I met Kathryn Han, Vice President & Secretary, this Fall, and immediately noticed how calm and friendly she is. As a ballerina studying at Pacific Northwest Ballet, Kathryn interacts with music on a daily basis.
I took lessons with PNB as a child, and a large part of our classes was the classical music played by the pianist in the corner of the room. She played the music for all of our exercises, keeping us moving to the same beat and matching the energy of each movement. She played many works by Bach and Chopin, and I remember once excitedly telling my classmates that I had played one of the pieces on the piano before.
Dance, being a physical sport, creative act, and form of emotional release, is a great way to maintain one’s mental health. Dancers feel music incredibly deeply and we can see Kathryn’s love for music in her work for ConChord. Learn more about Kathryn’s views on music and mental health in her answer to our questions below:
Franco Matticchio
1. How do you think music affects your mental health? Is there a difference between when you’re playing and when you’re listening?
Music, much like dance, definitely impacts my mental health in many ways! Listening to different genres of music help to calm my mind, make me happier, or clear my thoughts. It’s definitely generally a good influence on my mental state.
Robert Elibekian, Title: Maral, oil on canvas, 20×16 in, 2005
2. How do you envision connecting with your audience during performances? What do you intend to leave them with?
Yes, absolutely. Performing for my audience and connecting with them is a big part of dancing. It helps to articulate my movements and the emotions or thoughts/message I would like to communicate to them. I like to think about the different ways that a certain movement or overall dance may be interpreted by each unique audience member to encompass in my dancing as well (when applicable). Music often helps to create a foundation for the choreographic piece and builds a connection between the dancer and the audience as well as between the dancer and the movements. Personally, it’s really helpful in building my artistry!
Jef Bourgeau, Title: Backwater, oil on canvas, 60×60 cm, 2024
3. What habits help you maintain your mental health?
I like taking walks outside (thank goodness for the PNW fresh air and beautiful nature) either by myself or with my mom, taking a nap/shower, or calling with my sister.
Thank you to Kathryn for answering these questions for us! Stay tuned to hear from Charles Lee, our Director of Strings, next week!