Kania Mills is a classically trained clarinetist/saxophonist from Charlotte, North Carolina. In addition to those instruments, she also teaches flute and beginning piano. We are so excited to have her on faculty at CAM!
Kania as been an educator for sixteen years. She received her Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees in Clarinet Performance from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, where she studied with Igor Begelman, Daniel McKelway and the late Robert Listokin. She has also had studies with Charles Neidich from Juilliard and her masterclass performances include work with distinguished musicians, clarinetist Richard Stoltzman, jazz clarinetist Eddie Daniels, Alan Kay and the New York Woodwind Quintet.
Kania has been the concertmaster for the Salem Band over ten years, and also performs with the Salem Swing Band. She is the manager of the Salem Sax Quartet. She has been a member of the Piedmont Wind Symphony (Eb Clarinetist) for 20 years, now under the direction of Mark Norman, and has performed with Grammy award winning artists, Al Jarreau, Diane Schurr, Ronnie Milsap, Dionne Warwick, Arturo Sandoval, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Paul Anka, Kenny G, America, Neil Sedaka, and other accomplished performers, The Capitol Bones, The Three Irish Tenors, Ben Folds, The Wailers and Renee Elise Goldsberry.
Kania performs extensively as a soloist and chamber musician throughout the United States and has participated in numerous conferences, festivals, operas, musicals, and chamber music ensembles, which includes The Doppler Effect, YNO (Your Neighborhood Orchestra) in Charlotte and is a WDAV Classical Noteworthy Artist. Kania is a recording studio artist and works on various projects for multiple producers.
Her prior experience includes Broadway Theater Productions under the direction of Kevin Stites as a multiple woodwind pit musician with performances in New York. Kania is passionate about giving back to her students and community. Her teaching experience includes both private lessons and working with various ensembles in middle schools, high schools, pre-college/college programs and universities. She has coached chamber ensembles and prepares students for all-district, all-county, all-state, recitals and competitions.