About The Instrumental Director
Mr. Matt J. Harden, K-12 Department Chair for Fine & Performing Arts, Director of Instrumental Music, AP Music Theory, and Music Electives
Mr. Harden is the Director of Instrumental Music at Hanover High School where he directs the marching band, symphonic band, jazz ensemble, and various other chamber ensembles. He also teaches Music Theory and AP Music Theory, Music in Film, Radio and Television, and Piano. Mr. Harden was formerly the K-12 Director of Music and Instrumental Music Teacher for the Rockland Public Schools in Rockland, MA and Director of Bands at Union-Endicott High School in Endicott, NY. He holds a bachelor's degree in Music Education from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst (Cum Laude) where he studied with George N. Parks, Malcolm W. Rowell, Jr., Walter Chestnut, Jeffery Holmes, David Sporny, Benedict Smar, and Roger Rideout. He earned his Master of Music (Summa Cum Laude) from Ithaca College where he studied under Keith Kaiser, Mark Fonder, Susan Avery, Verna Brumett, Jennifer Haywood, Timothy Johnson, Richard Clary, and Stephen Peterson. He is a member of Kappa Kappa Psi, Pi Kappa Lambda, Golden Key National Honor Society, National Honor Society, ASCD, NBA, NAfME, MMEA, AIME, and is an honorary lifetime member of the New York State Parent Teacher Association. He was the recipient of the Union-Endicott Founder's Day Award, New York State Lottery Educator of the Week, and has been named to Who's Who Among America's Teachers multiple times. Mr. Harden was awarded the Lowell Mason Award from the Massachusetts Music Educators Association in 2020. Mr. Harden is an active trumpeter, composer, arranger, drill designer, and guest conductor and is the trumpet coach and Jazz Lab director for the South Shore Conservatory Summer Music Festival. He has performed with the Jeff Holmes Big Band, Amherst Jazz Orchestra, Compaq Big Band, Mason Warrington Orchestra, Binghamton Philharmonic, Sharon Community Band, Roy Scott Big Band, Brockton Symphony, and Commonwealth Wind Symphony. Mr. Harden serves on the Executive Board of the South Eastern Massachusetts School Bandmasters Association as the Adjudication Coordinator and Webmaster and is the Jazz Adjudication Chair and President-Elect of the MMEA Southeastern District. Mr. Harden lives in Whitman with his wife Maegan, his sons Adam and Elliot, and their dog Tyrion |
About the Choral Director
Mr. Michael Wade, Director of Choral Activities
Mr. Wade enjoys a versatile career as conductor, collaborative pianist, and music educator. He is the current Director of Choral and Vocal Music, grades 5-12 for the Hanover Public Schools in Hanover, MA. Prior to his arrival in Massachusetts, Mr. Wade served as choral director for the Trumansburg Central School District, located in New York, where he taught choruses grades 5-12, class guitar, vocal jazz, and general music. He was additionally conductor of the Young Men’s Chorus of Ithaca, part of the greater Ithaca Children’s Chorus. When he is not leading choirs, Mr. Wade is frequently seen singing and collaborating with ensembles across several mediums. As a baritone, he has performed with several of the top collegiate choirs in the country, including the Indiana University University Singers, NOTUS: Contemporary Vocal Ensemble, and the Ithaca College Choir. As a pianist, he has collaborated with a host of singers and instrumentalists in solo recital, chamber music, ensemble, operatic, and musical settings. Mr. Wade received his Master of Music in Choral Conducting from Indiana University, where he studied conducting with Betsy Burleigh, Dominick DiOrio, and Walter Huff, and voice with Brian Gill. He has held the privilege of working in master class and coaching settings with such choral luminaries as Matthew Halls, Ed Maclary, and Bruno Weil. He holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Ithaca College, where his primary mentors included Lawrence Doebler, Janet Galván, and Stephen Peterson (conducting), Marc Webster, David Parks, and Carl Johengen (voice), Jennifer Hayghe (piano), and Susan Avery and Jennifer Haywood (music education). |