Renaissance Kid

SNOHOMISH — Author, musician, filmmaker, tennis ace — it’s impossible to describe Chad Merkley with a single word.

“I’m doing all right, getting good grades

The future’s so bright, I gotta wear shades”

The 17-year-old from Snohomish loves 1980s music, but unlike Timbuk 3, the group responsible for the song that could serve as his theme, Merkley is no one-hit wonder.

The top singles player for the Snohomish High School boys tennis team, Merkley wrote and published a book at age 8, plays piano well enough to earn a wage at it ­­— he entertains Friday nights at Mill Creek Country Club, among other places ­— composes songs and has recorded two CDs.

“(Chad) can do anything he choses to do,” his mother, Amber Merkley, said. “If he’s passionate about it and has the desire, the sky’s the limit.”

Combining his creative impulses, Chad Merkley has written, directed, acted in and scored two movies and says filmmaking is where his future lies.

“Writing, composing, getting the audio and visual together, that’s the next venue that seemed plausible for me,” he said. “I love filmmaking.”

Merkley’s first film, a community-service piece about teenage drinking and driving called “Across the Bridge,” won the top prizes for picture and soundtrack at the Eastside Film Festival in February.

He took a decidedly different path ­— and showed a determination to stay true to his vision — in his next project, a crime film titled “Crime Warlords of Snohomish County.”

“I did it somewhat in jest, a little farming community gets hit by a crime wave,” Merkley said. “That title went through some controversy. So many people wanted it to be different, but I wanted ‘Snohomish County’ in it.”

That kind of resolve has played a part in all of Merkley’s accomplishments.

“Everything that he’s pursued and done has come from a passion within him,” Amber Merkley said. “He picks something and has the desire to be the best he can be at it.”

Chad Merkley’s pursuit of creative excellence began early. He was 7 when he wrote “Too Many Me’s” and won the Steck-Vaughn Publish-A-Book contest over more than 8,000 entries nationwide.

The tale of an 8-year-old genius who discovers that cloning himself to do chores isn’t such a good idea sprang from an imagination nurtured and encouraged by Merkley’s parents, Amber and Jerry, maternal grandparents Albert and Virginia Armistead, and elementary schoolteacher Julie Filer.

“They gave me the confidence,” Chad Merkley said. “I believe confidence is the fuel to follow your dreams.”

Albert Armistead died of cancer about seven years ago, but before that Merkley paid tribute to his grandfather’s influence — and teased him ­— by naming the main character of “Too Many Me’s” after him.

“That was a joke because he hated the name Albert,” Merkley said. “He never went by it … it was just a joke that I always called him ‘Albert.’”

Merkley was 8 when the book was published, the same year he began two more pursuits: playing tennis and the piano.

“Piano was one of those things that I wasn’t sure about at first,” Merkley said. “I heard a song on the radio and asked my teacher if she could teach it to me. She got the sheet music and taught it to me … I realized if I got good enough, I could play any song I hear.”

Merkley began writing music and at age 12 recorded his first CD, “Inspired,” playing his own songs and some of his classical favorites. A second CD of contemporary songs, “By Firelight,” and his own business, “Chad Merkley Pianist Extraordinaire,” followed.

Merkley is a senior at the Chrysalis School, a private facility in Woodinville that he’s attended since seventh grade. Because Chrysalis does not offer tennis, Merkley has been allowed to compete for Snohomish High School the past four years.

“He’s a hell of a tennis player … (who) spends a lot of time developing his game, as he does with everything,” Panthers head coach Dick Jansen said. “It’s a vehicle to him … (a physical) way for him to express himself.”

College — specifically Chapman College in Orange, Calif., which has a strong film study program — is Merkley’s immediate goal. Even as a straight-A student with a solid resume, he knows getting into Chapman won’t be easy, so he is preparing accordingly.

Considering what he has already accomplished, that’s almost as good as a guarantee.

“Things are going great,

and they’re only getting better I’m doing all right, getting good grades

The future’s so bright, I gotta wear shades.”

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

Lake Stevens’ Kamryn Mason attempts to flip Glacier Peak’s Kyla Brown onto her back during 110-pound match at the 4A girls wrestling district tournament on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025 in Mill Creek, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Vikings girls wrestling conquers 4A District 1 Tournament

Lake Stevens dominated with champions in six weight classes and 18 total state-qualifiers

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) smiles as head coach Nick Sirianni holds up the Lombardi trophy after they defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22 in Super Bowl LIX at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. (Timothy A. Clary / AFP / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Eagles overwhelm Chiefs to win the Super Bowl

The Philadelphia Eagles perhaps did not vanquish the Kansas… Continue reading

Coach Derek Lopez (far right) and the Lake Stevens boys' wrestling team celebrates with their championship trophy at the WIAA 4A District 1 Tournament at Jackson High School on Feb. 8, 2025.
Lake Stevens boys capture district wrestling title

The Vikings had 17 state-qualifiers; second-place Arlington led with five weight class winners

Edmonds-Woodway wrestlers react to a pin during the match against Meadowdale on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep boys wrestling roundup for Saturday, Feb. 8

Edmonds-Woodway boys wins Wesco 3A South wrestling title.

Kamiak’s Kai Burgess has her arm raised in the air after beating Arlington’s Jaymari O’Neal in the 125-pound match at the 4A girls wrestling district tournament on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025 in Mill Creek, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Rebuilding Kamiak girls wrestling steps forward at District Tournament

Ki Burgess and Eden Cole each won their weight class in Friday’s WIAA District 1 Girls’ 4A Tournament

Prep basketball roundup for Saturday, Feb. 8

Tulalip Heritage boys advance to district title game.

Meadowdale’s Kyairra Roussin takes the ball to the hoop during the game against Archbishop Murphy on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep girls basketball roundup for Friday, Feb. 7

Kyairra Roussin’s deep buzzer-beater lifts Meadowdale over Stanwood.

Prep boys basketball roundup for Friday, Feb. 7

Lake Stevens passes Mariner in league standings to take final district slot.

Seattle head coach Mike Holmgren watches his team against Washington Sunday, November 9, 2003. (George Bridges / KRT / Tribune News Services)
No Holmgren in Hall is a travesty

The Former Seahawks coach carries a resume superior to many already in the HOF.

A Snohomish School District truck clears the parking lot at Glacier Peak High School on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. (Aaron Coe / The Herald)
Inclement weather cancellations strain high school sports calendar

With state tournaments on the horizon, ADs from Wesco, Northwest and Kingco must be flexible

Gonzaga overcomes stagnant start to beat LMU

Bulldogs get ‘best of best’ play down the stretch in 73-53 win.

Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) celebrates during a stop of the Arizona Cardinals at Lumen Field on Nov. 24, 2024 (Photo courtesy of Rod Mar / Seattle Seahawks)
Leonard Williams restructures Seahawks deal

More moves may be coming as Seattle deals with salary cap.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.