CHICAGO – Alexander Hanna, a native of Bowling Green, has been appointed the
principal bass of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
Hanna has been the principal bass for the Detroit Symphony, a position he held since
2008 when he graduated from the Curtis Institute of Music. He was 22 at the
time.
In a statement to the Detroit Symphony, he described his new position as "a
dream come true," adding "but it is still bittersweet to be leaving
the wonderful friends I have in the Musicians, Administration, Board and Patrons
of the DSO."
As the David and Mary Green Principal Bass in Chicago he will perform under the
direction of Riccardo Muti. His appointment is effective June 4, 2012.
According to the Chicago Tribune, Hanna played principal bass with the Chicago
orchestra during its recent tour of Russia and Italy.
The Tribune said he takes over for Joseph Guastafeste, who retired in 2010 after 49
years in the orchestra.
In his statement to the Detroit Orchestra, Hanna noted: "I would especially like
to thank the wonderful musicians of the DSO bass section with whom I have
enjoyed working, and will miss very much."
Hanna stayed with Detroit throughout the labor struggles that canceled the 2010-2011
season. Last summer he told the Sentinel that the 26-week-long strike took its
toll on the orchestra, and distracted from its mission to be a top quality
ensemble. Hanna is the latest top player to leave the orchestra.
The son of Hal and Linda Hanna, he started his musical studies in Bowling Green State
University’s Creative Arts Program. He studied piano first with Kay Moore and
later with Virginia Marks.
He took up the cello in third grade and switched from cello to bass in eighth grade
while a member of the Toledo Junior Youth Orchestra.
He won the Toledo Symphony Guild’s Young Artist competition twice, first as a pianist
and then as a bassist.
He studied through an online academy through most of high school in order to
concentrate on music, earning his high school diploma in 2003.
He also attended the Interlochen Arts Camp for a number of years where he first
played with the Detroit Symphony in a side-by-side concert. He also sings and
composes. Hanna went to the Cleveland Institute of Music before transferring to
the Curtis Institute in Philadelphia
Hanna has performed with the Philadelphia and Cleveland orchestras, as well as with
the Boston Symphony Orchestra, where he was also a prize-winning fellow at the
Tanglewood Music Center. He has led master classes and lectures at numerous
festivals and schools, including Carnegie Mellon University, Texas Christian
University, Oberlin College, The Cleveland Institute of Music, Western Michigan
University and the University of Michigan.
Hanna currently spends his summers serving as principal bass of the Bellingham Music
Festival, and has also performed as principal bass of the Tanglewood Music
Center, Verbier Festival and Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival.
