Biography

Hanna Wilson-Smith is an enthusiastic orchestral, chamber, and solo bassist and teacher currently located in Chicago, IL. She is largely known through her online presence as “TinyBassist”, a nickname she coined herself in recognition of her small physique and fractionally sized instrument. In the male-dominated field of double bass performance, Hanna boldly stands out in stature, attitude, and musicality.

She manages her own double bass studio called the TinyBassist Music Studio, which offers in-person and online lessons. As a bassist who is 5’1″, she strongly believes that any person, regardless of their age, size, gender, stature, or background, is capable of playing the bass.

Hanna currently teaches at the Merit School of Music in Chicago. She previously taught at the Baltimore Symphony OrchKids program, Bass Works, the Young Bassists program at the International Society of Bassists convention, and the Cleveland Institute of Music SATO Suzuki school. In 2026, Hanna was the guest double bass clinician at the HEB Independent School District Suzuki Spring Festival in Houston, Texas. She is currently accepting students. Click here for more information.

As an ensemble musician, Hanna performs with orchestras across the United States and Canada, including the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, Elgin Symphony Orchestra, York Symphony Orchestra, and other regional groups.

Hanna was a 2025 National Youth Orchestra of Canada Award of Excellence recipient. She is an alumna of Domaine Forget, Wabass at the Honeywell Arts Academy, Texas Music Festival, and the Ochsenhausen chamber music academy in Germany.

Hanna received a master’s degree under the tutelage of Nina DeCesare from the Peabody Institute at Johns Hopkins University. She earned an undergraduate degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music, where she studied with Scott Dixon and Tracy Rowell. She attended the University of North Carolina School of the Arts High School program, where she studied with Paul Sharpe and graduated with a concentration in double bass. She has additionally worked with Hal Robinson, Paul Ellison, Ira Gold, Jeffrey Beecher, and many other incredible pedagogues.