Currently residing in Bulgaria and serving as the Assistant Conductor of the Vratsa Symphony Orchestra, Mickey Margaret Hansen is an accomplished American conductor with an impressive portfolio of international performances. Ms. Hansen has conducted esteemed ensembles such as the Tokyo Sinfonia, Belgrade Chamber Orchestra, Vratsa Symphony Orchestra, and collaborated with members of the Maggio Musicale in Florence, Italy.
Before her tenure in Bulgaria, Ms. Hansen held positions as the Music Director of Chor auf dem Asterstein in Germany and led musical programs at Bethel Presbyterian Church in Washington and Burks United Methodist Church in Tennessee. Her expertise extends to conducting masterclasses at institutions including the Washington State Choristers’ Guild and serving as an adjudicator at the ISAS Arts Festival in Texas.
Ms. Hansen holds degrees in oboe performance from the Boston Conservatory of Music and Wichita State University. She is currently pursuing an artist diploma in conducting from the Centro Superior de Música de Galicia. Her journey in conducting has been enriched by mentorship from Jonathan Brett, Christo Pavlov, Alex Klein, Robert Sheena, and David Weber. She has honed her craft through intensive masterclasses including those at the Florence Conducting Masterclasses with Maestro Allemandi and Gyorgy Rath, Audite Conductors’ Academy with the Solti Chamber Orchestra under Jonathan Brett and Maciej Żołtowski, the International Masterclasses in Conducting in Belgrade with Martin Ackerwall, and the Summer Conducting Institute through the European Institute of Fine Arts.
Drawing on her refined ensemble experience as an oboist, Ms. Hansen continues to perform as a guest principal oboist with the Sofia Philharmonic during its prestigious international tours to China and the United States. She has held prominent oboe positions with the Wichita Symphony Orchestra and the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber Orchestra, and is a sought-after performer with orchestras including the Chattanooga, Huntsville, Knoxville, Omaha, and Vratsa Symphony Orchestras. Mickey’s musical journey has taken her to professional festivals around the globe, including the Crested Butte Music Festival in Colorado and the Al Bustan Festival Orchestra in Lebanon.
Ms. Hansen’s musical prowess has been recognized through various accolades, including winning the MusicFest Northwest concerto competition, the Boston Woodwind Society solo competitions, and being awarded the Koch Cultural Grant for her outstanding contributions to Chamber Music in Kansas. Upcoming engagements for Mickey include performances in Puerto Rico with the Rome Festival Orchestra and continued training with the Solti Chamber Orchestra in Budapest. She remains committed to mentorship, proudly guiding students at the Berklee School of Music as they transition into professional musical careers.
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