Nicholas A. Hanson - Clinician for Festival 2024

March 1 & 2, 2023 – Pleasant Hill UMC, Bessemer, Alabama

Nick Hanson has been the director of handbell ensembles at the Potomac School in McLean, Virginia, for almost 20 years where he teaches private handbell lessons and handbell classes to 5th–12th grade students in five handbell ensembles. He has also been the handbell director at Bush Hill Presbyterian Church in Alexandria, Virginia for over 15 years.

Nick is a published handbell composer and has served as faculty, clinician, and conductor at handbell events nationally and internationally (in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore. He has written articles for the national handbell magazine Overtones and is closing in on his 100th composition/arrangement.

Nick has served as faculty, clinician, and/or conductor at national handbell events in over 20 states (as well as Washington, DC) and internationally in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Singapore. In 2015, Nick was chosen as the first-ever Associate Conductor for Distinctly Bronze (an advanced performance event) in Portland, Oregon, under the leadership of Dr. William A. Payn. In 2023 he served as the conductor for the Distinctly Teen Handbell Ensemble (as part of the greater Handbell Musicians of America National Seminar). Nick holds a BA degree from Concordia University, Irvine, California, as a major in music with concentration in handbells.

A quote from Nick: "After picking up my first handbell at the age of 9, I knew it was the beginning of something truly unique. The next 20 years did not prove me wrong as I performed and taught this amazing instrument in over half the United States as well as ten other countries across Europe and Asia. Strong friendships have been created throughout the world from these travels, just from the shared appreciation and commitment to the growth of this art. Handbells have been a part of Potomac for over 40 years, and I am truly privileged to be a part of this history, sharing and teaching this unique musical experience to others.”