Music is an art form that brings people together, fostering a sense of community at every stage of life — from young children discovering melodies and rhythms to seasoned performers finding joy in sharing their talents with others.
For Hannah Jensen-Heitmann ’15, who is known professionally as Hannah Jensen, music has been a part of her life since birth.
“My first concert was at two weeks old, according to my parents, and I have been involved with music and attended concerts several times a year ever since,” she said. “Music was very prevalent in our household; there was a variety from jazz to Beethoven to the Beatles.”
Hannah’s father, Dr. Byron Jensen, taught music at Hastings College from 2003 until his retirement in 2022. While her father taught her the structural aspects of music, Jensen-Heitmann said she inherited her ear for harmony from her mother, Deb, whom she credits with having a wonderful singing voice. She shares a love of music with her brother, Nathan ’18, who is a professional musician.
Jensen-Heitmann graduated from HC with degrees in piano performance and music education, crediting her father and other professors for shaping her career.
“My dad has been influential and inspirational,” she said. “Ruth Moore was my piano professor; she pushed and challenged me with new music and had me trying new and different things. She was able to get me into accompaniment, and I am grateful for that challenge, as that is what I do a lot of now.”
She also noted that Dr. Robin Koozer was instrumental in getting her several opportunities as a college student and had her in mind for a workshop in New York City through the Metropolitan Opera, as well as an internship in New York.
For Jensen-Heitmann, the hardest part of graduating was no longer making music with her friends every day. That experience inspired her to create opportunities for others to continue making music together as she began her career.
She lived and taught in the Dominican Republic for a semester before returning to Hastings. She began as the accompanist at Adams Central Public Schools in the fall of 2016 and continues serving in that role. She also has a piano studio, maintaining a clientele of around 45 students per week.
In 2021, she founded the Hastings Community Music Academy, a nonprofit organization offering classes for all ages and stages of music ability, from toddler classes to lessons for a 90-year-old. She serves as the Academy’s executive director.
“Our philosophy is that music should be accessible to everyone,” she said. “We have scholarships available for people to be able to participate, because having access to music is the most important thing. We have hosted sign language choirs, several community classes and ensembles, and just love being creative with what we offer.”
There are people who played 40 to 50 years ago whose instruments had been in the closet ever since.
“Now they’re playing with younger students; it’s fun seeing that multigenerational participation,” she said.
Earlier this year, Jensen-Heitmann approached Dr. Raoul Carlo “Miggi” Angangco, assistant professor of music and director of choral activities at the College, with the idea of forming a community choir. He enthusiastically supported the idea.
Rehearsals with the Hastings Choral Collective began in August, with 35 to 40 participants ranging in age from high school to their mid-80s. Several current and former Hastings College students are also involved with both the Choral Collective and Music Academy.
“Being able to give people access to more music is important,” she said. “People love to sing, and being able to give them an opportunity to express themselves and create a group where that can happen is very meaningful.”
The most rewarding part of Jensen-Heitmann’s career is equipping students with skills they can build on and watching those skills develop into lifelong strengths.
“My favorite moment in teaching, which luckily happens most every day, is when we’ve been working hard on something and they get it; that’s the best feeling,” she said. “I’ve helped foster and instill some sort of work ethic in that, but they took the time to learn and practice and they’re so proud of themselves.”
Despite her busy schedule helping others grow as musicians, Jensen-Heitmann hopes to devote more time to composing and exploring the possibility of developing a music curriculum for residents in care facilities.
“I always want to be creative with what we offer and get as many people involved as possible,” she said.