Lane Harder
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214-768-4609 |
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The music of Lane Harder has been described as “vibrant,” “highly-crafted,” (Percussive Notes) “dramatic,” “aggressive and engaging,” (Austin American Statesman) and possessing an “eclectic, always intriguing, take on modernist tonality” (Theater Jones). Recent performances of his music have been by the Meadows Symphony Orchestra, Voces Intimae, Percussion Group 72 (Japan), New Mexico All-State Guitar Orchestra, cellists Frank Jenkins and Anna Park (Austin Symphony Orchestra), marimbist Makoto Nakura (Young Concert Artists), soprano Rebecca Siler (The Crossing), Ju Percussion Group, the Lone Star Wind Orchestra Percussion Ensemble, and many percussion ensembles in North America, Europe, and Asia. His music has appeared on programs at the 2004, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2017 Percussive Arts Society International Conventions and the 2008 Percussion Master Series in Taipei. Other recent festivals at which his music has been programmed include the 2021 21C Guitar International Conference, the 2018 Mid-South Flute Festival, the 2017 New Mexico Music Educators Convention, the 2016 Queens New Music Festival, the 2014 Green Music Festival in Kobe, Japan, the 2014 Excessive Noise Recital Series, and the 2014 Percussion Festival of Patagonia. His performances and his original music appear on the Albany, Gasparo, Evosound, Soundwaves, Dream Media, Slade Harte Records, BCM&D and bu.hanan record labels. His original music and transcriptions are published by Universal Edition, KPP and Alternate Chords.
Harder’s music has been recognized with multiple awards from ASCAP as well as awards from NACUSA, Voices of Change, the Percussive Arts Society, The Florence Gould Foundation and the Texas Music Teachers Association. Major studies in counterpoint, harmony, analysis and composition have been with composer and theorist Dr. Philip Lasser. Composition teachers include Narcis Bonet, Michel Merlet, Donald Grantham, Dan Welcher, Chris Theofanidis, Robert Keeley, Ross Lorraine, Kevin Hanlon and Simon Sargon. Harder holds degrees from Southern Methodist University, Johns Hopkins University, and the University of Texas, and he completed a year of resident study at Kings College London. He has served as a Graduate Fellow for Texas Performing Arts, a position made possible by a grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. He is also a 2023 Sam Taylor Fellow.
Harder has performed both as a percussionist and keyboardist with the Dallas Winds, Allen Philharmonic Orchestra, and as a resident musician for concert series at Triple N Ranch and Winery. He has also performed with The Dallas Bach Society, Theatre Three, Imperial Brass, Casa Mañana, the Lawton Philharmonic Orchestra and many other organizations in the Dallas area. Harder is a percussionist and arranger for Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church in Dallas. Additionally, Harder teaches music composition and theory at SMU where he serves as Chair of Music Composition and as a Meadows School representative on the SMU Faculty Senate. He further serves on the faculty and administration of the EAMA Summer Institute and EAMA Academy. Previously he served as Assistant Director of Music at Jesuit College Preparatory School in Dallas and as an adjunct faculty member of the Peabody Institute and Johns Hopkins University. Harder is a member of ASCAP.
Education
D.M.A. in Composition, University of Texas at Austin
M.M. in Composition, Johns Hopkins University
M.M. in Music Theory Pedagogy, Johns Hopkins University
B.M. in Composition, Southern Methodist University
Year of Resident Study, Kings College London and Royal Academy of Music
Certificats de Stage, European American Musical Alliance, Paris, France – 2002, 2003, and 2004
Recent Work
Selected Publications:
Recordings (as composer):
2022 – Stories from the Bible (audio book), Michael Harmuth, narrator, Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church, ISBN 979-8-21801-652-4 – Includes my fixed-media score for the audio book
2020 – Bach Parallels, Makoto Nakura, marimba (evosound) – includes my solo marimba works Prelude and Fugue in E-Flat Minor and Prelude and Fugue in D-Flat Major
2019 – SMU Songbook Project, composer (Inspire Entertainment)
2016 – Sweethearts of the Gridiron (DVD), composer (Well Go USA, distributed by Universal) – includes my arrangement of “The Darktown Strutters Ball”
2015 – Digital Divide, Phil O’Banion, solo percussion (BCM&D Records) – includes my solo percussion piece, The Void
2009 – Not Here But There The Moores School (University of Houston) Percussion Ensemble, Blake Wilkins, conductor (TROY 1076) – includes my marimba sextet, Circus Plenus Clamor Ingens Ianuae Tensae
2000 – Strike: The Music of Motion The Meadows Percussion Ensemble, Robert Stroker, conductor (Gasparo GSCD – 346) – includes my percussion octet, The Place of the Hanging Stones
Recordings (as performer):
2020 – Milk Chocolate, Cedric B (DreamMedia, LLC) – keyboardist
2014 – Journeyville, Slade Harte (Slade Harte Records) - percussionist
2013 – 2013 ACDA National Conference Arlington High School Colt Chorale Varsity Men – EP, Dinah Menger, conductor (Soundwaves Recordings) – percussionist
2005 – Arlington High School Colt Chorale (Arlington High School) Dinah Menger, conductor (Mark Records 5649-MCD) – percussionist
2001 – out from under ligne 4, David Daniels (BH002) – percussionist
1999 – The Drums of Summer The Meadows Wind Ensemble and Friends – Live from Austria (Gasparo Gallante GG- 1017) – percussionist; awarded first prize at The Internationale Musiktage Vocklabruck in Austria, Warren Benson: shadow wood The Meadows Wind Ensemble – Jack Delaney, conductor; Virginia Dupuy, soprano (Gasparo GSCD-342) - percussionist
1997 – Berlioz: Roman Carnival Overture / Prokofiev: Alexander Nevsky Cantata - Meadows Symphony and Choral Union at Meyerson Symphony Center (MSA 9702) - percussionist
Other Publications
2019 – Mercure (Erik Satie transcription) – Universal Edition
2018 – Pari Intervallo (Arvo Pärt transcription) – Universal Edition
2016 – Article: “More Than Just Chords: A Brief Introduction to the Study of Harmony for the Percussionist/Composer” – Rhythm! Scene, Vol. 3, No. 4, August 2016
2012 – Dissertation: “From the American Enlightenment: secular cantata for soprano, mezzo-soprano, tenor, baritone, and piano quintet” – UT Austin
2009 – Article: “Arts students must be visibly involved” – Daily Texan, Vol. 110, No. 92
2004 – Circus Plenus Clamor Ingens Ianuae Tensae – KPP
1996 – Article: “From Richard Rogers to RENT: musical theater in America,” The East Texan, Vol. 81, No. 26 – co-authored with Vince Leibowitz
All other music self-published
Awards and Recognition
2023 – Sam Taylor Fellowship, SMU HOPE Teacher of the Year nominee
2017 – Cultural Programs Project Special Support Grant from the City of Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs, Induction into Pi Kappa Lambda music honor society
2016 – Cultural Programs Project Special Support Grant from the City of Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs
2014 – SMU HOPE Teacher of the Year nominee
2013 – Honorary national membership in Phi Boota roota national service fraternity
2012 – Honorary membership in Alpha Zeta (Troy, AL) Chapter of Phi Boota roota
2011 – ASCAPlus Award, Percussive Arts Society Percussion Composition Competition (finalist)
2010 – ASCAPlus Award
2009 – Womack Endowed Presidential Scholarship, UT Austin, Kent Kennan Endowed Graduate Fellowship in Music Composition, UT Austin
2007 – Haifa International Flute Competition for Composers Prize (finalist)
2003 – ASCAP Morton Gould Award for Young Composers, Percussive Arts Society Percussion Composition Competition (finalist)
2002 – Voices of Change 5th Annual Russell Horn Young Composers Competition (finalist)
2001 – NACUSA 23rd Annual Young Composers Competition (finalist)
