PHIL HANSEN

Philip Hansen, CPO principal cellist since October 2004, has performed to acclaim in a variety of musical settings. The Oregonian has noted his playing as both “dazzling” and “indefatigable,” and the Los Angeles Times praised him for his “admirable virtuosity.” Pulitzer Prize-winning composer David del Tredici says “Phil Hansen brings virtuosity and élan to all that he plays.”

A native of California, Mr. Hansen has performed as soloist with orchestras around the USA, including concerti by Dvorak, Haydn, Tchaikovsky, and Richard Strauss’ Don Quixote. Formerly principal cellist of the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, Phil has also served as guest principal of the Nashville Chamber Orchestra. He has played in the Colorado Symphony, Rochester Philharmonic, Oregon Symphony, the Ernest Bloch Festival, and in the Oregon Festival of American Music, where he has also appeared as guest conductor.

With an eye toward continuing to broaden his repertoire, Phil enjoys introducing North American audiences to cello masterpieces from Asia and Latin America. His CD of nuevo tango music, Bragatissimo, was released in 2007 and is available at Classics Plus. At the invitation of composer and MacArthur fellow Bright Sheng, Phil performed a recital of unaccompanied works and taught master classes at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. He performed in New York’s famed Merkin Hall a work for cello and ensemble by acclaimed American composer Kenji Bunch.

Mr. Hansen’s education includes cello and composition studies at the Eastman School of Music and University of Southern California. His primary teachers include Steven Doane, Lynn Harrell, Joseph DiTullio, and Eleonore Schoenfeld. Phil was twice selected to participate in the prestigious Piatigorsky Seminar for Cellists, where he received masterclass instruction from, among others, Yo-Yo Ma and William Pleeth. Phil performs on an English cello made in 1780 by Lockey Hill.