Wells School of Music

Education

• D.M.A., University of Colorado Boulder
• M.M., The University of Akron
• B.M.E., University of South Florida
• B.M., University of South Florida

Thoughts on SOM

West Chester University Wells School of Music offers the best qualities a student needs to succeed in music school. We have excellent facilities, outstanding faculty who are active scholars, and we are close to a major metropolitan area where some of the world’s best musical performances can be heard regularly. Our graduates teach in public schools and universities, and many have very active careers in composition, performance, and therapy. Our students have won national competitions, and our ensembles regularly perform at regional, national, and international festivals.

Mission at SOM

My goal as a college professor is to provide students with an educational experience that will rival any program in the nation. Developing student's musicianship, professionalism, and self confidence as a player and teacher have always been the focus of my teaching.

Curriculum Vitae

Dr. Chris Hanning is a Professor of Percussion, Dean of the Wells School of Music, and Interim Dean of the College of Arts and Humanities at West Chester University of Pennsylvania. Chris served on the Percussive Arts Society board of directors for eight years, including as President in 2019 and 2020. As an active jazz and classical percussionist, he has performed throughout Europe, South America, and the United States, including at prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and London’s Royal Albert Hall. Chris has recorded several CDs with many artists over the years, including numerous NFL Films recordings that won several Emmy Awards. You can hear Chris every year when the Lombardi Trophy music plays during the Super Bowl or when you visit the NFL Experience 4D Theater in NYC. Chris is an artist/clinician for Vic Firth, Pearl/Adams, Remo, and Zildjian and has presented clinics at universities, conferences, and percussion festivals across the United States and abroad.