Hannah Frees Asher
My family moved around a good bit when I was little, but I consider Pell City, Alabama, my hometown. I currently live near Montgomery, AL, with my husband and four children.
Education… I started my music studies with piano when I was very young and then convinced my parents to let me switch to violin at age nine. My primary violin teachers before college were Mary Wilson and Marilyn Pipkin. In college, I studied with Jeffrey Flaniken at Samford University and graduated from there with a Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance in 2011. I was a freshman at Samford when I received the scholarship from the BMC Guild.
Currently, I am not currently working in the professional music arena, but music is still a significant part of my life. It has been several years since I last taught as a private violin teacher, but now as a homeschooling mother, I get to be the one to introduce my own children to music, too. We love to sing together at home and at church, we listen to music of all sorts, and I have been able to get them started on their instruments of choice. I count it the highest privilege to be able to spend my days with the children entrusted to me, and I pray that they will grow up loving music and using it to bless others and worship God. In addition to the music in my everyday life, I also still play the occasional gig and am a backup accompanist for our church.
Most treasured music-related accomplishment or accolade… I know I don’t have to say this just because I’m doing this interview, but winning the Birmingham Music Club scholarship competition as a college freshman really was significant for me. Not only was the scholarship a financial blessing, but the success helped to give me confidence for the rest of my college career. And when I played afterwards for a meeting of the BMC Guild, the members were all so encouraging and kind. I’m grateful for that opportunity!
Future musical endeavors… I love to join local churches for their Christmas programs or other special events, so I hope to continue to do that as family life allows. In the future, I may return to teaching private lessons in a more official capacity, as well.
Favorite memory involving musical performance or study… I have so many special memories, but one that stands out was a concert in my senior year of college. Samford has an annual competition in which the winners get to solo alongside the student orchestra. I was chosen as one of the winners and so performed with the orchestra in the spring of 2011. That was thrilling in itself, but the concert was even more special because my younger sister, a sophomore piano major, was one of the other winners that year and so performed in that same concert. It was an experience not many sisters get to share!
Favorite piece ever played… And just as I have many favorite memories, it is hard to choose just one favorite piece. I think the piece I get most excited about playing, though, is Handel’s Messiah. My very first “professional” gig when I was a teenager was playing in a string quartet for a Christmas performance of Part I of Messiah, and I’ve played it multiple times since then. Still, every time, I am so moved by the timeless music, Handel’s masterful use of Scripture, and the chance to share a clear gospel message in an increasingly secular society.
Words of encouragement or advice for students studying music today… Don’t lose the joy of music in the midst of the daily practice grind. If your passion and joy shows through your music, your playing or singing will have a much greater impact, whether you are performing in a grand concert hall or sharing a simple song with a child.
