Eric Hanson has led the Thalia Symphony since 1987, and has been Director of Instrumental Music at Seattle Pacific University since 1979. His degrees include a Bachelor of Music Education from Wheaton College Conservatory, a Master of Music in conducting from Colorado State University, and a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Washington. His dissertation plumbed the elegant relationships between the symphonies of Gustav Mahler and the philosophy of Arthur Schopenhauer. Noted as a clinician, adjudicator, scholar, and guest conductor, Dr. Hanson has conducted such orchestras as the Denver Symphony, the Chicago Civic Chamber Orchestra, and many European orchestras. He was awarded a National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowship to Harvard and an NEH grant to study at the Beethoven Institute. His interests include mountain climbing (he currently has 91 summits), European travel, golf, and softball. He is addicted to pickleball.

Gerry (pronounced "Gary") Marsh has been the Music Director and Conductor of the Cascade Youth Symphony since 1984. He has extensive experience as an educator, performer, conductor and choir master and has conducted music seminars throughout the Northwest, Canada and England. His professional activities include conducting orchestras at Western Washington University, Pacific Lutheran University and various community orchestras. Professor Marsh is frequently involved as a guest conductor, clinician and adjudicator for music competitions and festivals in the Pacific Northwest and Canada. He has received numerous composition awards and commissions and is a published composer and arranger. He has also received awards and citations from the Seattle Music and Arts Foundation and the Edmonds Music and Arts Club for his work in music and with young people. In 1998 Marsh was inducted into the inaugural Washington Music Educators Association Hall of Fame.