Bassoonist and composer Reed Hanna is quickly becoming a noteworthy new voice in the double reed community whose compositions have become known among wind players for their interesting and imaginative musical ideas that challenge performers and captivate audiences.
As an orchestral musician, Reed plays principal bassoon in the Augusta (GA) Symphony, a position he has held since 2016. He also plays regularly with the South Carolina Philharmonic, the Greenville (SC) Symphony, and many other orchestras. He has performed recitals and given masterclasses across the southeastern U.S. and has given solo and chamber music performances at several International Double Reed Society conferences including the 2024 Conference (Flagstaff, AZ), 2022 Conference (Boulder, CO), 2018 Conference (Grenada, Spain), and 2016 Conference (Columbus, GA).
A committed teacher, Reed is the Artistic Director of the South Carolina Philharmonic Youth Orchestras (SCPYO), where he conducts the Youth Philharmonic, the organization’s top ensemble. In 2025 the SCPYO and Dr. Hanna performed at Carnegie Hall! He regularly does clinics with high school ensembles across the state of South Carolina, and has been on the faculties of Coker University, Georgia Southern University, and Newberry College.
His 2019 album of original chamber music, Carte Blanche, is available on all streaming services. Most of these works are published by Potenza Music and Trevco Music. To find out more about Reed’s published compositions, click the TrevCo link or visit the Compositions page.
Reed’s principal teachers include Michael Harley (Univ. of South Carolina, Alarm Will Sound), Daryl Durran (Penn State University), Jason Worzbyt (Indiana University of Pennsylvania), and Mahlon Grass (Lock Haven University). He earned a DMA in bassoon performance from the University of South Carolina, Performer’s Certificate from Penn State University, a Master of Music in bassoon performance from the University of Nebraska—Lincoln, and a Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.