This year, BHS welcomed a new choir director, Shelby Hanna, whose love for music began at a young age and continues to inspire her teaching today.
“I started piano lessons when I was nine years old,” Hanna said. “It was something that came very naturally to me, and I think I decided right then and there that music was an important component of my life.”
Her passion grew through middle and high school, where supportive choir directors nurtured her talents and love for music.
“Ultimately, seeing the compassion that musicians shared was something that I really wanted to be around for the rest of my life,” Hanna said.
Hanna is asked how her first year at BHS has treated her.
“So far, things have been great,” Hanna said. “The students have been so welcoming and many have taken steps to make me feel like family right from my first day. I’m incredibly thankful for that because first years in new buildings are not easy.”
She also praised the administration’s support, noting that it has made BHS “a great place to be.”
When it comes to her teaching style, Hanna believes in building genuine relationships with her students.
“I love to joke and be sarcastic with my kids so they see that I am a real person,” Hannah said. “In addition to that, I don’t hide my emotions. I try to be upfront to build that trust and remind them that I am a soul that deserves empathy as well,”
One piece Hanna is especially excited about this year is Hope Lingers On, arranged by Andrea Ramsey.
“This is a treble piece with percussion, and the energy the girls bring to the table is awe-inspiring,” Hanna said. “Not to mention, the message of the piece is also super important.”
Looking ahead, she shares her goals for the school year:
“Personally, I just want to get my feet underneath me and learn the ropes of the new job to be more comfortable in the future,” Hanna said. “For my students, my goals are to help build up good humans, I have always prided myself on being a teacher first, and a choir director second. First, we must know how to be good people. Second, we can make good music together.”