Frank Hanson has performed as principal trumpet of the WCO for 36 years

Frank Hanson and his wife, WCO principal hornist Linda Kimball, reside near Whitewater in the century-old farmhouse they have lovingly restored. Frank recently retired from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater where he taught trumpet, brass pedagogy, and performed with the Whitewater Faculty Brass Quintet. Away from music, Frank is an avid cyclist and also enjoys camping, hiking, snowshoeing, and travel.

Dr. Hanson has appeared as a soloist with the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra in works by Samuel Barber (Capricorn Concerto), Aaron Copland (Quiet City), Haydn (Concerto in Eb Major), Aulis Sallinen (Sunrise Serenade), Shostakovich (Concerto for Trumpet, Piano and Strings), Handel ("Let the Bright Seraphim," with soprano Kathleen Battle), Torelli (Sinfonia con Tromba), Tartini (Concerto in D Major), and Vivaldi (Concerto in C for Two Trumpets and Orchestra). He has enjoyed an extensive career as a performer in solo recitals and chamber music concerts. Frank is also a long-time member of the Madison Symphony Orchestra and was a founding member of the Whitewater Brass Quintet.

Frank has performed on International Trumpet Guild Conference programs in the United States, Scandinavia, and Europe, and served as principal trumpet of the Classical Music Festival Orchestra in Eisenstadt and Vienna, Austria. Before coming to Wisconsin, he performed with the Akron Symphony, Canton Symphony, Columbus Symphony, and ProMusica Chamber Orchestras in Ohio, and taught at Denison University and Otterbein College. Dr. Hanson holds a Bachelor of Science in Music Education degree from the University of Akron, and both the Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees in Trumpet Performance and Literature from The Ohio State University.