CHARIS HANNING
Bold, imaginative, and endlessly curious, Charis Hanning is a pianist who thrives on adventure and seeks to create experiences. Her work flows from a love of storytelling, of joining forces with others, and of expressing music as far as it will go. That's whether on stage, in the studio, or in unexpected places.
Born in Scotland, with early years in Hong Kong, she then moved to Canada, where she developed a deep love for exploration – both in nature and in music. She now lives and works in London, bringing her rich heritage to her work as a performer, collaborator and educator.
Pianist
Collaborator
Charis is a chamber musician at heart. She founded the award-winning Jacquin Trio, taking their performances as far as New Zealand, and now performs with the Florian Ensemble, exploring new ways to bring music to life. An experienced accompanist and ensemble player, she has worked with artists such as Fenella Humphreys, Daisy Votalaro, Anna Menzies, Teiya Kasahara, Tomoko Shigeno, and Helen Sherman. Her music-sharing has taken her across the UK, including to Cadogan Hall and Purcell Room, to BBC Radio 3, and further afield to Foundation Juan March (Spain) and the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts (Canada). Other highlights include Edinburgh International Festival, Edinburgh Fringe, Rye Festival, North Norfolk Music Festival and Cheltenham Contemporary Concerts,. She has also collaborated with singers at the Aldeburgh English Song Project and Vancouver International Song Institute.
In recent years, she has ventured out into organ and accordion playing, unlocking new creative possibilities and unexpected musical partnerships. She enjoys collaborating across disciplines with a passion to create new experiences. This includes work with visual artists and animators to blend sound and imagery in innovative ways for immersive, multi-sensory projects.
Her artistry has been recognised with prizes and awards from the Royal Over-Seas League, St. Martins-in-the-Fields, PRS Fund, Belle Shenkman Award and the Royal College of Music.
Interested in collaborating or booking?
Educator
Charis is a passionate advocate for making music more accessible, bringing live performances to people who might not otherwise experience it. Through partnerships with organisations such as Live Music Now, she has led workshops that use music to foster connection, understanding and joy. And she mentors the next generation of musicians to create, engage and inspire through music. A dedicated educator, Charis teaches and accompanies at the Junior Department of Trinity Laban Conservatoire, and has coached and given masterclasses at Aldeburgh Young Musicians.
Interested in a trial lesson or booking a workshop?
At the core of everything she does is a singular belief: music is meant to be shared, experienced, and felt. Whether she’s performing, teaching, or collaborating across artistic disciplines, Charis is constantly searching for new ways to ignite imagination and challenge expectations. That's how she crafts audacious, adventurous performances and projects.
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