Mickey Margaret Hansen is an accomplished oboist and conductor, currently serving as Assistant Conductor of the Vratsa Symphony Orchestra in Bulgaria and as a faculty member for oboe at the Wiener Musikakademie. A dedicated musician from a young age, she began her studies in oboe and piano before attending The Boston Conservatory, where she studied with renowned English hornist Robert Sheena of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Her principal oboe teachers also include international soloist Alex Klein and reed expert David Weber.
Ms. Hansen has held positions with the Wichita Symphony Orchestra, Seattle Metropolitan Chamber Orchestra, and Arizona Pro Arte Ensemble, and serves as acting principal oboist of the Sofia Philharmonic on its international tours. As a soloist, she has appeared with the Spokane Symphony and ProMusica Arizona Orchestra, and was a prizewinner in the Boston Woodwind Society’s competition in both 2010 and 2011. She has also been featured as both performer and speaker on Germany’s Deutschlandfunk, highlighting her work in oboe improvisation with folk harp.
In recent years, Mickey has shifted her focus toward conducting, leading ensembles such as the Solti Chamber Orchestra, Tokyo Sinfonia, National Teleradio Orchestra of Moldova, Belgrade Chamber Orchestra, and the Vratsa Symphony Orchestra. In 2024, she was awarded First Prize and named Outstanding Laureate in the World’s Best Musicians competition in Warsaw, Poland.
Ms. Hansen holds degrees from The Boston Conservatory, Wichita State University, and the Centro Superior de Música in Galicia, Spain. She is deeply committed to music education and mentorship, proudly serving as an Alumni Mentor for student musicians at Berklee College of Music.
Beyond her musical endeavors, Mickey enjoys hiking, playing ultimate frisbee, all things parrots, learning languages, and cooking delicious seafood.
The San Gabriel Valley Symphony is a professional orchestra created by working musicians and local leaders to reflect and serve the San Gabriel Valley—focusing on community engagement and social impact. Our mission is to show the next generation in the SGV that a career in the arts is not only possible, but capable of creating real change in their communities and beyond.