Meet Our NY Students

Now He Can Dream in English, Too

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New York City is a hub of creative activity and people. That's one of the reasons why Hassan Ince, a talented singer and songwriter, decided to study at Rennert Bilingual in New York. Hassan, whose professional name is Hassan Prace, has a recording contract in Europe and has appeared on German television with the band Levee. The handsome, animated musician was at Rennert for several months in its Arts plus English and Professional English programs.

"I came here to improve my English, to learn it so good that I can use it in my profession," Hassan says. "The goal is definitely a high level of English. It wasn't about just coming here and learning a little bit, my goal was to improve it to a high level."

Hassan, whose parents are from Turkey, grew up and attended dance school in Switzerland, where he studied ballet, jazz and modern dance. He loves all kinds of music, including pop, rock, opera and classical. "My goal is to become a successful singer so that I can live with the money I earn as a singer, and don't have to work additionally," Hassan says. Hassan has a recording due out in Spring 2007.

When he was in New York, Hassan attended jazz and classical music courses at the Brooklyn/Queens Conservatory after his English class. The instruction was part of his Arts plus English program. "There are free rehearsal rooms. You can rehearse there. They have a piano and some other instruments there, and that's cool," Hassan says. "The combination language and music study is good," he continues. "On one hand you practice your language skills and on the other hand you practice music. That's the reason I chose Rennert."

Hassan's favorite experience in New York was when he sang with the gospel choir during Sunday services at the famous Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem. "They needed a tenor, I was lucky and got in there," Hassan says. "They are very nice people." At one point he gave a solo vocal performance and was mentioned by church pastor Dr. Calvin O. Butts during a sermon. "It was the greatest experience I had in New York," Hassan says. "They invited me to New York to sing again."

During his stay at Rennert, Hassan was an outgoing student who made friends from different cultures. "The cool thing was I had friends from Europe, Asia and Brazil," Hassan says. "You can really make friends at Rennert, it's not such a big space, especially on the 16th floor, where it's easier to talk to people." Hassan also went to see live music in Greenwich Village with groups led by a Rennert teacher.

Above all, however, Hassan was a deeply committed young musician who was serious about learning English.

"I liked talking (in English) with people from other countries," he says. "The conversations helped me to improve my English. When you see how other people talk, you also see how their accent and vocabulary is just different. I wanted to speak English even when I met somebody who also knew German. Its important to practice your English even with somebody from your own country."

Someday Hassan hopes that his persistence with his music and English studies will enhance his career. If so, he might just return to New York, not as a student, but as an entertainer on a professional tour.