Hannah A. Barnes

Hannah A Barnes is a Montréal-based composer, conductor, and performer. Her compositional interests are centered around creating interlocking cycles of works that pursue common goals through different means, or the inverse. Musical materials that are fragile, off-kilter, and seemingly incompatible are of greatest interest to her work. Significant works include a Triptych of solo pieces for electric guitar, prepared harp, and solo percussion, and an ongoing cycle of pieces ranging from solo to large ensemble.

Currently a DMus student at McGill University studying with Prof. Jean Lesage and Prof. Philippe Leroux, Hannah completed a Master’s degree with distinction in composition at DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois (MM ’21, BM ’19) with additional studies in conducting.

Creative collaboration is central to her artistic practice. She has worked closely with soloists including oboist Kyle Bruckmann, guitarist Jesse Langen, hornist Tarre Nelson, bassist Nate Beaver, percussionist Alexander Garde, and pianist Ian Pace to develop new works. She has conducted her own work and premieres of works by other composers with Ensemble Dal Niente in the DePaul and Dal Niente Summer Residency for New Music. She has participated in summer festivals including the DePaul and Dal Niente Summer Residency for New Music, the Summer Institute for Contemporary Performance Practice (SICPP), SPLICE Institute, the Darmstadt Summer Courses, and the Yarn/Wire Institute.

Hannah’s music has been presented at venues including the Darmstadt Summer Courses, the DiMenna Center for Classical Music in Manhattan, the Eastman School of Music, City University London, and various venues in Chicago. Her electric guitar piece, "Negative Capability," was presented in a two-player re-reading (as "Negative Capability II") at the 2022 Omaha Under the Radar Festival in Omaha, Nebraska in collaboration with Jesse Langen. She was a recipient of an Honorable Mention in the 2021 Morton Gould Young Composer's Award competition for her work “five images.” Hannah is also the director of the rhythm is image new music initiative, in which she performs and conducts, with an emphasis on experimental performance practices.

Teaching is also important to Hannah; she has taught theory to wonderful high schoolers at the Chicago Music Academy, music majors at DePaul University, and a variety of students at McGill University. She is involved in Montréal's thriving contemporary music culture as the Vice-President of Le Vivier InterUniversitaire. Forthcoming projects include a large ensemble work for McGill University's Contemporary Music Ensemble, a piece for clarinet and electronics, and a piece for violin and electronics with multiple configurations. Hannah also enjoys practicing yoga and spending time with her small but mighty terrier, Kaylee.