LATEST MEDIA COVERAGE
FEATURE ARTICLE
Barbershop Harmony Society: Learn to Love Your Voice
APRIL 29, 2022
You sing because you can ... because you must. But what about people who are afraid of their own voices? Many of us LOVE to sing in groups, but become emotional …or insecure… or just less satisfied when we sing alone. Now, I know that singing alone is certainly different than raising your voice with others – but wouldn’t it be great to experience even just a little more joy while you’re practicing, singing along with something, or busting out a tune while you’re folding your laundry? |
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PODCASTS
Talkappella: Kathleen Hansen with Brian Alexander and Elicia Edwards
JUNE 30, 2021
Turns out instrumentalists can find joy in singing! Kathleen Hansen talks about her experience getting into barbershop and now directing the San Diego Chorus. This chapter of Sweet Adelines are turning 70 this year and have a lot to celebrate about their decorated history. Talkappella is a weekly podcast hosted by Brian Alexander and Elicia Edwards. Part of the Acaville Radio Podcast Network, the show features diverse, charismatic voices with the goal of creating a more informed, well-rounded and kind community. |
From the Front: Kathleen Hansen and Kimberly Waigwa
DECEMBER 11, 2020
Full of heart, Kathleen Hansen brings an acute sense of compassion and positive leadership to everything she does. Listen in as Kathleen talks about the people, places and opportunities that have profoundly shaped her journey as a musician and Director. From the Front is hosted by accomplished conductor Kimberly Waigwa and focuses on how musical leaders seek community and why it's important to do so. |
INTERVIEWS
SEPTEMBER 5, 2020 | GALA CHORUSESCollaboration and New Connections: The Surprising Benefits of DistancingMuch to my surprise – one of the benefits of being apart from one another has emerged in the form of new connections we are making. As we search for new ideas to keep our musical ensembles engaged, a beautiful network has developed through the wide cast of the internet.
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APRIL 6, 2020 | CHORUS CONNECTION12 Amazing Virtual Choruses to Come Out of COVID-19Community choruses are working to find new methods of bringing their choristers together during this pandemic. As we discuss opportunities to build community, one common theme emerges — the concept of a virtual choir.
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MARCH 22, 2020 | SAN DIEGO UNION TRIBUNECommentary: Creating Art Together is a Salve for our Collective PsycheAs children, we sought the comforting feeling of “home”: curling up in a favorite blankie, cuddling with a pet, or giggling with a best friend. Growing up, many people found that place of safety making music in bands, orchestras and choirs. One of the reasons I became a conductor was to create an environment to provide others with that feeling, that space, that experience. Once the realities of adulthood set in, there are few and precious spaces where we can join together with vulnerability to explore and express the feelings that we may otherwise hold in or lose touch with. Creating art together is a salve for our collective psyche that gives us rest in a fast-paced world.
Community music ensembles create a unique kind of camaraderie. Our differences fall away as we work together to perfect a ringing chord or synchronize an impactful lyric. We spend months together in preparation and anticipation until we can finally deliver a moving performance to our loyal friends and fans. In that space and time, we experience a shared moment that cannot be replicated. It reminds us of our humanity and our innate need for a creative outlet. |
AUGUST 19, 2019 | SAN DIEGO UNION TRIBUNE
Music Teacher Claims Second Home Within the Community She DirectsKathleen Hansen sees community as the cure to the illness of hate and violence, especially the community found in music groups. Over her 20-year history as a choral conductor and music teacher, she has witnessed the power of music in transforming lives. She has seen how it draws people together despite their differences and helps them develop compassion for others.
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Music is such a gentle entry into the world of what other people are experiencing,” Hansen says. "It creates room for empathy toward another person’s story rather than fear, bias or misunderstanding." |
MAY 16, 2019 | SAN DIEGO UNION TRIBUNESan Diego Women’s Chorus Raises Its Voice with ‘Quiet No More’History and entertainment will come together in profound and uplifting ways this weekend when the San Diego Women’s Chorus performs “Quiet No More: A Choral Celebration of Stonewall.”
“Stonewall is a very important conversation to have, especially with so many hate crimes occurring recently,” said Kathleen Hansen, the women’s chorus artistic director. |
MAY 16, 2020 | KPBS SAN DIEGO
San Diego Women’s Chorus Debuts ‘Quiet No More’ Concert Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Stonewall
This weekend the San Diego Women’s Chorus (SDWC) presents "Quiet No More: A Choral Celebration of Stonewall." This San Diego premiere of the newly commissioned work will be presented at Lincoln High School Center for Performing Arts. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots or Uprising (depending on your perspective) in New York City.
“Stonewall was a kind of underground club where the LGBTQ plus population used to be able to go to dance,” explained Kathleen Hansen, SDWC artistic director. “At that time it was illegal to show any sort of same-sex affection or to cross-dress or to congregate. And so there was this underground club, it was actually run by the Mafia, but the police would raid it once in a while and arrest people and kind of rough people up and disperse them. Then one night in 1969 the crowd decided to fight back.”
“Stonewall was a kind of underground club where the LGBTQ plus population used to be able to go to dance,” explained Kathleen Hansen, SDWC artistic director. “At that time it was illegal to show any sort of same-sex affection or to cross-dress or to congregate. And so there was this underground club, it was actually run by the Mafia, but the police would raid it once in a while and arrest people and kind of rough people up and disperse them. Then one night in 1969 the crowd decided to fight back.”
MARCH 29, 2019 | SDLGBTN.COMCommemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Stonewall UprisingThe San Diego Women's Chorus (SDWC), San Diego's premier lesbian-identified community chorus, is proud to present a monumental 2019 spring concert performance titled "Quiet No More: A Choral Celebration of Stonewall.
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DECEMBER 11, 2016 | SAN DIEGO UNION TRIBUNETremble Clefs Choir Strikes A Chord With Parkinsons Patients“My philosophy is everyone should make music, no matter what your singing experience,” Hansen said. “I’ve always found it to be healing. Emotionally and socially, it brings people together in a unique way.”
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SEPTEMBER 24, 2016 | SAN DIEGO UNION TRIBUNETouching Hearts and Souls Through SongShe’s been singing for at least as long as she could talk, but Kathleen Hansen didn’t see herself growing up to become a chorus director. She was teaching band to high school kids and has been playing trumpet herself since she was in the eighth grade, but a singing career seemed to be pursuing her...
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JULY 1, 2016 | HAL LEONARD BOOKSThe Heart of Vocal Harmony: Kathleen Hansen Interview with Deke SharonDeke Sharon interviewed Kathleen Hansen along with Mo Field for 2016 release: The Heart of Vocal Harmony - Emotional Expression in Group Singing.
"As a director I feel a great deal of responsibility to create a safe space for singers to tap into emotions they may not otherwise express. Our singers have rich emotional lives that sometimes need to be awakened to find release," Hansen said. "To unify the emotional approach, sometimes we have to do a lot of digging to find common ground." |