Hannah Hammel, 22, is pursuing her MM in flute performance at Rice University's Shepherd School of Music, studying with Leone Buyse. She holds a BM in flute performance and a minor in Music Theory from The Oberlin Conservatory where she studied with Alexa Still. An active solo flutist, Hannah won First Place First Place in the 2015 Atlanta Flute Association Young Artist Competition, First Place in the 2014 National Flute Association Orchestral Excerpt Competition, 2013 Central Ohio Flute Association Collegiate Division Competition and Second Place in the 2013 Mid-South Flute Society’s Young Artist Competition. She was a finalist in the 2013 Downey Symphony Orchestra Young Artist Concerto Competition and the 2014 Astral Artists Audition. She is a Second Prize Winner in the 2012 Alexander & Buono International Flute Competition, a winner in the 2012 (Las Vegas) and 2013 (New Orleans) National Flute Association Masterclass Performer’s Competition, and the 2012 National Flute Association Frances Blaisdell Scholarship winner, among other awards. Hannah has performed concertos with several orchestras including the Orchestra Society of Philadelphia, Ocean City Pops Orchestra, Wichita Falls Youth Orchestra, and Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra.
As an orchestral musician, Hannah has performed as principal flute in Carnegie Hall, in The Kennedy Center, and in Severance Hall. She is a regular substitute with the Richmond Symphony and a finalist and regular substitute for the New World Symphony in Miami. Hannah has spent summers performing at festivals including Round Top Music Festival, Castleton Festival Symphony Orchestra, Hot Springs Music Festival, Pacific Regional International Summer Music Academy, Staunton Music Festival, Wintergreen Performing Arts Festival Orchestra, and Credo Summer Orchestra, where she performed J.S. Bach's Brandenburg Concerti No. 2 and No. 5 in Chicago's Symphony Center.
Passionate about new music, Hannah performs with Oberlin's Contemporary Music Ensemble through which she has performed with eighth blackbird and toured to the University of Richmond to perform at their thirteenth annual Third Practice Electroacoustic Music Festival. In January of 2015, she was awarded a grant from Oberlin, the Conservatory Initiative Grants Supporting Imagination and Excellence, through which she participated in a tour of contemporary chamber music with fellow Oberlin students and alum. The performers worked closely with the composers and played six concerts in Cleveland, Oberlin, Chicago, and New York City.
Hannah is planning a commissioning and tour project as a member of Second Species. She and bassoonist, Ben Roidl-Ward, have commissioned five duos for flute and bassoon by composers from all over the country. They will perform these duos on a recital on a six city tour from February 25th - March 4th to Houston, Richmond, New York City, Boston, Oberlin, and Chicago. Also on this recital will be two commissioned solo pieces and Heitor Villa-Lobos' Bachianas Brasileiras No. 6 for flute and bassoon. More information can be found at: www.secondspecies.weebly.com.
For years, she studied Baroque flute with Kathie Stewart, and in January 2013, Hannah toured with an Oberlin baroque ensemble to perform in New York City. She has has performed in masterclasses for Barthold Kuijken on both modern and Baroque flute and Stephen Schultz on Baroque flute.
Hannah also has a passion for teaching and holds a private studio of flute students. Hannah has taught theory for The Oberlin Conservatory Community Music School, tutored theory and aural skills through Oberlin College's Tutorial Program. Hannah explored an interest in arts administration through an internship with The Center for New Music in San Francisco, California. Hannah founded the Oberlin Flute Association whose purpose is to provide funded events that will inspire, educate, and offer opportunities and experiences for its members through inviting distinguished guests to perform recitals and teach masterclasses at Oberlin.
Hannah is from Richmond, Virginia and she studied with her mother, Alice Hammel, Mary Boodell, Francile Bilyeu, and Tabatha Easley. Hannah has been awarded the opportunity to perform in masterclasses for Denis Bouriakov, Jasmine Choi, Robert Langevin, Carol Wincenc, Ransom Wilson, Peter-Lukas Graf, Ian Clarke, Tadeu Coelho, and Jennie Brown. Through her two summers at ARIA International Summer Music Academy (2011 and 2012), Hannah performed in masterclasses for Bonita Boyd, Linda Toote, Renee Krimsier, Marya Martin, Christina Jennings, and Jonathon Keeble.
