SIR ROLAND HANNA (pianist, composer, cellist, educator, philanthropist) was born Roland Pembroke Hanna on February 10, 1932 in Detroit, Michigan and passed away November 13, 2002 in Harris, New York. Knighted by the government of Liberia in recognition of his fundraising for Liberian children, Hanna, a classically trained pianist, known for his elegant and versatile style is considered a jazz aristocrat. In addition to his work with artists like Charles Mingus, Carmen McCrae and Sarah Vaughn (as her musical director), a longtime member of the Thad Jones/Mel Lewish Orchestra and his own group The New York Jazz Quartet Quartet and solo work, he was a prolific composer not only of jazz but classical music. Aside from his busy recording and performing schedule Hanna was also faculty at Queen’s College, New York.