Hannah-Louise Vine, Class of 2017

Hannah’s journey from Trinity to her current role as the hire library and archive manager at Stainer & Bell is a testament to her unwavering passion for music and languages.

Drawn to Trinity by its strong Classics department, Hannah found her love for Ancient Greek alongside her linguistic pursuits in Latin and Spanish.

University life at Exeter was marked by musical adventures, from playing lead roles in operas to winning choral scholarships.

Now, at Stainer & Bell, Hannah’s role blends her love for music and her professional responsibilities.

What initially drew you to Trinity School, and how did your experience in the Sixth Form shape your passion for music and languages?

I was drawn to Trinity by the strength of its Classics department, which offered a more collaborative working environment than I was used to. I was also offered the chance to study Ancient Greek alongside my other A Levels, which particularly complemented my other linguistic subjects of Latin and Spanish. My path after I left Trinity was absolutely influenced by the experiences I had there, both through my academic study and in extracurricular opportunities. My time at Trinity inspired a much deeper passion for languages, as shown by my further study; my passion for music exploded when I went to university. There was every music society under the sun, which became the foundation of my social life, and eventually led me to the career I have now.

Can you tell us about any teachers or mentors at Trinity who had a significant positive influence on your musical and linguistic journey?

Mr Allison fostered my interest in Hispanic culture, beyond studying Spanish itself, which led me to choose Modern Languages at university. I had not previously considered this option, and that decision changed the course of my life since! From a musical perspective, I owe a lot of the confidence I now have when performing to Mr Evans and Ms Fuge. Throughout my A Level studies, they helped to nurture my belief in my own abilities, and I am definitely a stronger performer for it.

How did your involvement in singing and music at Trinity contribute to your personal and academic development?

It was very important for me to strike the balance between investing myself fully in my academic study, and maintaining my enjoyment of music beyond the classroom. I had some fantastic experiences while at Trinity, including singing at Ronnie Scott’s - both with the Big Band and with the Jazz Octet and Close Harmony - as well as being part of Little Shop of Horrors in the Lower Sixth. These experiences encouraged me to develop my versatility as a performer, and to push myself beyond what I think I’m capable of, both in a personal and academic sense.

Transitioning to university, you pursued a degree in German and Spanish at Exeter. How did your musical background influence your university experience and vice versa?

My university experience was absolutely defined by the musical opportunities I had there; I often joke about spending more time in the music building than I did at my lectures! Music at Exeter allowed me to try things I never thought I would, such as learning the saxophone, occasionally conducting our concert band, and even playing lead roles in the Opera Society’s productions of The Marriage of Figaro and Dido and Aeneas. I was given the space to become more adventurous, which helped my confidence when approaching the more outward-facing elements of my degree, such as speaking exams and presentations. It also gave me the push I needed to decide to work rather than study for my year abroad, which led to me becoming a British Council language assistant in rural Austria. My academic study of languages and my extracurricular commitments to music were always inextricably intertwined!

Could you share some memorable moments from your time in choirs at Exeter University and how it furthered your passion for music alongside your language studies?

At the end of my first year, I went on tour with the Exeter University Singers to Rome, where we sang Mass at the basilica where Palestrina studied music. The significance of singing in this venue was not lost on me, and is definitely one of the most special services I’ve sung!

In my second year, I won a choral scholarship at St Michael and All Angels Church. I remember the sense of community and belonging I felt when I donned the cassock and surplice for the first time, which I feel every time I sing there, as I am lucky enough to still be invited to sing whenever I visit Exeter.

I even managed to join a choir while working in Austria. As the only native speaker, I became the de facto English dialect coach for the choir, who were preparing for a performance of Handel’s Israel in Egypt. Telling a choir of 60 people that they’re pronouncing words wrong every week was initially quite daunting, but thankfully they were very receptive to the feedback!

After completing your undergraduate degree, you pursued a MA in translation studies. How do you perceive the intersection of music, languages, and translation in your academic and professional journey?

I took every opportunity to draw my passion for music into my studies, particularly in my Master’s. There’s no better example than my dissertation: I chose the practical translation option, allowing me to create a functional, singable translation of the opera Faust by Louis Spohr from German into English. Being able to combine my theoretical knowledge of crafting a fluid and comprehensive translation with my practical experience of singing, and all of the skills I’ve developed therein, was a dream come true, and definitely made the project seem less like hard work!

As the hire library and archive manager at Stainer & Bell, how do you integrate your love for music into your professional responsibilities?

The joy of working for a classical music publisher is that everyone around me loves music as much as I do! I’ve developed generally applicable skills in a field that holds so much interest: I now proofread new engravings of hire library works, and catalogue records of music going back as far as the 19th century. It’s also a job with many perks, as I often get free tickets to see performances of our works, including at Anna Lapwood’s Late Night Prom and the NYCGB 40th anniversary concert at the Albert Hall! Last Christmas, I was even asked to sing in the music video for one of our composer’s Christmas carol!

We understand you recently performed at Westminster Abbey. Can you describe how your experiences in school and university prepared you for such prestigious performances?

I was very lucky, both at Trinity and in Exeter, to perform with, observe, and learn alongside musicians of such a high calibre. Being surrounded by so many talented peers constantly pushed me to always give my absolute best, and instilled in me very exacting standards to strive towards. Singing at Westminster Abbey was an opportunity I was offered through Exeter University’s Chapel Choir, and it was the culmination of years of dedication and growth as a performer. It’s certainly an experience I will never forget!

What advice do you have for current students at Trinity who are passionate about music and languages, considering your journey from student to professional?

You have to have a genuinely vested interest in the subject to really get the most out of it; fully immerse yourself in it, go above and beyond the curriculum, and make your learning as interactive as possible! I’ve always found that watching a film, or listening to music or a podcast in my target language is much more enjoyable than poring over verb tables (though this is equally important!). The same applies to music: don’t just listen to recordings of your set works, find live performances of them if possible, as this is a much more engaging way of interacting with the material. However, the best advice I’ve received is to say “yes” to every possible opportunity, as you may be surprised by where it takes you!

Lastly, what are your future plans regarding your career in music, languages, and archives management, and how do you envision continuing to balance these passions in your professional life?

Although I am still relatively early in my professional journey, I have been lucky to have a real breadth of experiences in a variety of fields, including music, translation, and education, so I’m not ruling anything out! I try to keep my mind open about any opportunities that come my way, as it has made for an interesting career path until now. At the moment, I’m focusing on exploring my passions outside of the academic environment; I’m now learning Italian, I play the flute in a wind band and sing in a choir, and I’m working towards a singing diploma. I’m really enjoying having so much time to devote to my interests, and it really helps having a sense of a work-life balance!