LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 25, 2008) − University of Kentucky graduate student Danny Hawkins took home first place honors in the 2008 Collegiate Keyboard Solo Competition at the 2008 Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC) held Nov. 5-8, in Austin, Texas.

Hawkins, a graduate student in percussion performance at the UK School of Music, won first prize performing his original work for solo marimba "Con Forza" in front of a panel of judges and a live audience. In response to his competition performance, one of the judges commented, "Danny's solo demonstrated the greatest variety of technical difficulty." 

The competition was presented as part of the PASIC Marching Festival, which is recognized as one of the premier marching festivals in the country. The Marching Percussion Festival is an opportunity for student percussionists to be critiqued by leading percussion specialists in the field of marching percussion today.

A native of Denton, Texas, Hawkins is working toward his master's degree under the direction of James Campbell, a Provost’s Distinguished Service Professor and director of UK Percussion Studies.