Classical music conductor, composer and professor Henrik Jul-Hansen has died at his home in Sacramento. A family friend says Hansen – who founded and conducted the Gold Country Chamber Orchestra - died last week at the age of 62.
A native of Denmark, Henrik Yul-Hansen studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London and in the U.S. at the Tanglewood Music Festival with Leonard Bernstein. After moving to California, Hansen led the Merced Symphony, started up his Gold Country Chamber Orchestra and conducted the Sacramento Ballet orchestra over a two decade span of Nutcracker performances.
In 2005, when Gold Country was presenting Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 2. Hansen expressed his fondness for the work.
"It’s a total love story. I don’t think there’s anybody who wrote a second movement that is more exquisitely, soulfully beautiful. He wrote it with a specific person in mind. His first love of his life," Hansen said.
Hansen is survived by his wife, Donna. The family is directing contributions to the Henrik Jul- Hansen Memorial Scholarship at UC Davis.
Read about Henrik Jul-Hansen’s work with the Merced Symphony.
