About Mrs. Walton

Hello! My name is Hana Walton and I am the orchestra director at Fox Meadow and Heathcote Elementary Schools. I'm so excited to be your teacher and share my love of string instruments with you. Before I became the orchestra director at Fox Meadow and Heathcote, I taught elementary string orchestra in the Monroe-Woodbury Central School District in Monroe, NY for six years and general music at PS 185 in Harlem, New York City for one year. 

I have been playing the violin since I was five years old, so I know how challenging, yet rewarding it is to learn to play an instrument. I am originally from the Albany, NY area. When I was growing up, I played violin in the orchestras at my schools, in the Empire State Youth Orchestra, the New York Youth Symphony, and I participated in the NYSSMA solo and major festivals just like you! I received a Bachelor of Music degree in violin performance from New York University and a Master of Arts degree in Music Education from Teachers College, Columbia University.  I have also completed Suzuki violin teacher training in Unit 1 and 2 at the University of Connecticut, Hartford. 

Throughout my life, music has given me the opportunity to travel and meet new friends. I performed at the Aspen Music Festival in Colorado and the Brevard Music Center in North Carolina during two wonderful summers while I was in college. Today, I still perform whenever I can and I enjoy playing in a string quartet!

One interesting thing about me is that I was a serious competitive swimmer from the time I was in elementary school until I graduated from high school! I still swim now, but these days, I'm not racing anymore and my interests have shifted more toward being outside in the woods. I am an avid hiker and enjoy spending time in the Adirondacks and Catskills camping, backpacking, snowshoeing, and canoeing. I especially like to do hiking challenges. I am an Adirondack 46er and member of the Catskill 3500 club having hiked all Catskill 3500 ft. peaks in both winter and summer. In addition to these hiking challenges, I've completed the Saranac 6er challenge, Adirondack Firetower Challenge, the Cranberry Lake 50, Lake Placid 9er,  Catskill Firetower Challenge, Tupper Lake hiking and paddling triads, and I have climbed Mt. Fuji in Japan!