People - 2024 staff (2025 coming soon...)
Conductors
Dr. Christopher Hanson 2024 conductor
Dr. Christopher Hanson holds three master's degrees from Texas State University in Music History, Music Theory, and Music Composition. He also holds a PhD in School Improvement from Texas State University, as well as a certificate of professional ethics from the Texas State Philosophy program.Hanson is assistant professor of music at Seattle Pacific University where he serves as the director of music education and orchestral activities. He has developed and instructs a number of courses in music and education, including but not limited to: Applied Pedagogy of Strings, Making Music with Diverse Learners, Foundations of Music Education, Teaching instrumental music in public schools, Teaching Music in the Non-Music Classroom, Advocacy in the Arts, and a number of courses that explore creativity, imagination, and interdisciplinary pedagogy.
Dr. Hanson also serves as the director of the Rainbow City Orchestra (RCO), a community music ensemble that serves and supports the LGBTQIA+ community in greater Seattle through the study and performance of contemporary and historically marginalized composers.
Anna Edwards 2024 Concductor
Anna Edwards received a Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in Orchestral Conducting from the University of Washington, and holds a Bachelor of Music Education and Masters in Violin Performance.In 2013, 2014, and 2018, Edwards received 2nd place and then two - 1st place honors (respectively) for conducting in The American Prize, a national competition for conductors and musical ensembles.
Anna serves as the Music Director of the Seattle Collaborative Orchestra, Music Director of the Saratoga Orchestra, Music Director of the Pacific Northwest Conducting Institute, and as team member of Everything Conducting. Along with her passion for diversity on the concert stage, in 2022 Edwards launched Anna's Composer Database; a curated list of underrepresented composers that provides ideas for excellent, well-rounded, and interesting concert programs.
Ron Jones 2024 Conductor
Mr. Ron Jones led the first high school chamber orchestra from Washington state to perform at the Midwest Clinic, and his orchestra has had five Carnegie Hall appearances. He has served on the WMEA and WIAA boards, as president of the Washington chapter of NSOA, and was named the Outstanding Public School Music Teacher by the state chapter of ASTA with NSOA. He was also selected as WMEA/WIAA Music Educator of the Year. Ron has been principal bassist, assistant conductor and principal conductor of the Port Angeles Symphony Orchestra.Jones has led the high school orchestras to nine top-three trophies at the state music championships since 1998, more than 30 top placements at the Northwest Orchestra Festival since 1989 and nine trophies at the Western Washington University State Orchestra Festival since it began in 2015.