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Band director conducts Tokyo wind ensemble
Richard K. Hansen has twice served as a resident wind-ensemble conductor at the Musashino Academia Musicae, a world-class music conservatory in Tokyo, Japan.
In the summer of 2007, Richard K. Hansen served as principal conductor for the Musashino Academia Musicae Wind Ensemble of Tokyo, Japan. He conducted the ensemble May 1 through July 20. His duties included a concert in the Tokyo Opera Hall and a recording session. Hansen, who is director of bands at St. Cloud State University, teaches courses in conducting, history of wind-band literature and American music.
Hansen has commissioned and conducted premieres of more than thirty-five original and transcribed works for wind band, including music of Ian Krouse, Libby Larsen, Giacomo Puccini and Richard Strauss. He has advanced degrees in historical musicology and music education from the University of Minnesota. He presented his thesis, The American Wind Band: New Historical Perspectives at the 11th International Congress of World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles in Jönköngping, Sweden in 2004.
