Every spring, the Bridgewater College Department of Music hosts a “Music Major for the Day” event, in which local high school students are invited to sit in on classes and rehearse with BC musical ensembles. In 2020, Hannah Simmers ’25, then a senior percussionist at Turner Ashby High School in Bridgewater, participated in the event and couldn’t wait to come back.
“Bridgewater was the only college I applied to,” says Simmers, now a senior music major and member of the Screamin’ Eagles Marching Band, BC Symphonic Band, Oratorio Choir and “just about anything else that has to do with the music department.”
Simmers says that she was able to attend BC thanks to the financial support she received from student scholarships. While at Bridgewater, she has expanded her instrumental abilities to include the alto and tenor saxophone and done an independent study in advanced music theory. Along the way, she discovered passions for both writing music and directing musical groups.
“I get so much intense joy from composing,” Simmers says. “It was something I stumbled into and didn’t expect to love so much.”
Dr. Ryan Keebaugh ’02, Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Choral Music, says that Simmers also has a natural talent for conducting, something she has done for the BC Chorale and other groups. He says that it is rare for someone so young to have this ability.
“Anyone can wave their hands around, but it takes a strong leader to conduct an ensemble,” Keebaugh says. “She has an innate understanding of how to combine music and voice and has the presence to lead. She stands up there and knows exactly what she’s doing.”
On Saturday, October 26 at 7 p.m. in the Carter Center Concert Hall, Simmers will demonstrate both her composition and conducting skills when she debuts five of her original musical pieces for her honors recital. One piece will be performed by the BC Chorale and the others by chamber ensembles. After the recital, Simmers will give a talk about the pieces, which she says are in a wide range of styles but all inspired by her love of the natural world. The event is free and open to the public.
Although she originally thought she would pursue a career in K-12 music education, Simmers now says she hopes to go on to graduate school and eventually teach music at a small college like Bridgewater.
“When I got to Bridgewater and saw the atmosphere that the professors here have created, it was inspiring. I love the small school atmosphere and the opportunities that students have for one-on-one mentorship,” Simmers says.
“We work hard to build a sense of community,” Keebaugh says. “We want to be a warm and welcoming space and let each student know that we care about them as a person.”
– Heather S. Cole
9/25/24
