ali believes she was accepted to MSA because of “all of that extra work I put in that summer to improve my playing”. 

In addition to music and school work, Ali somehow finds the time to play sports.  Most recently, she was on the Varsity water polo team, which required more than 2 hours of practice per day.  Ali enjoys water polo because of the team camaraderie and her love of water.  “We had a really good time last year, and it helped me get into great shape,” Ali says.   

Rucker is also a member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church youth group.  Next month, she heads to Mexico as part of the Habitat for Humanities program.  “I think it’s important to see how others live and the challenges they face.  It makes me appreciate what opportunities I have so much more,” she says.

At age 15, Ali has the whole world ahead of her.  She is a truly unique person and those who know her say she will go far in this world.  If you haven’t yet heard of Ali Rucker, write down her name….because someday you just might!