Current ProjectsHannabiell & Midnight Blue
Composer & Musical Director, Percussionist, Bass Trombone, Mbira Ladies of Midnight Blue Composer & Musical Director, Percussionist, Bass Trombone, Mbira |
Awards
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Bio
Hannabiell is a bass trombonist, an African hand percussionist, and a composer. She is a progressive music teacher who strives to teach her students different ways of using their voices to build and make unified communities through music. An African American Jamaican, originally from New Jersey-USA, she is currently living in Newcastle upon Tyne. She holds a BFA in Music from Mason Gros School for the Arts, Rutgers University and both a Masters and PhD in Music Performance from Newcastle University.
Hannabiell began her musical career as a trombone player, at the age of 9, in elementary school. She attended Norfolk State University (a historically black university) to study music and became a member of the Spartan Legion Marching Band. In 2001 she became a member of the Cadets of Bergen County drum and bugle corps before transferring to Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University. While at Rutgers, Hannabiell worked with the Community Artist Residency Training Series as a workshop facilitator, and went on to coordinate a wide variety of music workshops and projects. Hannabiell graduated with a BFA in Music Education and went on to teach in the Trenton, NJ Public School System. After working with various communities in New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut, Hannabiell moved to Durban, South Africa, where she enrolled at University of Kwazulu-Natal. While in Durban she taught Drumming for African Music and Dance and Music Education. She also studied various music styles and instruments of that region.
As a bass trombonist, Hannabiell has performed with the The Drifters, New York City based Shelly Nicole's Black Bush, Nobby Solano's UK based salsa band The Geordie Latinos, salsa band Rumba Con Son, and the Harlem Symphony Orchestra. As a solo hand percussionist she has opened up for The Derrick Trucks Band, Stomp USA, and performed on two stages at South African music festival 'Splashy Fen'. She has performed on stages such as The Sage Gateshead (UK), The Arc in Stockton(UK), the Apollo Theater in Harlem, NYC (USA), The Crossroads Theatre in New Jersey (USA) and many more. Hannabiell has also had the privilege of working as a freelance musician with the Kwazulu Natal Philharmonic Orchestra in Durban, South Africa, and is hired as the lead Conga player for various Salsa bands in the UK and the New York Metropolitan area. Hannabiell performed for the London 2012 Cultural Olympics in the BT River of Music Festival and for the Newcastle Upon Tyne's Theatre Royal's 175th Birthday Blaze. She was awarded 'Performing Artist of the Year' (2012) by the Journal Culture Awards, which celebrates the achievements of those involved in the arts and heritage in the North East of England.
Since moving to the North East of England, she has worked hard to recreate Hannabiell & Midnight Blue, a conscious band that is committed to playing music that aid in breaking down personal and cultural barriers. The band's diverse membership is a direct reflection of it's diverse fan base and audience attendance. Their performances never fail to convey the band’s passion for equality and social change. With her band Hannabiell & Midnight Blue she has performed in the US, South Africa and the UK. Through her music she aspires to bring communities together and break stereotypes. For Hannabiell, music is a means for breaking down personal and cultural barriers.
Hannabiell began her musical career as a trombone player, at the age of 9, in elementary school. She attended Norfolk State University (a historically black university) to study music and became a member of the Spartan Legion Marching Band. In 2001 she became a member of the Cadets of Bergen County drum and bugle corps before transferring to Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University. While at Rutgers, Hannabiell worked with the Community Artist Residency Training Series as a workshop facilitator, and went on to coordinate a wide variety of music workshops and projects. Hannabiell graduated with a BFA in Music Education and went on to teach in the Trenton, NJ Public School System. After working with various communities in New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut, Hannabiell moved to Durban, South Africa, where she enrolled at University of Kwazulu-Natal. While in Durban she taught Drumming for African Music and Dance and Music Education. She also studied various music styles and instruments of that region.
As a bass trombonist, Hannabiell has performed with the The Drifters, New York City based Shelly Nicole's Black Bush, Nobby Solano's UK based salsa band The Geordie Latinos, salsa band Rumba Con Son, and the Harlem Symphony Orchestra. As a solo hand percussionist she has opened up for The Derrick Trucks Band, Stomp USA, and performed on two stages at South African music festival 'Splashy Fen'. She has performed on stages such as The Sage Gateshead (UK), The Arc in Stockton(UK), the Apollo Theater in Harlem, NYC (USA), The Crossroads Theatre in New Jersey (USA) and many more. Hannabiell has also had the privilege of working as a freelance musician with the Kwazulu Natal Philharmonic Orchestra in Durban, South Africa, and is hired as the lead Conga player for various Salsa bands in the UK and the New York Metropolitan area. Hannabiell performed for the London 2012 Cultural Olympics in the BT River of Music Festival and for the Newcastle Upon Tyne's Theatre Royal's 175th Birthday Blaze. She was awarded 'Performing Artist of the Year' (2012) by the Journal Culture Awards, which celebrates the achievements of those involved in the arts and heritage in the North East of England.
Since moving to the North East of England, she has worked hard to recreate Hannabiell & Midnight Blue, a conscious band that is committed to playing music that aid in breaking down personal and cultural barriers. The band's diverse membership is a direct reflection of it's diverse fan base and audience attendance. Their performances never fail to convey the band’s passion for equality and social change. With her band Hannabiell & Midnight Blue she has performed in the US, South Africa and the UK. Through her music she aspires to bring communities together and break stereotypes. For Hannabiell, music is a means for breaking down personal and cultural barriers.
CV
Education
PhD in Music Performance, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Great Britain, 2016
Masters in Music, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Great Britain, 2010
Course work towards Masters in Music Education, University of Kwazulu of Natal, Howard College, Durban South Africa, February - November 2008
Bachelor Fine Arts, Music, Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University, 2006
Course work towards Bachelor of Music, Norfolk State University, Norfolk, Virginia, Fall 1999 - Spring 2002
Trombone Studies
Applied studies on bass trombone with John Rojak
Performing Experiences
Music director and composer of Hannabiell & Midnight Blue & Ladies of Midnight Blue, 2003-Present
Musical Director, 10th Avenue Band, 2012-13
Lead Trombonist for salsa band Orquesta Rumba Con Son, NJ, USA, 2006-2009
Performed with Kwazulu Natal Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra, Durban South Africa March - October 2008
Co-produced and performed in Africa United Through Music and Dance, Howard College, University of Kwazulu Natal, Durban, South Africa, October 2008
Bass Trombonist with Sheep Down, 2008
Bass Trombonist and Percussionist with Hanifah Walidah's Band, 2007
Bass Trombonist with the Harlem Symphony Orchestra, New York City, NY, 2006-2007
Lead Trombonist for Rutgers Salsa Band, New Jersey, USA, 2003-2005
Rutgers Wind Ensemble, Principal 2nd trombone, 2005
Rutgers Brass Ensemble II, Bass trombone, 2002-2005
Rutgers African Dance and Percussion Ensemble, 2002-2005
Rutgers Big Band Jazz Ensemble, 2004
Marched Cadets of Bergen County, Baritone player, USA, 2001
Teaching and Related Musical Experiences
Teaching Associate, Newcastle University, 2014 - Present
Tenth Avenue Band, Musical Director, Consultant, and Workshop Leader
Teaching and Graduate Assistant, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa, March – November 2008
Counselor, Camp Treetops, Lake Placid, NY, Summer 2004 - present
K-8 Music Teacher, Trenton Community Charter School, Trenton NJ, March – December 2007
Facilitating Artist, Community Artists Residency Training Series, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, Fall of 2005 - 2007
Music Specialist, North Country School, Lake Placid, NY, January 2005 & February 2009
Program Coordinator for Black History Month, Franklin High School, Somerset, NJ, February 2005
Program Coordinator/Music Teacher, Douglass Developmental Disabilities Center New Brunswick, NJ, January-May 2005
Other Performance Experiences
2014-15 Ashington Brass Band, Part-Time Bass Trombonist
2014 Fusic, Musical Director, Percussionist, Bass Trombone
2008 Splahy Fen as a percussion soloist
2007 performed with Hanifah Walidah at the Michigan Womyn’s Music Festival, August 2007