About

Hailing from Kansas City, Missouri, and based in Wichita, Kansas, Hannah Kavanaugh (she/they) seeks to enrich her performance of flute repertoire with contemporary and jazz music. They boast a wide range of study spanning from W. A. Mozart to Valerie Coleman and beyond, as well as performances with various big bands and pit orchestras.

Hannah holds a Bachelor of Music in Instrumental Performance and Music Industry from Capital University Conservatory of Music in Columbus, Ohio. With both the Capital University Chapel Choir and the Symphonic Winds, she performed on the Carnegie Hall stage in 2020 and 2022. While studying in Columbus, she also played multiple times with Vaughn Wiester’s Famous Jazz Orchestra and with the Rick Brunetto Big Band on saxophones and doubles.

Currently, Hannah is pursuing their Master of Music in Instrumental Performance at Wichita State University, where they serve as the Graduate Staff Assistant for the flute studio. At WSU, she is a part of the Windchill Graduate Woodwind Quintet, the Wind Ensemble, the Symphony Orchestra, and the Galactic Tofu Tango small jazz ensemble.

Some awards Hannah has won include, but are not limited to, the Symphony Club of Central Ohio Scholarship Award, the Capital Conservatory Music Award, and the Mary Ann Starring Memorial Award for Woodwinds or Brass. She is also a member of the National Flute Association, the Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society, and the Sigma Alpha Iota International Music Fraternity, where she served as president of her collegiate chapter.

Hannah studies the flute with Dr. Hilary Jones at Wichita State University, and previously studied with Dr. Lisa Jelle at Capital University and Elaine Brown at William Jewell College. They have played in master classes for Dr. Fritz Kraber, Dr. Kimberlee Goodman, and Randall Hester. She studies the saxophone with James Pisano at Wichita State University, having previously studied with Dr. Michael Cox at Capital University.

Besides music, Hannah likes to spend their free time making commissioned and personal artwork, playing video games, and reading fantasy and science fiction books. She also goes camping at Yellowstone National Park every summer with her family.