Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts just said farewell to Hahn-Bin. He definitely stayed busy during his visit here in Springfield, Mo. On Tuesday, he and his accompanist, John Blacklow, captivated an audience of orchestra students at Jarrett Middle School, answering questions about life as a professional musician and treating them to an impromptu version of the Jackson Five’s “I’ll Be There,” and coached Missouri State violin students in a master class. The following day, Hahn-Bin performed for an intimate audience on our stage and mingled with fans at the reception following his concert.
Hahn-Bin Fun Fact: He has to shave the sides of his head every day to maintain that rockin’ mohawk!
Another artist coming to Hammons Hall that creates his own style is Michael Wolff. The Michael Wolff Trio, a jazz ensemble, will be performing Friday, Oct. 2, at 8 p.m. Wolff’s love of jazz is infused with his dynamic and eclectic style. As a musician, he was taught that his music should say something, and it does. It tells his audiences of his life experiences and reveals who he is. Wolff said, “At this stage, I feel that I can play on many levels simultaneously. The rhythmic mode is jazz, but I can stretch it. I have the confidence to explore according to my own personality.” To get to know Michael Wolff, watch this video.
Michael Wolff Fun Fact: Younger generations may recognize him as Nat and Alex’s dad from the Nickelodeon show “The Naked Brothers Band.” Nat and Alex, who played themselves on the show, really are Wolff’s sons. Wolff played their quirky father as well as produced the show. His wife was the show’s writer-director.