With a casual air of confidence that only a high school senior on the cusp of graduation can possess, Bryce MacCallum juggles school, soccer, music and a social life.

The Bigfork High School senior has found success with his music and recently released his first CD, “Black and White Feeling.”

How does he balance all the things in his life? According to MacCallum, he just does.

“It just kind of happens,” he said. “One of the key things I do is not care.”

MacCallum, a Seattle native, started composing music at 13 years old. By his sophomore year he had written 10 songs and was ready to record.

After a trip to Seattle, his first CD, courtesy of Jack Straw Productions, is for sale in Bigfork.

His music career started while in fourth grade, although not the way he wanted it to go.

“I wanted to play the drums,” MacCallum said. “But my parents said I needed a year and a half of piano lessons first. By the time I finished those, I realized playing the drums was absolutely not what I wanted to do.”

His first musical “break” came in eighth grade when his dad urged him to play a song during Bigfork’s annual Cowabunga variety show.

“I knew it existed, it’s a big Bigfork thing,” MacCallum said. “But I hadn’t thought about participating. At the time, I was playing this Coldplay song a lot, ‘The Scientist.’ My dad said I could play it in my sleep, why not on stage?”

That first experience on stage was addicting. He has performed at Cowabunga four more times, including a Beyonce cover, several songs of his own and a duet with his girlfriend, Cassie Cislo.

“Each year I got a little more cocky on stage,” MacCallum said. “That’s kind of my act. It helps that every time I went and performed, there were either people who were there to see me or people who didn’t really care. My stage persona is very different from my real-life one.”

His mother, Jane Hunt, said she isn’t quite sure where her son’s musical affinity comes from.

“He can teach himself a song just by listening to it,” she said. “I’m blown away by all that. His dad and I were not that musical.”

While music has become a driving force in his life, another passion keeps him busy as well.

MacCallum has played soccer “since I can remember,” playing for Flathead Force and Bigfork High School.

As a wing or outside midfielder, his main focus is assisting the forwards in scoring goals.

“Since I’m always running so much, I’ve got kind of a runner’s build now,” MacCallum said. “I love the competitiveness of soccer; the exercise is great, too.”

A Seattle Sounders and England National Football Team fan, he cites his family’s English “hooligan” roots as one reason for his love of the game. His teammates chose him as varsity soccer captain this year.

In school, MacCallum adores the simplicity of numbers and enjoys math class. As senior editor of the Bigfork Literary Magazine, he also loves poetry and often writes his own.

“I kind of like making it like riddles for myself and love seeing other people put their own interpretations,” he said.

When not playing piano or soccer, MacCallum maintains a 3.8 grade-point average with several honors courses at Bigfork High School and is a member of National Honor Society and a volunteer group called Leaders of Tomorrow.

He plans to attend Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Wash., next year.

He hasn’t chosen a major yet, but like many things, he hopes it will just sort of happen.

“Procrastination is huge for me,” MacCallum said. “I just go with the flow. I don’t know if I’ll be able to do that in college, but I’m kind of hoping I can leave my weekends open for whatever comes my way.”

Reporter Ryan Murray may be reached at 758-4436 or by email at rmurray@dailyinterlake.com.