Described as possessing an “authoritative command of her technique, a sumptuous full sound, and expressively lyrical phrasing,” Hannah Craig is a versatile Canadian cellist and a current member of the Victoria Symphony.
Beyond her orchestral work, Craig is deeply committed to teaching and mentorship. She began her studies with her mother, Joowon Kim, a renowned cello pedagogue in Toronto. Inspired by her mother’s dedication to students, Hannah takes great pride in educating young musicians and instilling a love for the cello. She is on the faculty at the Victoria Conservatory of Music, where she teaches privately, coaches chamber music, and regularly conducts masterclasses. She has also been a faculty member at the Toronto Summer Music Academy, CelloMania Toronto, and the Vancouver Island Music Academy.
A passionate chamber musician, Craig has worked with members of the Formosa Quartet, St. Lawrence String Quartet, Juilliard String Quartet, and Orion String Quartet. Her festival experience includes the Aspen Music Festival (where she was a Fellow), the National Youth Orchestra of Canada, Orford Academy of Music, and Le Domaine Forget Music Festival. During her undergraduate studies at McGill University with Matt Haimovitz, Craig was a member of UCCELLO, Haimovitz’s Grammy-nominated cello ensemble, performing a range of genres from jazz to rock and classical music. This experience significantly broadened her appreciation for the cello’s versatility. It was also during this time that Hannah was the only Canadian cellist invited to the prestigious Piatigorsky International Cello Festival.
At the Glenn Gould School, where she studied with Andres Diaz, Desmond Hoebig, and Hans Jørgen Jensen, Craig was a winner of the GGS concerto competition and made her Koerner Hall debut with Bramwell Tovey. She was subsequently named one of CBC’s “30 Hot Canadian Classical Musicians Under 30.”
Throughout her studies, Craig has had the privilege of studying with esteemed cellists and pedagogues, including Ralph Kirshbaum, Fred Sherry, Colin Carr, Zvi Plesser, Clive Greensmith, Rachel Mercer, Richard Lester, and Richard Aaron.
Hannah Craig plays a 1920 Bourguignon cello, a cherished instrument passed down to her by her mother.
