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Kania Mills
Clarinet
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Clarinetist/Saxophonist Kania Mills is from Charlotte, North Carolina. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Clarinet Performance from the North Carolina School of the Arts (2008), where she studied with Robert Listokin, Daniel McKelway and Igor Begelman. She was then awarded a two-year teaching assistantship at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts for graduate studies and received her Master of Music degree in Clarinet Performance (2010). She has performed as a soloist and chamber musician throughout the United States and has participated in many conferences and festivals. She has received numerous awards, including performing artist scholarships and was a finalist in the Astral Artists National Auditions in 2009.
Ms. Mills held the principal clarinet position in the A. J. Fletcher Opera Institute, and was an A. J. Fletcher Opera Scholar for 5 years. She has had studies with Charles Neidich from the Juilliard School and her masterclass performances include work with distinguished musicians, clarinetist Richard Stoltzman, jazz clarinetist Eddie Daniels, Alan Kay, and the New York Woodwind Quintet.
Ms. Mills has performed Broadway Productions in New York under the direction of Broadway Maestro Kevin Stites, and has performed productions under the direction of Broadway Conductor Steven Freeman as well. She has held the E-flat clarinet position for 14 years with the Piedmont Wind Symphony and has performed with Grammy Award winning artists, Al Jarreau, Diane Schurr, Ronnie Milsap, Dionne Warwick, Arturo Sandoval, The Three Irish Tenors, Paul Anka, Kenny G, Neil Sedaka, Ben Folds, The Wailers, and Dee Dee Bridgewater.
Ms. Mills performs with the Western Piedmont Symphony Orchestra and regularly subs for the Salisbury Symphony and the Salisbury Swing Band. She has been the Concert Master for the Salem Band for five years. She plays tenor sax for the Salem Swing Band and is the Manager of the Salem Sax Quartet.
Ms. Mills is currently Professor of Woodwinds at Livingstone College as well as the Woodwind Instructor at Concord Academy Marching Eagles. She also teaches at Separk Music in Winston-Salem, NC where she gives private lessons for clarinet and saxophone students of all ages. Her students have consistently placed first chair over the past 5 years in All-County, All-District and All-State clarinet and saxophone auditions. Her students have also placed first chair in All-District and All-State Jazz auditions. When not teaching her own students, she is helping high school woodwind sections in the area.
Her favorite quote is “When words fail, music speaks!”