She’ll perform in a Violins of Hope concert on Sunday in Westport
DANBURY, Connecticut — During her childhood in Ewing, New Jersey, Hannah Alexander received some early musical training at a private school she attended. “I was in fourth grade and 8 or 9 years old when I was given a cello — I did not choose it — and I have loved it ever since,” she said. That love continued when her family relocated to Oxford, Connecticut, and Alexander attended Oxford High School in the mornings, and studied music at the Educational Center for the Arts in New Haven in the afternoons.
When the time came to consider colleges, Alexander had no doubt that she would pursue a degree in music performance. She knew that in order to apply to college, in addition to the usual essays and applications, she would need to prepare some songs and go through an audition. As she was making her preparations, Alexander encountered Western Connecticut State University Musical Arts Assistant Laura Piechota, who encouraged her to consider WestConn.
“I looked at several area schools, including UConn, the HART School and even a few in New York,” Alexander said. “Then I came to WestConn, met the professors and they heard me play. I received a Kathwari Honors Program Scholarship and a scholarship from my town. Even though other programs also offered me scholarships, there was just something different about WestConn. I felt very secure in my choice to come here, and I would encourage anyone to consider this option. Meeting with teachers and current students can’t be replicated. WestConn is the most friendly and welcoming place I looked at, and is so different from typical conservatory settings. Here there is camaraderie and everyone lifts each other up.”
Currently, in her junior year, Alexander is a dual major in Music Performance and Justice and Law Administration – Legal Studies. “After graduating, I hope to go to an Ivy League Law School,” Alexander said. “I’m interested in commercial law and its ties to the music community in areas like intellectual property and copyright law.”
In addition to the time she spends in Kathwari Honors Program activities, Alexander is on the E-board of the Strings Club, the Brass Club, and is a member of the JLA Society. Turns out she is a bass trombonist in addition to being a cellist. She teaches cello lessons twice a week in Southbury, works at a local grocery store, and has a hand in running music events on campus as a crew member.
According to its website, “Violins of Hope is a project of concerts based on a private collection of violins, violas and cellos, all collected since the end of World War 2. Many of the instruments belonged to Jews before and during the war. Many were donated by or bought from survivors; some arrived through family members and many simply carry Stars of David as decoration. … Every concert brings together people of all faiths and backgrounds. Every project is accompanied by an extensive educational program. We visit schools and hold narrated concerts. We tell the history of some instruments – such as the violin which was thrown out of a cattle train on the way from France to Auschwitz; the violin that was buried under snow in Holland; the violin that saved the lives of people who played in a camp orchestra and survived. So many stories.”
“Because of my relationship with my cello tutor, Marcia, and the fact that I know the piano accompanist, Dr. Liang-Fang Chang, too, I wanted to participate in this,” Alexander said. “It’s surprising they were able to save all these instruments. It continues the legacy, and this will be so touching and moving. There’s something super special to be able to do this and share my talent for the community. I hope people will visit the website and read the stories about where the violins came from. I will be playing a recovered cello, too.”
The performance will be at 10 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 17, at the Saugatuck Congregational Church, 245 Post Road East in Westport.
For more information, contact Communications and Marketing at pr@wcsu.edu.