Hannah Lane, triple harp
Australian harpist Hannah Lane has been acclaimed as, ‘a true master of this instrument’ (Australian Stage, 2022). A leading specialist in historical harp performance practice, Hannah performs on harps from the Renaissance to Romantic eras. ‘Playing three rows of strings not merely with precision but also expressive beauty’ (Limelight, 2023), her performances have been praised for their emotional depth, subtlety and sparkling virtuosity.
Hannah studied modern harp with Alice Giles AM and historically informed performance practice with Geoffrey Lancaster AO, graduating with high distinction. She completed her historical harp specialisation in Milan, Italy, with Mara Galassi and Chiara Granata. As a chamber artist and soloist, Hannah performs with leading ensembles throughout Australia and Europe. She is Principal Harpist for the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra and Pinchgut Opera/Orchestra of the Antipodes, and regularly appears with ensembles such as the Australian Haydn Ensemble, Genesis Baroque, Adelaide Baroque and Latitude 37. Hannah is a recording artist for ABC Classics, Obsidian Records and Brilliant Classics, and has performed at international festivals such as Innsbrucker Festwochen der Alten Musik, Spoleto Festival dei Due Mondi, Urbino Musica Antica, Adelaide Festival, and the Canberra International Music Festival.
Based in Naarm/Melbourne, Hannah is the artistic director of the critically acclaimed Ensemble 642, which is dedicated to the art of basso continuo and music for early plucked strings. In 2024, Ensemble 642 made their international debut at the Urbino Musica Antica Festival in Italy, with the honour of the first Australian ensemble invited to perform at this historic festival. Hannah is a dedicated and inspiring music educator, who is passionate about nurturing the talents of future generations of musicians. She has acted as a mentor for the Helpmann Academy Elevate Mentorship Program, and is regularly invited to present masterclasses on basso continuo and historically informed performance practice at the Music Conservatoriums of Melbourne and Sydney. Hannah’s research has been published in leading musicological journals such as Early Music and Eighteenth-Century Music.
Away from the harp, Hannah is an intrepid swimmer, and is always up for a dip regardless of the season and weather, especially if it's in the sea. Hannah's years spent living in Italy turned her into a self-confessed Italophile. She particularly loves speaking Italian and cooking pasta "just like Nonna used to make"!