Press Kit

Biography

Ayanna Gallant is a musician, poet, and educator with a 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, With Open Minds and The Young Women’s Drumming Empowerment Project. 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), Screams, Moans and Lullabies (Sargent Press 2012) and “Lunation”, an anthology of woman poets. 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 with Aya, Marsha and the Positrons, Pangea. You see her perform most often 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.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)
Community and family drum circles
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)
Trombone and Euphonium Performance (All genres)
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.
Voice Acting/Voice Overs

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

“Ayanna joined us for our museum’s winter family day celebrating Kwanzaa, and she made the day memorable and special for both our staff and the children and families that came through. She provided 30-minute drumming sessions that were both fun and instructional, and she was a consummate professional in the way that she structured the time, interacted with a variety of ages, and managed the room. As we looked back at photos from the day, we saw so many faces full of joy as they interacted with Ayanna and her students, and we hope to continue to partner with her in the future!”
-Emily Draper, Program Specialist/ The Early Childhood Education Initiative, National Museum of African American History and Culture