Hannah has been playing the cello since she was 5. She received state music provision through ILEA, when she was 18 she studied 'Cello (1st study) and composition (2nd study) at The Guildhall School of Music and Drama. In 1998 she got involved in making improvised sound scores for theatre, initially with Theatre edible, Improbable and in projects with the People Show. She has received grants and commissions from Sound And Music, Jazz Services, Eye music, and The Arts Council England for both music and theatre projects. Her music has been broadcast on Radio 3's Jazz on 3 & 'Freeness', & Resonance FM. She performs regularly in the UK and has toured extensively in Europe as well as in Russia (with Swiss duo Diatribes) & Brazil(with Sol6). She has been working with maker / designer Amelia Pimlott on The Ding Foundation-a visual theatre company, since 2001.
Improvisation and Performance:
Playing and recording contemporary, improvised, experimental, folk, rock, jazz and non-generic music since the late 1990's, in rock bands, in pubs and clubs during and after studying at music college, Hannah later had also had regular involvement in large improvising groups such as The London Improvisors Orchestra & The Gathering (Maggie Nicols), her initial collaborations with improvising musicians included with Alison Blunt, Caroline Kraabel, Terry Day, Veryan Weston, Ntshuks Bonga, Kay Grant.
She is a frequent solo and group / band participator in arts festivals in the UK and Europe, these have included: Nickelsdorf Konfrontationen - Austria, Banlieue Bleu-Paris, Jazz em Agosto-Lisbon, Horta Cordel - Barcelona, Ring Ring Festival -Belgrade,Freedom of the City festival - London, Wels Unlimited- Austria, Taktlos festival - Zurich, Nantes Jazz festival - France, Saalfelden jazz festival - Austria, Akouphene - Geneva, Europa Jazz Festival – Le Mans, Joyful Noise Festival - Switzerland, Blurred Edges Festival- Hamburg, Jazz at Santa - Anna Aressi – Sardinia, All Ears Festival – Norway, Intakt festival – London, Lume fest – London, Flat Pack Film festival – Birmingham, Colourscape – UK, Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, Blow Out festival – Oslo, Friforma – city of women – Ljublijana, Birmingham Literature festival, Physical fest – Liverpool, ArteActs festival – Austria, Glastonbury festival – UK.
Among the other musicians that Hannah has worked with are: Isabelle Duthoit, Brian Irvine, John Butcher, Julie Kjaer, Arnold Dreyblatt, Alex Hawkins, Luc Ex, Evan Parker, Ingrid Laubrock, Steve Beresford, Matthew Bourne, Thurston Moore, Alex Ward, Mark Sanders, Christian Marclay, Lauren Kinsella, Julien Pontvienne, Paul Burwell, Sylvia Hallet, Tim Hodgkinson, Trevor Watts, Rachel Musson, Simon Roth, Mathilde Rolfsson.
Recent, regular and ongoing projects include: Projects with Veryan Weston Evan Parker and Matt Wright's 'Trance Map+' Trio with Otto Willberg - Bass & Sam Andreae - Sax John Butcher +13 (Fluid Fixations at HCMF) Regular and ad hoc performances in London and the UK at Hundred years Gallery, Iklectik Art Lab, Finch Cafe, The vortex, cafe oto & Boat-ting.
Theatre and dance:
Hannah has taken on a variety of roles in theatre and dance production teams including performer, musician, composer, sound designer, technician, collaborator & music director. Companies she has worked with include:
The Ding Foundation
Using visuals and sound narratives, to make theatre around socially significant themes. Both directors perform and devise in productions, working closely with invited guests & collaborators. 2001- 2003 - “Being a Bird” 2003 - 2004 - “Unexploded Bomb” 2007 - present - “Hanging by a Thread” 2014 - present, “Wild Life” 2018 – present “The Fir Tree” Go to: www.thedingfoundation.com for more details.
Norwich Puppet Theatre Composer/sound designer for : 'Beauty and the beast' - 2014 Directed by Gavin Glover (Faulty Optic) & recent touring adaptation 'Beastly Belle' – 2019/2020 Directed by Joy Haynes
A2 / Anton Mirto Sound assistant / collaborator for : 'The Army' – 2018, 'Private View', - 2008, 'Sorry' 2004, 'The future of death part 1' – 2005
London College of Fashion /technical effects MA Final production performances Sound designer for 'Revolutions in Costume - 2013 & 2011 Directed by Anton Mirto and Marie-Gabrielle Roti 'Blue Beard' - 2005 & 'Girl in the Forest', 2006 at Cochrane Theatre Directed by Emma Bernard
People Show – Directed and performed by the company Performer, installation & sound design for building shows: '21st Century Misfits' 2001, 'The Boat Show' 2004 & Brighton festival 2007
Little Angel Theatre - Directed by Steve Tiplady Musician, puppeteer and composer for ‘Jabberwocky’ 2004 (+ revival in 2014), 'Petrushka' – 2011, 'The Mouse Queen' - 2005, ‘Cinderella’, 2007 ‘Stuff & Nonsense’ - 2004 & ‘Karagoz’ 2006
Petra’s Pulse – Devised/performed by Jamie Wood & Selina Papoutseli Two feet high in the sky' 2002, 'Drinking the Dawn' – 2004 & 'Aegean Fatigue'- 2008
Improbable Theatre - Directed by Julian Crouch Performer & deviser in 'Coma' - 1999
Theatre Edible - Directed by Tassos Stevens Performer / Musician for : 'The Bound Man' – 1998, 'The Changeling' – 1999, 'Entertaining Death' - 2000
Other theatre companies Hannah has worked with include: 20 Stories High, The Clod Ensemble, One Moment in Time, Dotted Line Theatre, Clogless Lobster, Akademi, The Globe Theatre, Indefinite Articles, Nikki Tomlinson, Angika Dance, Royal Opera House, Oval House Theatre, Lost and Found productions, The Young Vic, Cartoon de Salvo, Pipe Dream Theatre, Hothouse, Marie Fitzpatric, Ballet independents group, Lost Property, Rejects Revenge, Strathcona Theatre, Battersea Arts Centre, Arlette George.
Recordings:
Hannah is featured on over 50 recorded releases - please see the 'recordings' section of the website.
Films:
Hannah has written original scores for films including: 2 Tonne Hands (2011) A Burst of Love (2007). Directed by Liam Clarke Plane Day (2006) Tiger Tram (2005). Directed by Karin Heberlein
She has been making short documentary/essay films since late 2019 which can be found here:
Hannah is continually learning from the experiences she has, both in employment, through focussed study and development, and through 'teaching' itself.
Below is her training/cpd/awards
2022: Feb 6 week Short course in 'Audio-Visual Practice as Research' (Essay Film making) at Birkbeck Univeristy 2021: 12 week course through Goldsmiths university in Field recording & Soundscape Composition tutored by Marcus Leadley. 2021/22: 2 - day long trainings in 'Trauma Informed Practice for Artists' with with Kazzum Arts. 2021: CPD in Working with children under the SEND umbrella – day training from Hackney Music Service 2019: CPD in Working with vulnerable children and adults – day training from Hackney Music Service. 2018: 3 month training: weekly workshops in Augusto Boal's Forum theatre - for mental health. 2017: 6 month training: City and Guilds Level 3 – in Education and Training for the life-long learning sector. 2017: Nominated for an Arts Foundation Award by saxophonist Ingrid Laubrok. 2013: CPD training in understanding autism: 1 day training workshop Workshop with Sound Connections. 2007-12: Regular workshops & informal performances in Butoh Dance with Selina Papoutseli. 2010-11: B-tec Diploma in holistic Massage- Anatomy & Holistic Therapy - 1 year part time. 2006: 2 week Intensive course in Clown & Comedy with Mick Barnfather. 2005/6: Regular ad hoc Seminars & Workshops in 'Process Oriented Psychology' with Arlene & Jean Claude Audergon 2005: Logic of object & puppet movement: 2 day workshop with Puppeteer Stephen Mottram. 2003: Mentored through Theatre Futures workshops at BAC by: Tom Morris (BAC & Bristol Old Vic) & Steve Tiplady (Indefinite Articles) + Workshops with Paul Hunter (Told by an Idiot) & John Wright (Trestle Theatre) 1998: 1 year training - Open College Network Diploma with Community Music LTD - Music Leader Training Course including: John Stevens’ Search & Reflect, Composition, Equal Ops, Group Behaviour, Teaching/workshop skills. 1997: 12 weeks - Mask & Physical Theatre evening course with John Mowat at City Lit. 1995, ’96, & ’98: Porthcawl Jazz Summer School: tutored by Julian Arguelles, Stan Sulzman, Niki Iles, Steve Watts & Alex Maguire 1992 - 1996: 4 years Undergraduate Training- Batchelor of Music Performance from Guildhall School of Music and Drama - 1st Study 'Cello, 2nd Study Composition
Hannah is a trained & real-life experienced community music and life-long-learning ‘teacher/learner’, working with people of a wide age range (6 months - 60+) & places (schools charities, communities, workshops) encouraging all peoples creative involvement in music, nurturing musicianship, creative practice and practical playing,
Organisations Hannah has worked for in a teaching/guidance/facilitation role include:
Museum of the Home, White Rabbit, Central School of Speech & Drama, Community Music LTD, Kings Place, Opera North, The Roundhouse Studios, Act for Change, Bristol Plays Music, The Royal Opera House Education Dpt, Youth Music, Hackney Music Service, Eastside Education Trust, The Studio Upstairs, Waltham Forest Arts and Education Service, Tower Hamlets Arts and Music Education Service.
Other work/skills/experience; 2020: Volunteer at Community Food Hub at Selby Centre White Hart Lane - London. 2014: Part time admin assistant for Bristol Pre-Conservatoire - school for gifted young classical and jazz musicians. 2012: Jamboree: Part time work front of house & behind the bar at independent music venue 1998: Plasterer, builder and english teacher in an alternative community in the Languedoc region of France. 1991-'93: Dresser for English National Opera – Part time 1990-'92: Office and house cleaner. Hannah speaks conversational french
