Darden Hanson Burns

discovered her love of music at a very young age. She began studying the piano at the age of seven and she started playing the guitar at age ten. As a young girl she played music and lead singing in school, church and camp settings. She attended Carleton College, Cornish College where she received the Bachelor of Music degree, the Aspen Music School and Seattle Pacific University where she studied music education. Her piano teachers have included Ronald Kmiec, Anne Mayer, William Doppman, Mary Norris, Deborah Dewey and Marty Forrest Kinney. Darden has performed extensively as a collaborative pianist with both singers and instrumentalists. For twelve years she was the music director of the home concert series "Musical Evenings on Bainbridge Island". She is an active member of the Kitsap Music Teachers Association, the local chapter of the Music Teachers National Association from which she holds a Professional Certificate. In addition to her classical music background, Darden plays and improvises popular music and jazz on the piano, sings and plays the folk guitar. She lives with her husband and two daughters on Bainbridge Island where she teaches piano and promotes musical activities in her community.

Darden Burns' participation in community events and organizations has included working as a music volunteer in the public schools from 1984-1986, serving on Bainbridge Music and Arts scholarship committee from 1987-1988, serving on the Music Curriculum Committee for Bainbridge Public Schools in 1995, serving on the board of the South Bainbridge Community Association from 1991-1993, teaching music at St. Barnabas Day School from 1992-1996, founding and directing the concert series "Musical Evenings" from 1986-1998, starting the Gallery Chamber Music Concerts at Bainbridge Performing Arts in 1998 and starting and administrating the Bainbridge Community Student Recitals from 1996 to the present. She organized the campaign to purchase a grand piano for the Bainbridge Commons and serves as president of Bainbridge Community Piano Association, the nonprofit corporation that oversees the maintenance and use of this instrument. She is the music director of the concert series "First Sundays at the Commons".

For more information or to contact Darden Hanson Burns by email.