Music program honors outstanding student musicians
Friday, April 22, 2022
MANHATTAN — Several students from the music program at Kansas State University have earned honors for outstanding musicianship and scholarship.
The awards were presented at a ceremony capping the annual Honors Recital on April 8 where selected students competed for best instrumentalist and vocalist honors.
The following students have earned awards from K-State's music program:
• Taton Bennett, senior in music education, Cheney, a clarinetist, the Stan Finck Memorial Leadership Award. The leadership award is named in honor of Finck, who served as director of K-State bands from 1982-1991. It recognizes a member of the K-State Marching Band who goes above and beyond in service to the band and its members. The recipient also must be a member of Tau Beta Sigma, the band honor society for women. Bennett served as drum major and was section leader of the clarinets for the band. She is an active member and officer in Tau Beta Sigma.
• James Probst, senior in applied music, music education and French, Lawrence, a saxophonist, Phi Kappa Lambda Outstanding Senior Music Major, Honors Recital first prize in undergraduate division and Honors Recital Performer's Certificate, which recognizes excellence in musicianship. For his selection as the outstanding senior, Probst receives free membership to Pi Kappa Lambda music honor society. For the Honors Recital, Probst played "Fuzzy Bird Sonata" by Takashi Yoshimatsu. Probst is a Presser Scholar, winner of the National Association for Music Education Composer's Competition — Collegiate Division and winner of the K-State Orchestra Concerto Competition. He was selected as principal saxophonist of the 2022 Kansas Music Educators Association Intercollegiate Honor Band and performs as soprano saxophonist in the K-State Saxophone Quartet. He also holds leadership positions in the Wind Ensemble and K-State Marching Band, and serves as a student conductor of University Band. Probst studies under the direction of Anna Marie Wytko, professor of saxophone.
• Chris Hovis, junior in music education, Leawood, a tubaist, the Stan Finck Memorial Leadership Award, Honors Recital second prize in undergraduate division and Honors Recital Performer's Certificate. The leadership award is named in honor of Finck, who served as director of K-State bands from 1982-1991. It recognizes a member of the K-State Marching Band who goes above and beyond in service to the band and its members. The recipient also must be a member of Kappa Kappa Psi, the national band honorary. For the Honors Recital, Hovis played Tuba Concerto by Martin Ellerby. The Honors Recital certificate recognizes excellence in musicianship for Hovis' selection and performance at the recital. Hovis has participated in several K-State ensembles, including the Wind Ensemble, the Symphony Orchestra, the 4bi Tuba Quartet and the Tuba/Euphonium Ensemble. He currently serves as the head tuba section leader in both the K-State Marching Band and the Wind Ensemble. He also plays or has played trombone in the Trombone Studio Choir, Latin Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Combos, and the Thundering Cats Big Band.
• Matthew Robison, a tenor and senior in applied music, Lenexa, Honors Recital Performer's Certificate for excellence in musicianship. Robison sang "Sit Down You're Rocking' the Boat" by Frank Loesser from "Guys and Dolls" and "The Other, Other Woman" by Jake Heggie from "Songs From An Unmade Bed" for the Honors Recital.
• Jenna Dominguez, senior in music education, Manhattan, Honors Recital Performer's Certificate for excellence in musicianship. Dominguez played the flute for Sonatina for Flute and Piano by Eldin Burton at the Honors Recital.
• Ryan Hernandez, a tenor and senior in music education, Manhattan, Honors Recital Performer's Certificate for excellence in musicianship. Hernandez sang "En fermant les yeux" from "Manon" by Jules Massenet at the Honors Recital.
• Katherine Westhoven, master's student in music, Manhattan, a soprano, received first prize in the graduate division of the Honors Recital for her performance of "I Capuleti e i Montecchi" by Vincenzo Bellini. She also received an Honors Recital Performer's Certificate for excellence in musicianship.
• Ben Murdock, senior in mechanical engineering, Overland Park, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Scholastic Award. The award is given to a Tau Chapter member of the collegiate music fraternity for men who is a graduating senior with the highest GPA.
• Jacob Thomas, senior in applied music, Overland Park, Honors Recital Performer's Certificate for excellence in musicianship. Thomas played the Ballade for Piano by Claude Debussy at the Honors Recital.
• Hannah Sullivan, junior in music education in bassoon and voice, Shawnee, the Lloyd W. Muir Memorial Music Scholarship. The recipient must be nominated by a music faculty member and is selected by a vote of the music faculty. A student of Amy Rosine, associate professor of voice, and Susan Maxwell, teaching assistant professor of bassoon and music theory, Sullivan plays contrabassoon for the K-State Wind Orchestra and bassoon for the K-State Orchestra. She is a member of the Collegiate Choir and Tau Beta Sigma. She also serves as a resident assistant at a K-State residence hall.
• Audrey Farrell, sophomore in music education, Wichita, a clarinetist, Phi Kappa Lambda Outstanding Sophomore Music Major. The award is presented for excellence in academics, musicianship and performance. She is a student of Amy Guffey, instructor of clarinet.
• Mitchell Betancourt, senior in music education, Norco, California, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Collegiate Award. Betancourt is a former president of the Tau Chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia and has served in many other positions in the K-State chapter of the collegiate music fraternity for men.
• Hannah Mancini, junior in music performance and music education, Peyton, Colorado, a saxophonist, Presser Undergraduate Scholar Award. The $4,000 scholarship is presented to an outstanding music major as selected by the K-State music faculty. Mancini is a student of Anna Marie Wytko, professor of saxophone. She serves as principal saxophonist of the K-State Wind Ensemble, tenor saxophonist of the K-State Saxophone Quartet and has had several leadership positions in the K-State Marching Band. Mancini was one of four saxophonists selected for the 2022 Kansas Music Educators Association Intercollegiate Honor Band. She currently serves as vice president of service for K-State's chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi, the national honorary band fraternity.
• Jacob Morgan, sophomore in applied music, Iowa City, Iowa, a percussionist, Honors Recital Performer's Certificate, which recognizes excellence in musicianship, for his performance in the recital. Morgan played the marimba for "Two Fountains" by Kevin Bobo. Morgan has been a member of the K-State Percussion Ensemble and Symphony Orchestra.
• Zoey Dutcher, senior in secondary education-language arts and minor in music, Camden Point, Missouri, the Collegiate Honor Award and the Scholastic Award from K-State's chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota, the international music fraternity. The Collegiate Honor Award is given to a graduating senior who is an active member of the chapter and has made significant contributions to the chapter and the university The recipient also demonstrates outstanding musicianship, scholarship and service to their local chapter. The Scholastic Award is given to a graduating senior and active member of the chapter with the highest GPA. Dutcher has previously served as president, vice president of membership and secretary of the chapter. She also has been a section leader for four years for the K-State Marching Band's Color Guard.
• Josie Anderson, freshman in music education, Crete, Nebraska, horn, Phi Kappa Lambda Outstanding Freshman Music Major. The award is presented for excellence in academics, musicianship and performance. She is a student of Jacqueline Kerstetter, associate professor of horn.
• Briele Vollmuth, master's student in music, Mandan, North Dakota, oboist, received second prize in the graduate division of the Honors Recital for her performance "Fantaisie Pastorale," Op. 37, by Eugene Bozza. Vollmuth also received and Honors Recital Performer's Certificate for excellence in musicianship.
