Alexis Cote, a music performance major and junior at UNA, won first place in the orchestral brass caption at the Alabama Federation of Music Clubs (AFMC) competition Feb. 23 at the University of Alabama.

Cote, a French horn player, won a $1,000 cash prize and the chance to compete on the national level.

“Alexis’ success with the Alabama Federation of Music Clubs Collegiate auditions is highly significant,” said David McCullough, chair of the UNA Department of Music and Theatre and Cote’s French horn instructor. “The competition requires that most of the music be performed from memory and with appropriate accompaniment. I worked with Alexis in preparing the music for the (competition) as a part of her weekly lessons with me and helped her through the process of applying for the competition and traveled with her and her accompanist (Karen Cantrell) to the competition in Tuscaloosa.”

McCullough said the competition, although it is called an audition, is intended to identify the most outstanding collegiate performers in Alabama. McCullough also explained the national competition Cotes is now in the process of competing in, which is judged by recordings rather than a face-to-face audition.

“The AFMC is affiliated with the National Federation of Music Clubs, which holds a national competition in (separate) performer categories,” he said. “As the state winner for Alabama in the orchestral brass category, Alexis will be entered in the national competition along with all other 50 state brass winners. Alexis and her accompanist made a recording of her program to submit to the national competition for which winners will be announced later this spring.”

Cote said she found the audition competition to be an overall great experience, although she initially did not expect to win first.

“I prepared for the competition exclusively for about two months because I was determined to walk away knowing that I had given it 100-percent effort,” Cote said. “I knew I had done well and felt good about my performance. I wanted to win first, of course, but it was such a great feeling to win and see that my hard work had paid off.”

Cote said McCullough helped her record her state competition program, with the recording being sent on a CD to be judged in the National Federation of Music Clubs competition. She said she does not know when she will be notified of the competition’s outcome.

“It would be amazing to win, though,” Cote said. “Right now I’m getting ready for the AFMC state winner recital in Gadsden on April 19, where I’ll be presented with my prize money. My fiancé Aaron Lovelady and I also have a junior recital on April 9 that I’m preparing for.”

McCullough said Cote is a natural performer who thrives under pressure.

“Alexis is an unusually talented young musician with great determination and a wonderful work ethic,” McCullough said. “Even at this early stage in her development as a brass player, Alexis has already attained a level of musicianship and technical prowess well beyond her years. She has tremendous potential to accomplish virtually any goal in the field of professional performing and is among the very few of any generation who really do have what it takes to make it to the professional ranks.”

Cote’s junior recital will be April 9 at 7:30 p.m. in the recital hall of the Music Building.