Alanna Mensing is a classical pianist and musical theater actress, and the owner of Alanna Mensing Music Studios. She has been teaching and performing in both New York and the Washington DC area for over fifteen years.
Alanna earned her BFA in classical piano performance with a minor in voice from Norfolk State University. She then attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City to earn a degree in acting. She also graduated from the National Conservatory of Dramatic Arts in Georgetown. Alanna currently teaches private and group lessons out of her home studio.
As a pianist, Alanna has performed all over the East Coast. She was a member of the Empire State Wind Ensemble, Saint Rose Jazz Band, Averill Park Orchestra, Norfolk State Wind Ensemble, Orchestra, and Jazz Band. She has played piano for several musical theater productions, including The King and I and Little Women the Musical. Alanna frequently accompanies vocalists for recitals and performances, and plays piano for auditions at several local community theaters.
Alanna has performed and sang with many theater groups in the Washington area, including the Baltimore Shakespeare Factory (Measure for Measure, Taming of the Shrew, The Nutcracker and the Mouse King) and the Children’s Theater Association of Baltimore (Maryland, My Maryland and Stay Tobacco Free). Alanna has also worked with Forum Theater, and Red Branch Theater Company. Some of Alanna’s favorite shows have been Little Women the Musical (where she has played both Beth and Meg), Lost in Yonkers (Gert), Dog Sees God (Marcy), Guys and Dolls (Adelaide), Bury the Dead, Lovers and Other Strangers, Electra, the Baby Dance, Midsummer’s Night Dream, and Kimberly Akimbo.
Alanna has also had the privilege to perform multiple times at the Kennedy Center during the Page to Stage Festival. Past shows that she’s participated in include Tibet’s Beckoning Soil and Voices Speak to Us.
Alanna enjoys rare times when she can perform on stage as an actress and a pianist! While performing as Marie (the lead) in The Nutcracker and the Mouse King (a Holiday Panto) she sang to prerecorded piano tracks of herself playing. She did the same in a Capital Fringe production of How To Have It All: The Musical! During that show she even had the privilege of writing some of the music and lyrics for the show.
When not teaching or performing, Alanna loves to fly! She is an aerial acrobat and performs at festivals and events in the Greater DC area. She has spread her love of teaching to aerials, and teaches Lyra, Silks, and Trapeze. In the winter she loves to ice skate and ski.
A mother of two young sons who enjoy music, Alanna looks forward to nurturing and encouraging their talents!
Alanna is passionate about teaching and looks forward to working with you!
alannamensing@gmail.com