Based in Marsden; a small but vibrant village on the Pennine Hills outside Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, Great Britain. Established in 1989 the family company is owned by husband and wife Alastair and Jenny Hanson. The manufacturing business supports music making from grass roots to post conservatoire level, providing instruments, lessons & ensembles to a people of all ages and backgrounds. Our l
eading role in conservation initiatives have recognised at the highest levels including presentation to HRH Prince Charles with a special award for outstanding contribution by the FSC. Supporters and members of the Heritage Crafts Association we are one of a handful of British makers of wind instruments, and the first makers of saxophones in Britain for almost a Century. Alastair Hanson
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The founder Alastair is recognised as one of the foremost instrument designers in the world. His expertise and experience in instrument design and production generates international demand for his services as a consultant within the industry. Alastair has worked with factories manufacturing for Buffet, Selmer, Backun, Keilwerth, Stomvi, Vincent Bach International, Rath, Ripamonté, Howarth, Blessing, Jupiter, and many more. A qualified Ski Instructor and Ski Race Coach, Alastair has taught many youngsters in sport as well as music and is especially proud to coach daughters Lucy and Eleanor and share their successes and more importantly their smiles as they whizz past (regularly) on the snow. In his spare time he seeks out locally brewed real ales and ‘tinkers’ with Betsy, his antique Landrover. Visitors to the workshop will hear Alastair playing the clarinet or sax or double bass, but his ‘first study’ is actually in brass instruments. Privileged to have studied with cornet legend James Shepherd, Alastair grew up playing with World famous brass bands, going on to play professionally with the National Symphony Orchestra and as a soloist. A ‘multi-instrumentalist’ whose performances have included horn, trombone, trumpet and cornet… clarinet, saxophone and flute… alpenhorn, string bass, a coat-stand and bidet! Alastair is proud to be born and bred in Yorkshire. Jenny Hanson
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Jenny Hanson is a professional viola and violist, teacher and home educator. Graduate of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, and Postgraduate as a soloist from the Royal College of Music, London Jenny has appeared in concert, on stage, in film and recorded with many of the country’s leading orchestras and international artists. Jenny was awarded a NESTA fellowship in 2006. Jenny’s playing career is diverse; Classical, Pop, Folk or Opera; a small soundbite of work would include the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Opera North, recordings with Michael Ball, Shirley Bassey in London’s Hyde Park; Michael Marra, Karine Polwart at Celtic Connections, Sessions for Isobel Griffiths, The BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Manchester Camerata, The National Symphony Orchestra, The Goldberg Ensemble and countless international tours and recordings at Abbey Road. Credits as a solo artist include solo tracks for the Universal Studios film, Leap Year and her original compositions featured in the Commonwealth celebrations debuted at Westminster Abbey for the Queen, Duke of Edinburgh, Prime minister and Heads of States. Jenny is also a qualified ski instructor, racer and British Masters Slalom Gold Medalist, regularly beating husband Alastair (but only by a fraction of a second!!). She is proud to be fae Scotland, though she has been granted honorary Yorkshire citizenship. Alastair and Jenny have two daughters and a young son; Lucy, Eleanor and Robin. Lucy and Eleanor are members of the National Childrens Orchestra and National Youth Orchestra of Scotland. All three coincidentally have a love for music, Land Rovers and skis! Of course the company would be nothing without the fantastic Hanson staff, subcontractors, specialist suppliers and worldwide distributors; experts in their fields around the globe working together to deliver customers quality products and professional service.
