Hannah has spent her whole life immersed in music.  Hannah was born in Springfield, Missouri, where her mother was a substitute music teacher.  She remembers lots of singing, dancing, and playing on the piano. Hannah was drawn to percussion from an early age.  Concerned about the noise, her mother lovingly ushered her in a different direction. 

 

It wasn’t until her family moved to Rexford, Kansas, and she started middle school band, with her mother as her teacher, that she got the opportunity to try the bells.  She started playing all different types of percussion.  In high school, Hannah took xylophone, snare, and vocal solos to contest, qualifying for state for three years and receiving top ratings each time.  Her senior year, Ken Hakoda was the guest clinician for a regional choir clinic hosted at her high school.  After hearing Hannah play drum set for a selection of the choir pieces, Hakoda asked her to consider attending Kansas Wesleyan University after her high school graduation. Hannah leapt at the opportunity and moved to Salina, Kansas in August of 2012.

 

While at KWU, Hannah was involved in numerous ensembles including Wind Ensemble, Full Orchestra, Percussion Ensemble, Philharmonic Choir, Chorale, Jazz Band, and Pep/Marching Band. Hannah took lessons in percussion from Dean Kranzler, piano from Judith Weber and Tatiana Tessman, and voice from Leslie Mangrum and Rebecca Copley. She performed in juries, student recitals, and ensemble concerts. As a requirement for her performance degree, Hannah prepared and performed two solo recitals. She also was a featured soloist with the KWU Wind Ensemble performing Nathan Daughtrey’s Concerto for Vibraphone and Wind Ensemble.

 

Outside of KWU, Hannah quickly became involved in Salina’s vibrant music scene. One of her first opportunities was to play in the pit orchestra for Salina Community Theater’s production of Les Miserables, where she met her future husband, Gus. Soon after, she was given the opportunity to perform with and eventually join the Salina Symphony. Hannah started teaching private lessons in September 2012.

 

Hannah and Gus were married in the summer of 2015. Hannah graduated in 2016 with a Bachelor of Arts in Music Performance with an emphasis in Percussion.  Hannah opened her own private studio in downtown Salina in the spring of 2017.  She continues to perform with the Salina Symphony, the Salina Community Theater, KWU’s Instrumental Ensembles, and several other local organizations. Hannah is also a freelance soloist. Recently, Hannah joined Everyday Lights, a local Folk & Americana band.