Eric Hanson, D.M.A.

Eric Hanson has led the Thalia Symphony since 1987, and has been Director of Instrumental Music at Seattle Pacific University since 1979.

His degrees include a Bachelor of Music Education from Wheaton College Conservatory, a Master of Music in conducting from Colorado State University, and a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Washington. His dissertation plumbed the elegant relationships between the symphonies of Gustav Mahler and the philosophy of Arthur Schopenhauer.

Noted as a clinician, adjudicator, scholar, and guest conductor, Dr. Hanson has conducted such orchestras as the Denver Symphony, the Chicago Civic Chamber Orchestra, and many European orchestras. He was awarded a National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowship to Harvard and an NEH grant to study at the Beethoven Institute.

Dr. Hanson's interests include mountain climbing (he currently has 91 summits), European travel, golf, and softball. He is addicted to pickle ball.