A Salina, Kansas native, Hannah Koshgarian began studying cello at the age of eight. Throughout her time in primary and secondary school, Ms. Koshgarian performed regularly with the Salina High School Orchestra, the Salina Youth Symphony, the Bethany College Orchestra, and the Hutchinson Symphony.

After high school, Hannah spent her first two years of her undergraduate study at the University of Kansas, where she performed with the University of Kansas Symphony Orchestra. Hannah finished her degree at Fort Hays State University, where she continued to study cello through private lessons, as well as performing with the Hays Symphony Orchestra, the Fort Hays Sinfonietta Chamber Orchestra, and various musical and opera pit orchestras. She also spent many of her collegiate years playing with various contemporary worship teams and chamber ensembles in the area. During her final year at FHSU, Ms. Koshgarian was the recipient of the Edwin Moyers Orchestra Award, given each year to an exemplary string student. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Music Technology and a minor in Cello Performance.

Since relocating to Nashville in 2015, Hannah has played with the Spring Hill Orchestra, her church worship team at The Belonging Co., and for several television specials. She currently performs regularly with the Nashville Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as recording sessions for various artists across a wide array of genres. She is so thankful to have taught so many incredible students for the last five years, and is excited to continue her private lessons as part of the ROOTS team.

Hannah’s Teaching Philosophy: “Every student is a different student, and should be treated and taught taught as such! Different students will have different learning styles and needs and goals with the instrument. While I believe that a solid foundation of technique is universally important and provides the building blocks for any style of playing, how we get there and where we go from there is entirely dependent upon the student’s own personal goals and desires for learning! I also believe in creating a safe space for people to fail. Learning something new and taking risks requires vulnerability, which can often feel uncomfortable. I want to foster a teaching environment that invites failure and shifts the perspective from that of shame, to that of a learning opportunity. Even as a teacher, I fail all the time! I want my learning environments to be marked by grace, patience, and a nurturing kindness. I believe that coming together and creating music in any capacity is sacred. Approaching something with reverence does not require perfection, but authenticity. I strive to model that by example, so that my students can experience that felt safety in taking risks, failing, and learning to keep trying again.”

Why are you passionate about teaching?
“I love to encourage people to be the best versions of themselves, and see them succeed! It’s one of the most rewarding things in the world to not only see the potential of a student begin to come to fruition, but for them to see that realised for themselves. To come alongside someone and help them grow and develop is such an honour. I feel like I am constantly learning from my students as well. It keeps my perspective fresh and helps me remember why I love making music and playing the cello as much as I do. We really get back to the “ROOT” of why creating music is so vital (pun absolutely intended).”

What type of student will excel best under your mentorship?
“Any student with a genuine desire to learn and progress! I love helping students figure out their own unique niche with the instrument, even if that’s not the traditional classical route.”

What causes are you passionate about?
“I am really passionate about environmental sustainability, as well as sustainable and ethical practices within consumer spheres. I am in the beginning stages of pioneering an environmental sustainability team at my church, in order to encourage mindfulness in the products we use and what we do with them after they’ve been used. I am also incredibly passionate about anti-human-trafficking work. I’ve been volunteering with a global nonprofit called Hope for Justice since 2019, and spend a couple days each week working with the team at the local Nashville office. When I heard about the amazing things that this organisation does and how intentionally they treat every single facet of anti-trafficking work, I knew that I needed to be involved somehow. I’ve had the incredible opportunity of attending their conferences internationally, as well as travelling around the country for training and fundraising events. They work in every facet of anti-trafficking, including prevention trainings, equipping local law enforcement and medical staff on recognising the signs of human trafficking, direct rescue of victims all around the country, providing aftercare at one of their restoration houses, providing makeup education and job training, reintegrating victims back into their family and community settings, and working with local and national government officials for legal reformation. There is so much injustice and need in this area, and I love getting to take actionable steps to be part of the solution.”

Where do you look for creative inspiration?
“Musically, I’ve been really inspired by people who are pushing the boundaries of string performance. I think it’s easy to think of stringed instruments as being used in a specific context, so I really enjoy artists who are using them in nontraditional ways. I’m a very visual person, so I also love to find creative inspiration in things like visual art, photography, or interior design. Having alternative means of creative catharsis for myself helps me to translate that inspiration into my playing and think outside the box.”

What’s your favorite down-time activity?
“Being outside is so therapeutic for me, so anything involving hiking, being on a trail, or even just reading outside at a park or on my deck. I also really love to cook and bake, and have recently been focusing on learning to make more Armenian dishes to honour that part of my heritage. They’re usually fairly intricate, but I love spending the extra time preparing something extra special.”

What’s your favorite local spot to spend time at?
“I really love craft coffee, so posting up at a local cafe with a good book is one of my favourite things to do when I’ve got a day off. I also really enjoy being outside, so I spend a lot of time at the greenway near my house.”