Hannah O'Brien
Teaching Philosophy
As a violin and fiddle teacher, my philosophy centers on creating a joyful and engaging learning environment. I believe that music should be fun and accessible, encouraging students to explore their creativity. Learning by ear is a key component of my approach, helping students develop a strong musical intuition and connection to their instrument. Alongside this, I emphasize building solid fundamentals, ensuring students have the technical skills needed to pursue their musical interests. I aim to inspire a lifelong love of music and empower students to follow their unique musical paths.
Biography
Hannah O’Brien is a classical and Irish fiddle player based in the Boston area. A graduate of the University of Michigan School of Music and the New England Conservatory, Hannah has played with many ensembles including the Boston Lyric Opera, Cabrillo Festival Orchestra, Des Moines Metro Opera, Cape Cod Chamber Orchestra, Lucerne Festival Academy Orchestra, Spoleto Festival Orchestra, and the New Bedford Symphony.
Most recently, Hannah spent her summer at Spoleto Festival USA as a “Tell Your Story” fellow, composing and performing a new work for the festival. She has had the opportunity to perform with Aoife O’Donovan, Time For Three, and members of the Calidore String Quartet as well as recording on the Grammy Nominated Album “Sila: The Breath of the World” by John Luther Adams.
In addition to classical performance, Hannah is an Irish fiddler, composer and arranger, and is part of an acoustic string duo with musical partner Grant Flick. The duo released its second record “Unmatched Pair” in August 2024, and look forward to touring their project in the midwest and New England Area. They are recipients of many grants including the University of Michigan Binkow Chamber Music Grant, and the Club Passim Iguana Fund, and spent last summer as Resonance Festival Artists at the Honeywell Arts Academy. She can also be seen playing Irish music around Boston, and has participated as an artist in the Boston Celtic Music Fest.
Degrees