KU News Release

Two KU students compete in national music teachers contest

LAWRENCE — Two University of Kansas students are competing today at the 2009 Music Teachers National Association in Minneapolis.

Allison Akins, a senior from Lee’s Summit, Mo., majoring in French horn, and Julia Snell, a McPherson junior majoring in flute, each qualified for national competition when they won first place in their respective divisions at the state competition conducted in November at KU.

In the state contest, Akins won first place with performances of “Villanelle” by Paul Dukas, the first movement of Mozart’s “Horn Concerto No. 4 in E-flat,” and the first movement of Gordon Jacob’s “Concerto for Horn and Strings.” She studies with Paul Stevens, professor of horn. Akins is the daughter of of Richard and Beth Akins of Lee’s Summit, Mo.

For the state competition, Snell performed the “Suite for Flute and Piano” by Charles Widor, the “Air Allemande” by Theobald Boehm and second movement of the “Mozart Concerto in G Major.” Snell studies with David Fedele, assistant professor of flute. She is the daughter of Glen and Kerri Snell of McPherson. She is a McPherson High School graduate.

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