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Hannah Harder is a saxophonist, composer, and educator from Elk River, MN. Having lived close to Minneapolis/St Paul in high school and college, she honed her skills in Jazz and Improvisatory music in the Twin Cities Jazz scene. Hannah recently graduated from the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire with a Bachelor of Liberal Arts in Music and an Arts Administration Certificate. During her time in school, she freelanced in Eau Claire and the Twin Cities area, playing in Jazz, Funk, and Fusion groups, as well as Pit Orchestras and a Gospel Choir. For several years, she led two different jam sessions in Eau Claire, and started the group “SOCATA,” which aimed to bring recognition to women’s contributions to the jazz idiom. This included a University funded research project that focused on the works of select female jazz artists and their music. In 2022, Hannah became the inaugural Eau Claire Jazz Inc Scholarship recipient for her contributions to the Eau Claire Jazz community.

As an educator, Hannah has taught saxophone and jazz fundamentals to many different age groups. She has taught masterclasses for Shell Lake Arts Camp and various high schools throughout Minnesota and Wisconsin with her band, Summit Blue. She directed Jazz 4 at UWEC for 3 consecutive semesters, teaching peers about Big Band music and improvisation, and directed the orchestra for Cabaret, a student led variety show at UWEC. She has also been a private instructor for several years.

Hannah has had many opportunities to showcase her composing and arranging, whether it be for a pit orchestra, big band, small group jazz ensemble, or gospel choir horn section. Her upcoming album, “The Greatest of these is Love,” will feature mostly originals that she has been crafting throughout her undergrad degree. She has also composed several tunes for her band, Summit Blue, which she started with her friends from school and has recorded two albums with.

Having a wide variety of musical influences such as Straight Ahead Jazz, Contemporary Jazz, Gospel, Rnb, Pop, Classical, Praise and Worship, and many more, Hannah’s style has been described as “soulful,” and “intentional.” She believes that music can heal souls and connect people, and wants her music to inspire others and convey a larger message of love, healing, and passion.