Meet Danielle Hani | Composer, Orchestrator & Pianist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Danielle Hani and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Danielle, what role has risk played in your life or career?
I believe that taking risks is a fundamental part of a musician’s journey. When you decide to pursue a career in music, you’re essentially taking a risk because it’s known to be a tough path.

Reflecting on my own journey as a composer, I can pinpoint several instances where I took significant risks. For starters, I left a stable job in a tech company to follow my passion for music composition. Then, I began my music studies in Israel with the ultimate goal of completing my degree at Berklee College of Music. However, there was always an element of uncertainty regarding whether I would be accepted to study at Berklee or secure a scholarship to fund my education.
Taking risks became even more apparent when I left my family and friends in Israel and moved to Boston, to start my studies at Berklee.
After completing my degree, I took another daring step by relocating to Los Angeles, this move was fueled by my ambition to work in the best music industry.

Looking back on my journey, I can confidently say that I am happy with the choices I made. I believe that these calculated risks are what made me work harder to achieve the goals I set for myself.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’m a composer originally from Israel. I started playing the piano when I was 9, beginning with classical music and then shifting into jazz. I grew up listening to a mix of genres like R&B, gospel, musical theater, and Middle Eastern music, which had a big influence on my musical style.

I began my formal music studies at Rimon School of Music in Israel, majoring in orchestration, arranging, and conducting. Later, I continued my studies at Berklee College of Music in Boston, focusing on film scoring. My time at Berklee was pretty intense. I spent a lot of late nights practicing my instrument and composing. It was a busy period, but it really shaped me as a musician.

Throughout this journey, the support of my family and friends in Israel and Boston kept me going. It was challenging, but seeing the results of my hard work made it all worth it. I also learned some valuable lessons, like the importance of being kind and positive when working with others, coming prepared for rehearsals, and always giving your best effort. That way, people will want to keep collaborating with you, and you’ll continue to grow as a musician.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’m still pretty new in town, but there are a few spots I really enjoy. I like grabbing coffee at Porto’s Bakery and Cafe. Next to Burbank Mall, there’s a cool street with shops and restaurants that I like to check out. Watching a movie with friends at Universal is a lot of fun, and I enjoy the lively atmosphere there. I’ve also had a good time visiting the Hollywood Sign, and when it comes to bars, “The Fat Dog” is a great choice. If you’re into street food, the tacos from the food trucks are usually the best!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
It might sound cliché, but I owe a lot to my family and friends for where I am today. Since I was a kid, my parents have been by my side, buying me my first piano when I expressed interest in learning to play. They’ve been there, driving me to rehearsals, attending every performance. My family and friends have consistently supported me, offering their ears, advice, and unwavering presence through both my successes and failures. Their support has given me the strength to keep moving forward.

Website: https://www.daniellehani.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daniellehani/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielle-hani-3b6ab9116/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/danielle.hani

Image Credits
Amir Halevi Noa Evron Ben Allendorf