Professional conductor
Alexander Hanson was born in 1974 in Södertälje. He is raised within the Salvation Army and started playing the cornet in the Södertälje Band of the Salvation Army at an early age. Eventually he succeeded his father Torgny as bandmaster for this band – a position he held for six years.

Alexander Hanson started his professional musical career as trumpet player, educated at the Royal Academy of Music in Stockholm, but soon took interest in the art of conducting. He began his academic conducting education at the Royal Academy of Music in Stockholm in 2000, but soon transferred to the world famous Sibelius Academy in Helsinki where he studied under Professor Leif Segerstam. Also, Jorma Panula and Atso Almila has been one of Alexander Hansons teachers outside the Sibelius Academy. Alexander Hanson concluded his conducting education in October 2004 by performing among other items Edvard Elgar’s “Enigma Variations” with the Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra.

Today he works frequently with ensembles like Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, The Royal Opera Orchestra, Malmö Symphony Orchestra, Norrköping Symphony Orchestra, Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra, Gävle Symphony Orchestra, Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, Trondheim Symphony Orchestra, Dala Sinfoniettan, Västerås Sinfonietta and Nordic Chamber Orchestra. His opera engagements also included several productions - Mozart’s “Cosi fan tutte”and Rossini’s “The Barber of Seville” and Donizetti’s “L'Elisir d'Amore”.

Alexander Hanson has during his career cooperated with prominent soloists like Christian Lindberg, Henning Kraggerud, Torleif Thedéen, Martin Fröst, Nils Landgren, Anders Paulsson, Martin Sturfält, Martina Dike, Anna Larsson, Sara Trobäck, Claes Gunnarsson, Kroumata, Per Enokson, Lill Lindfors, Vilde Frang Bjærke, Karl-Magnus Fredriksson, Stefan Schulz and Michel Becquet

From January 2005 Alexander Hanson is the Artistic Director and Chief Conductor of the famous Göteborg Wind Orchestra.

Resident Conductor
Andreas Kratz was born in Tranås 1979. He is raised within the Salvation Army and started playing the baritone in the Tranås Band of the Salvation Army at an early age under his father Torbjörn.

1997-2001, Andreas studied trombone at the Academy of Music and Drama, University of Gothenburg, where he studied with Professor Ingemar Roos. Since 2004 Andreas works as a Tenor / Bass trombonist at the Gothenburg Opera House. Andreas is a former member of Gothenburg Brass Band 1997-2003 and together with his best friend Anders Hellman he is one of the founders of Windcorp Brass Band.

Andreas has always been interested in the art of conducting and he has undertook conducting studies with Mr. Alexander Hanson & Professor David King. In the past years he has frequently been invited as guest conductor with several brass bands and wind bands. Andreas have also done some chamber orchestra productions. Andreas did his first appearance with Windcorp Brassband at the Swedish Nationals 2007, a competition the band won for their first time.

From August 2004-2008 Andreas was the Principal Conductor of Betlehemskyrkans Brass Band.

In July 2009 Andreas was invited to play solotrombone with Fodens Richardson Band at The English Nationals in Preston.