Theatre Organist: Don Hansen
Don Hansen at the Theatre Pipe Organ, New Hope, PA
Don Hansen’s musical training started at age 6 with the Saxophone. He switched to piano at age 9 studying classical piano with a teacher who was a Julliard School of Music graduate. By age 19 he had segued into electronic organ.
His affiliation with the WurliTzer Company as a teacher and demonstrator started shortly thereafter and spanned a 15 year period during which time he performed extensively on WurliTzer electronic organs. He was introduced to Theatre Pipes in the early 60’s by Bob Mack (Robert MacIntyre), then house organist at the Brooklyn Paramount. Don spent many hours at the console of that Mighty WurliTzer as well as at the New York Paramount where his studies continued with Mr. Mack until the theatre closed.
Don has performed on pipes at a number of venues in our area including the Pascack Theatre in Westwood, Asbury Park Convention Hall, Union County Arts Center in Rahway, the Colonial Theatre in Phoenixville, PA and the Bardavon Opera House in Poughkeepsie, NY. He has also performed for various groups on private Theatre Pipe Organ installations in Levittown, PA; Vineland, NJ; New Hope, PA; and Little Falls, NJ. He has presented programs to appreciative audiences on a wide variety of electronic organs for the Hammond, Tri-County, Monmouth, and South Jersey organ societies as well as the Theatre Organ Society of Delaware Valley.
Don served as President of the Garden State Theatre Organ Society from 2002 to 2006, as well as Vice President and Program Chair from 1994 to 1996 and again in 2002.
