Originally from Windsor, Ontario, Richard Hansen began formal organ studies at age thirteen under Victor Batten. He has since studied with David Palmer at the University of Windsor, Ian Sadler in Stratford, Ontario and Helga Hoffman in Stuttgart, Germany. In June of 2009, Richard traveled to Vancouver, in order to study with Canadian concert organist,Denis Bedard. In January, 2010, as one of the accompanists for the Cathedral Singers of Ontario trip to London, England, Richard accompanied the choir at St. John’s Parish Church, Hyde Park, and played the Organ Prelude before the choir’s final Choral Evensong, in St. Paul’s Cathedral.
Richard has studied choral conducting with Richard Householder while at the University of Windsor, Dr. Lionel Dakers, England, John Washburn, Vancouver, and Gerald Fagan, London.
Richard’s first appointment at a Cathedral came in 1986, when he became Organist and Choirmaster at St. Luke’s Cathedral, in Sault Ste Marie. While living in the Sault, he also served as the Conductor of both the Algoma Festival Choir, and Algoma University Choir. In 1992, Richard was appointed to the position of Organist and Master of the Choristers at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, Ontario. In 1995, he moved to Victoria, British Columbia, where he was Interim Organist and Choir Director at the Church of St. John the Divine. In addition to giving monthly organ recitals, he organized the choral and instrumental recital series and presented lectures on Church Music.
Richard was Director of Music at the United Church in St. Marys, Ontario for 6 years and in 2002, moved to Hamilton, with the invitation to become the Director of Music at Port Nelson United Church in Burlington, Ontario. In 2013, he accepted the invitation to become the Organist and Director of Music at St. James’s Anglican Church, in Dundas, Ontario.
Richard enjoys an active and diverse freelance career, having been the Conductor of the Blyth Festival Singers, Stonetown Choral Society, the Georgian Bay Children’s Choir Touring Ensemble and the Georgian Bay Concert Choir. As an organ soloist, Richard has given recitals in venues from coast to coast in Canada, and has performed in the Netherlands, Germany, England, and Lithuania.
In 1998, Richard was conferred the diploma of Associate by the Royal Canadian College of Organists.
Richard lives in Burlington, Ontario, and in his leisure time enjoys reading about collectible cars, and attending car shows with his young daughter, Isabella.