The Wright Kids: Where They Are Now

By: Shannon Kelly Lake Life Magazine

10 years ago, in Hollywood, Ca., a 12-year-old girl, a 9-year-old boy, and a 5-year-old boy from Rocky Mount, Va., took the stage as finalists in the Top 10 on America’s Got Talent. Sage, Baruch, and Levi Wright, known professionally as The Wright Kids, gave another astounding musical performance. Though they did not win the show in the end, their professional music career was off to a whirlwind start. Now, 10 years later as hype has died down, the family has been fondly reflecting on their journey and looking forward to the futures ahead of them. Although the siblings are not so active performing together and are focusing more on academics and careers, they all retain their love for music.

The discovery of talent came early for the Wright children. Sage discovered her passion and gift at age 3 with the violin. She plays the instrument in a plethora of different genres, and learned to play the mandolin at age 8. Baruch was singing by age 3, and began playing guitar at age 5. Levi could sing perfect pitch at 3 years old. These three formed a sibling musical trio: The Wright Kids. Selah, the youngest, has been “singing since she could talk.” She also has a deep love for playing piano. “We wanted to give them musical education alongside their school,” Suzi Wright, mother, says. However, she claims that her kids do not inherit their gifts from herself or her husband, Barry. “Neither of us have a musical bone in our bodies except for the fact that we just love music,” she admits. “We thought that would be a wonderful thing to give our kids and try to train them up in that.”

Growing up, homeschooling allowed the Wright family the flexibility needed to nurture their music careers. “We had homeschool in the mornings, and off to the lessons and musical events in the afternoons and evenings during the week,” Suzi recalls. “And then weekends were always music-filled events. And that was their childhood growing up. They stayed busy enjoying that and all the perks that come with travel. It was a very good lifestyle.”

Because the Wright children were so young during many of their major musical adventures, their own specific memories are fuzzy. However, some things still stand out. “You don’t really realize the weight of how extraordinary it is to do something like that until you’re older,” Baruch says. “It was really weird to see [David Hasselhoff] out there in person at the theater. There was one show where Ozzy Osbourne had showed up. I passed him in the hallway, gave him a high five. Stuff like that didn’t really strike me as strange then, but I look back now and I’m like, ‘Whoa. That happened to me in real life!’”

When considering ages, the Wright Kids are now more appropriately the “Wright Young Adults.” After their sensational music careers calmed down in the years following their America’s Got Talent adventure, they began focusing more on school and the future. Sage is now 22 years old. She graduated from James Madison University with her Bachelor of Arts in Music Industry/Music Business, and is currently pursuing her Master’s degree in Violin Performance and Indiana University. Baruch is 19 years old, currently studying health sciences at Virginia Western Community College while working part-time as a supervisor with UPS. He hopes to transfer to Virginia Tech next year, where he plans to study Biochemistry and nutritional food and exercise, aiming to pursue a career as a personal trainer. And he intends to keep making music. “I can do music regardless of whether I study it in college or not,” he says. Levi is 16 years old and a Junior in high school; Selah is a high school Freshman, nearly 14 years old. Both participate in the Roanoke Youth Symphony Orchestra, where they plan to remain until they graduate. Both currently play in the percussion section. Selah has been honing her jazz skills with her voice teacher, a refreshing, enjoyable change for her.

When they are not practicing their music, the siblings enjoy other activities and hobbies. “I’ve been playing soccer a lot,” says Levi. He also spends time playing his electric bass guitar and the drum set downstairs.

“I like playing piano, and I like playing with my kittens,” Selah adds, brightening as she tells about the two new kittens she recently got. “Sometimes I go biking with my brother, and I walk around town with my mom.”

“My hobbies are kind of spread all over the place,” Baruch explains. “I like to spend a lot of time outdoors, but I equally like to be lazy.” His enjoyment of fitness and personal trainer aspirations has him working out “5 to 6 days a week, at least.” Baruch reveals that he is also a “habitual Netflix binger.” “There’s all kinds of little things I’m into,” he concludes.

Asking the Wright Kids to choose a favorite instrument would be like asking parents to pick a favorite child. Sage is most active with the violin. “All of the instruments I play, I really enjoy,” says Baruch, but “I’m definitely the most proficient on guitar.” “I guess my favorite instrument is probably piano, because I play that a lot,” Selah says. She equally loves singing and playing percussion. “Percussion is fun, because there’s so many different instruments in that that I like to play. I like to play timpani, snare drums, bass drum, and sometimes I like to play xylophone and marimba, and stuff like that.” “I just got an electric bass [guitar], and I think it’s awesome,” Levi adds. “I really like playing snare drum and all the different percussion instruments.”

“We’ve always had wonderful experiences with our musical adventures, and our communities have been so supportive and nurturing to our family,” Suzi says gratefully. “Giving them that music education growing up was a really good choice, and we’re just always thankful that we were able to do that.”

On September 8, Selah Wright will be giving a performance at 7 p.m. in the Green Room at 128 Campbell Avenue, Roanoke, Va. “She’s doing a mix of jazz: old, nostalgic jazz tunes and some contemporary pop tunes,” Suzi says. “She’s getting the boys to help her out with some backup stuff.” Everyone to attend the free event and hear how the child stars have grown.