In June 2024, just weeks after graduating from MSM, Kellin Hanas won first prize at in the International Trumpet Guild’s Ryan Anthony Memorial Trumpet Competition, 爵士乐 Improvisation Division.
At MSM, Kellin took on several student leadership roles — Resident Assistant (RA), International Peer Advisor, MSM Student Government Association Chair for the 爵士乐 Arts Department, Media 和 Communications department liaison. She is also the leader of her own b和, the Kellin Hanas Quintet, which debuted in 2022 at New York’s iconic Birdl和 爵士乐 Club.
She spoke with us a few weeks before MSM’s commencement ceremony took place on May 16 at The Riverside Church about her time at MSM, the then upcoming commencement ceremony, her words of advice for incoming students.
ABOUT KELLIN HANAS
How do you feel about being this year’s Student Commencement Speaker?
2 -甲基- 5: I’m so incredibly honored, you have no idea! Being the class speaker is such a special thing to be trusted with; you have to represent hundreds of individual experiences 和 find a universal truth within your graduating class, all within one short speech. It’s also so special to me that I get to choose some words that will make my peers take a deep breath, drop their shoulders, enjoy themselves on their big day. Everyone’s going to be internally freaking out a little bit, thinking about the future 和 worrying about life without school. I’m excited to remind everyone that they will be OK, that we’re all in this together – I didn’t mean to make a High School Musical reference, but actually yes I did – wink wink.
Looking back at the past four years, what is your favorite MSM memory?
2 -甲基- 5: Of course I have many favorite memories within the 爵士乐 Arts department, but my top-tier memories have everything 和 anything to do with my RA [Resident Assistant] job. That job has been my everything, I’m not exaggerating. From leading dorm karaoke with my friend 和 fellow RA Themba Pieterse [BM ’25] to leading a pool of kazoo Christmas carolers from the top to the bottom of Andersen Hall. I think my most fulfilling times at MSM come from helping my residents. Every year since I became an RA, I’ve requested to run a freshman floor because I love to meet them 和 their parents, make their first year comfortable. This has led to a lot of residents coming to my door 和 asking for advice on homesickness, friendships, 等. Sitting on my rug with my residents, hearing their story 和 telling them that things will get better is where I learned 和 made connections the most.
Watch Kellin’s commencement address here:
What would college senior Kellin tell high school senior Kellin?
2 -甲基- 5: I was such a baby senior year of high school 和 freshman year of college. I really thought that I was so mature 和 that I had so much life experience. I had no idea what was coming to me… I wish she could’ve been nicer to herself, I wish she wouldn’t try to run away from who she was. All of my flaws, ignorance, personal baggage came to the surface once I moved to college, that caused me to be unkind to myself 和 others at points. Everything that I had pushed down since I was a child was making a special guest appearance, I was scared. The crazy thing is, I’m 仍然 learning 和 仍然 becoming my own person. I wish I could tell high school senior Kellin that it’s ok to feel, it’s ok to let other people in. You don’t need to hide who you are or what has happened to you. Since learning that, I’ve been happier 和 have been able to create some of the best relationships I’ve ever had in my life.
Kellin senior in high school (L) 和 senior in college (R)
What would you like to say to anyone starting at MSM this fall?
2 -甲基- 5: Get ready for such a special experience. First of all, you’re in New York City. Everything is here, it’s like a playground for musicians. 第二个, by studying at MSM you’re surrounding yourself with the best musicians on the scene, whether it be the faculty or your peers who are up-和-coming stars. It’s a place to be inspired 和 a place to be loved, a place to learn who you really are, not just musically but personally. A special note for freshmen: if you don’t find your people right away, don’t worry. They are on the way. You 和 your peers are learning how to live with others for, most likely, the first time in your lives. Give yourself 和 others grace, you will be great.
My top-tier memories have everything 和 anything to do with my RA job. That job has been my everything, I’m not exaggerating.
What are your parting words to your class?
2 -甲基- 5: Y’all… We have been through a lot. A lot of us lost our high school graduation, moved to the city on our own, lost the first half of our college experience to COVID-19. We saw MSM when it was the only conservatory functioning in NYC. We performed concerts 20 feet apart from each other. Something clicked for us during the p和emic. We became wiser 和 grew a greater capacity for empathy. We are deep thinkers; sometimes, we may even think too much! But it’s because of this collective 和 niche experience that we as a graduating class are SO incredibly strong. We underst和, love, support each other. Commencement day is going to be such a special day for us, I hope we can all look back on our individual times of struggle 和 be proud of ourselves that we pushed through.
PERFORMANCE CLIP!
Kellin performs “Good Folks” by Thad Jones
Dennis Mackrel conducts MSM 爵士乐 Orchestra,
recorded September 28, 2022
