Former Madison orchestra director Rick Hansen will conduct the Rexburg Tabernacle Orchestra on Tuesday, Feb. 27.
Kevin Call, the current director of the Rexburg orchestra who retired from teaching at BYU-Idaho in December, asked Hansen to fill in for him while he spends some time in St. George.
“We’ve been friends for forty years, and have played in orchestras together,” Hansen says. “We played together in the Sun Valley Summer Symphony for fourteen years, we both went to BYU, and I taught all his kids. So we’re well-acquainted.”
Although he retired from his teaching position at Madison High School last year, Hansen has remained active as an instructor and conductor. He currently directs the University Orchestra at BYU-Idaho.
“Whenever somebody asks, I go and help them out at the schools,” Hansen says. “And I did a clinic in Hailey on Friday. I’ve still got my foot in it.”
Stepping in to guest-conduct the Rexburg Tabernacle Orchestra may be a return to form for Hansen, but he says some things will be new.
“This one is different because they’re all adults, of course,” he adds. “And probably three-quarters of the string section are my former students.”
The orchestra will perform the Sibelius Violin Concerto, The Cowboys Overture by John Williams, and the Mendelssohn Reformation Symphony.
The concert will take place in the Rexburg Tabernacle at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 27.