Biography
Ayanna Gallant is a musician, poet and educator with the passion for creativity. She has been a music and poetry artistic leader for non-profit groups such as Arts in Reach, Jazzmouth: The Portsmouth Poetry and Jazz Festival, and With Open Minds. Ayanna shares her love for the arts as a music teacher at Capital City Public Charter School in Washington D.C. She earned a Bachelor of Music Degree from the University of New Hampshire in Music Education (2005) and a Master of Education Degree in Curriculum and Instruction with a focus in Arts Integration (2010). She credits her students, colleagues and performing arts family for teaching her about the things that matter most, creating and learning. Publications include The 2008 Poets’ Guide to New Hampshire (Poetry Society of New Hampshire, 2008), How to Say Hello (Sargent Press, 2008), Sreams, Moans and Lullabies (Sargent Press 2012), and has had the poem “Pregnant Pause” published with Wicked Banshee Press (2014). She is formerly a trombonist with the Portsmouth Symphony (2009-2012) and has shared the stage with Branford Marsalis, Clark Terry and former US Poet Laureate, Billy Collins. Ayanna currently performs poetry and percussion with the Bele Bele Rhythm Collective, an inter-generational, diverse group of women who study and perform tightly sewn compositions of West African polyrhythms complete with songs, breaks, and accompanying dancers.
Please e-mail ayanna.gallant@gmail.com for photo use
Services
- Bele Bele Rhythm Collective (West African drumming, song, dance and poetry)
- Acoustic Song Artist (sing-alongs/protests/vigils)
- Spoken Word Performance or Workshops, all ages
- Education Workshops or Lecture Performance (Pre-K – 12 Music Education and Poetry/Spoken Word, 4MAT(R) Cylcle of Learning
- Trombone and Euphonium Performance
- Jazz and Ensemble Vocal Performance
- Private Lessons: All band instruments (beginner), guitar (beginner), low brass (beginner to advanced), voice (most genres, all ages, beginner and intermediate), and family music making.
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Reviews
“Ayanna Gallant bedazzles with poignancy and pure courage…of being a woman and a poet who is fearless in her examinations of womanhood, race and class. She is fierce, warm and full of the slam gospel truth!”
-Pages Matam, Poet, Activist, Educator
“Ayanna is a natural performer and educator. She inspires her audiences and students alike with her passion for music and poetry. Her workshops are hands-on and thought provoking. She makes creative writing and poetry accessible and enjoyable allowing participants to stretch their potential”
-Elizabeth M. Peterson, Arts Integration Specialist, theinspiredclassroom.com
Press
Video Music
Video Poetry
Contact
Ayanna Gallant
ayanna.gallant@gmail.com
508.813.8588
twitter @AyannaG
facebook.com/ayanna.gallant
Lesson studio located at 6601 Red Top Road, Hyattsville, MD
