Bios
Townes Osborn Miller
Townes Osborn Miller, flutist/teacher, earned her B.A. and M.A. degrees under Eldred Spell at Western Carolina University where she held a graduate assistantship, and will begin doctoral studies at the University of Kansas this fall. The founder of the Panapolli Trio, she freelances in the greater Kansas City music community, is an adjunct instructor of flute, music fundamentals, and music appreciation at Kansas City Kansas Community College, co-conductor/founder of the Kansas City Flute Choir, plays with the Overland Park Orchestra and teaches at the Toon Shop School of Music. Ms. Miller has performed with the St. Joseph Symphony, St. Joseph Symphony Municipal Band, Kansas City Puccini Arts Festival, Kansas City Civic Orchestra, New Theater Restaurant, Psalmfest for the Historic Northeast Cultural Arts Commission, and the Asheville (NC) Choral Society. She has also been the f! eatured soloist with the St. Matthias Chamber Orchestra (NC), the Oak Ridge (TN) Civic Music Association Guild, and with Midland Adventist Academy (KS). She has performed in master classes, both in the United States and England, with William Bennett, Clare Southworth, Goran Marcusson, Alexa Still, George Pope and Jim Walker. She is a member of the National Flute Association, Kansas City Federation of Musicians and Kansas City Flute Association.
Jennifer Van Note Clevenger
Jennifer Van Note Clevenger, violinist, earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Music (Violin) at the Conservatory of Music at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. She studied with Benny Kim, renowned violinist and graduate of the Juilliard School. She has performed with the Kansas City Ballet Orchestra, Kansas City Philharmonia, Des Moines Symphony, Kansas City Puccini Arts Festival and the Colorado Mahlerfest Orchestra. Ms. Clevenger freelances in the greater Kansas City music community and is a member of the Kansas City Federation of Musicians. She has participated in master classes with Nadja Salerno-Sonnenburg, Pamela Frank, Roland Vamos, the Orion String Quartet, the Prazac String Quartet, and the Manhattan String Quartet among others.
In addition to performing, Jennifer has taught both violin and viola in the Kansas City area since 1998, currently teaching at the Toon Shop School of Music in Prairie Village, KS and at her home. Many of her students participate in the Kansas City Youth Symphony and the Olathe Youth Symphony. Ms. Clevenger also conducts violin sectionals for the Olathe NW Orchestra and has also adjudicated for the Shawnee Mission Northwest Orchestra.
Leslie Mengel
Leslie Mengel, cellist, has had an extensive chamber music career which includes an artist-in-residency program at Pennsylvania State University, with the Escher String Quartet. He was a semi-finalist in the Concours International Chamber Music Competition in Paris, France, with the Kansas City Trio. Mr. Mengel joined the William Jewell faculty in 1982 teaching cello and bass and performing recitals with the William Jewell Trio until 2003. He has performed with the Kansas City Symphony as a substitute for the past twenty years as well as joining them for their 1999-2000 season. Presently he teaches in his home and at the Tiffany Performing Arts Center, both in Independence. He also free-lances with the Brookside String Quartet and the Rafael Trio.