Alexander Hanna believes that the power of music can inspire and transform lives, communities and the world for the better. Since his appointment as principal bass of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra by Riccardo Muti in 2012, he has served the mission of sharing music with audiences throughout Asia, Australia, Europe, and North America.
Described by the Chicago Tribune as “outrageously talented,” Hanna began his professional life in music as principal bass of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra in 2008, three months after his graduation from the Curtis Institute of Music. Since then, he has performed countless works as principal bass and has been featured as concerto soloist with the CSO on three occasions, most notably in 2022 when he performed Giovanni Bottesini’s Second Concerto with Maestro Riccardo Muti at the podium. Additionally, he has performed Vanhal’s Concerto with James Conlon and Missy Mazzoli’s Dark with Excessive Bright with Edwin Outwater and the CSO. He has also appeared as soloist with the Bellingham Music Festival, Kishwaukee Symphony, and the Toledo Symphony Orchestra.
Hanna loves collaborating with colleagues and friends in chamber music. In 2015 Matthew Aucoin composed Dual specifically for Hanna and Yo-Yo Ma as a duet. They gave the world premiere performance to a sold-out audience at Symphony Center. Hanna has also collaborated with Ma in Beethoven’s Septet at Symphony Center and with Mitsuko Uchida in performances of Schubert’s Trout Quintet.
Hanna is deeply grateful to his extraordinary teachers and mentors: Kay Moore, Virginia Marks, Scott Haigh, Hal Robinson, and Edgar Meyer, to name a few. He has a steadfast commitment to share the gift of music with future generations. Hanna has served on the faculty of the Pacific Music Festival (Sapporo, Japan) since 2016. He has also been the coach of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago’s bass section and a faculty member at the DePaul School of Music since 2012. Additional regular teaching engagements include Carnegie Hall’s National Youth Orchestras, the New World Symphony in Miami Beach, and countless masterclasses and lectures at conservatories, universities, conventions, and symposia throughout the world.
Hanna resides in Evanston, Illinois, with his wife, Hanna Sterba, who is a professional bassoonist and pedagogue. In addition to music, he enjoys bicycling, dogs, hiking, and traveling.
