In Sunday’s (6/19) Chicago Daily Herald, Bill Gowen writes, “Robert Hanson, music director of the Elgin Symphony Orchestra, has resigned that post, effective July 1, in order to devote more time to writing music and to spend time with his wife. Associated with the ESO for 37 years, Hanson took over as music director in 1985 following two years as co-music director with Margaret Hillis. He had served as her assistant conductor since 1974. Under Hanson’s artistic leadership, the orchestra progressed from an ensemble of mostly volunteer musicians into one of the nation’s finest regional professional orchestras. Three times, the ESO has been named ‘Orchestra of the Year’ by the Illinois Council of Orchestras, and in 2001 and 2009 Hanson was named that organization’s ‘Illinois Conductor of the Year.’ Hanson’s final concerts at Hemmens Theatre took place June 10-12, when he conducted Tchaikovsky’s ‘Pathetique’ Symphony and Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3 with the 25-year-old Korean superstar Joyce Yang, her second appearance with the ESO in two years. … Hanson, who holds masters and doctorate degrees in music composition from Northwestern University, says he plans to devote more time to writing music, which he cut back in recent years due to his increased conducting schedule.”
Posted June 20, 2011
