John Hahn: Local Musician and Beloved Teacher

If you live in Peekskill and have enjoyed some of its robust music scene, chances are that you’ve already heard the name John Hahn.

A husband, father, band-mate, friend and active member of the Peekskill community music scene, Hahn is also a part of Peekskill High School’s teaching staff.

Hahn, whose equal passion for all of his roles is apparent, is a lifelong musician. He is a graduate from the Hartt School of Music in Hartford, Connecticut, where he attended on a full scholarship thanks to his talents on the bass trombone and holds a Masters in Music Education from Lehman College.

Multi-faceted in his abilities, Hahn plays a number of instruments, including trombone, tuba, and bass. He composes music as well.

To briefly summarize his impressive musical resume one must note over a dozen bands of various genres that the musician is currently a member of, which includes the Westchester Swing Band, his own project titled The Hahnbone Band, and a local favorite, New York Uproar. The list of on and off-Broadway shows Hahn has performed in is equally long, if not longer. Add in performances with individual artists, comedians and orchestras and you can understand the magnitude of Hahn’s professional music career.

Hahn’s musical beginning came about in his hometown of Boston, with his instruction and inspiration coming from his father, who was also a musician. Hahn came to live in Peekskill after he left Les Miserables, which concluded the time he spent playing in various Broadway musical orchestras.

Versatile in his abilities, Hahn takes his talents straight from the stage to the classroom, and is about to enter his tenth year in the teaching profession. He has spent half of that time at his current location in Peekskill after being forced to transfer through several school districts because of budget cuts to their music programs.

 “I moved to Peekskill because I wanted to be in a town where I could afford a house without my wife having to work. I wanted the train line. It’s ethnically diverse, plus all the music and heart. I’m comfortable in this town,” said Hahn.

As a teacher Hahn is a well loved and respected influence in the children’s lives, as is exemplified by the “Teacher of The Month” title he won from WHUD after his students nominated him for the award last October.

During his time at Peekskill High School Hahn has not only lent his talents to help educate the next generation of musicians, but has helped inspire, advise and guide his students on their journeys to become better people as well as musicians.

Hahn has accessed every avenue available to him to enrich his student’s musical experiences. Whether it is inviting the student’s musically talented parents to come play with their children, helping to organize the Kid’s Open Mic Night at 12 Grapes, or bringing in NYC’s Fireworks Ensemble to compose with his students, Hahn goes above and beyond to ensure his pupils get the most out of their time spent with him.

Hahn has also helped establish a Memorial Day scholarship for students, and played an active part in attaining Peekskill High School’s Music Lab as well. His future goals include incorporating dance teams to perform with the school’s musicians.

Hahn credits his success as a teacher and expresses his gratitude to the students that work so hard with him and to his collaborators. He and the students are both quick to name fellow music teacher Larry DelCasale as a huge influence in the high school’s musical accomplishments.

 “Also, the talented music staff the district has in the Middle School and lower grades. That is obviously a huge factor on why we have the success in the [high school] music department,” Hahn said.

He emphasizes other values to his students as well, making sure they understand that it is “more about being a successful person than a great musician.”

“It’s about academics too,” Hahn tells his students, “not just music.”

“He is an awesome guy to be around,” said Charles “Charlie” DiNota, a senior at Peekskill High School who will be attending Five Towns College next year on a $8,000 per year scholarship, which he credits Hahn with pushing him towards. “I don’t want it to end; it’s just so much fun,” DiNota said of his high school music class. “Mr. Hahn makes me never want to leave this room.”

“He’s not just awesome when it comes to music, but he’s pushed me big time with my school work so I could be in band,” said freshman student Emmanuel “Manny” Henry. “Mr. Hahn gives us so many opportunities.”

As his students cleaned up the class room from the traditional student lunch Hahn organizes at the end of every school year, he pulls up his schedule for the up-coming month on a nearby computer that was previously running a photo slide show of the band’s events from throughout the year. There is at least one event scheduled each day, some have two.

“I do around 175 gigs a year, and it keeps growing," said Hahn. "I was at a practice in the Bronx last night till midnight. My wife joked that I used to be a musician, because I teach now and I had four gigs that week.”

Hahn is always busy playing and teaching music, but always makes time for his wife and three sons.

 “I sleep when I can,” said Hahn. “When I’m not playing Frisbee, or fixing the garage door. My son has a game tomorrow, so I’ll be at that.”

You can see Hahn perform as part of the Ultimate Doo-Wop Show on June 18th at the Beacon Theatre. 

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