About The San Diego Winds

World Class Musicians

The San Diego Winds Ensemble is composed of the finest musicians in southern California, drawn from local symphonies, universities and independent musical groups. In addition to their musicianship, each member of the San Diego Winds is committed to moving music forward by participating in our programs.

San Diego Winds Artistic Director - Gregg Hanson

Gregg I. Hanson was born in Ogden, Utah in 1943. He studied trumpet, piano, and voice in his formative years before attending The University of Michigan where he earned bachelor and master degrees in 1967-68. He has studied conducting with Elizabeth A. H. Green and William D. Revelli and now heads an innovative graduate conducting program at The University of Arizona where he currently serves as director of wind bands and professor of conducting. His performing ensembles have appeared at all of the major venues in the United States including the conferences of the College Band Directors National Association, Music Educators National Conference, and the American Bandmasters Association. He was inducted as a member of ABA in 1984. His conducting experience is varied and includes commercial music, musical theatre, opera, chamber music, orchestra, and wind band.

Under his baton, The University of Arizona Wind Ensemble has achieved international recognition with the release of three compact disc recordings, all of the music of David Maslanka, under the Albany label. Hanson enjoys numerous guest-conducting and clinic appointments in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe, and most recently in China where he was the first American wind band conductor to conduct a public concert with the Peoples Liberation Army Band. Hanson has been praised for his authentic interpretations and degree of excellence of his work and is credited with numerous premieres of outstanding repertoire for the wind band.

Board of Directors