Through two rounds of competition, Washington University flutists Lillie Kang, Class of 2024, a global studies major, and Maria Schmeer, Class of 2022, a geology major, won first and second place respectively in the Flute Society of St. Louis Collegiate Young Artist Competition. Kang and Schmeer recorded an etude by Joachim Andersen and George Hue's Fantasie in the first round of competition. After advancing through a crowded field, Kang and Schmeer performed the first movement of Otar Taktakishvili's Sonata and Edgard Varese's 21.5 for solo flute. Two judges evaluated the three finalists on a variety of metrics, and Kang was awarded first place and Schmeer was awarded second place for their performances of the required repertoire. These awards were accompanied by a cash prize. Nicole Aldrich served as their accompanist, and both students are in the flute studio of Jennifer Gartley.
