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SCOTT R. HARDING (b. 1968)
 Scott
R. Harding is a lifelong Michigander, born in Bay City and growing up in rural
small-towns Auburn and Cass City. Dr. Harding earned the BM in
Theory/Composition from Central Michigan University in 1991, studying with
award-winning band and percussion composer David R. Gillingham. Dr. Harding also
studied percussion with the late Robert Hohner while at CMU, and was a member of
the legendary Robert Hohner Percussion Ensemble for five years. Following a
compositional ?chain-of-command,? Dr. Harding went on to earn the MM and PhD in
Composition at Michigan State University, working primarily with Gillingham?s
teacher Jere Hutcheson (himself a student of the incomparable H. Owen Reed).
Performing remained a strong interest for Harding while at MSU, and he studied
traditional percussion with Mark Johnson as well as swing drumset and Afro-Cuban
percussion with former Sun Ra and Max Roach percussionist Francisco Mora
Catlett.
A 3-year graduate assistantship in aural skills ignited Dr. Harding?s passion
for teaching, and he stepped into his current position at CMU while completing
his last year of doctoral work in 1998. As a member of the CMU School of Music
faculty, Dr. Harding teaches in the core theory/aural skills area, coordinating
the ear-training curriculum and working privately with composition majors. He
also teaches jazz history, music appreciation and world music as part of the
university-wide liberal arts regimen. Dr. Harding?s commitment to teaching was
acknowledged with a nomination for the 2004-2005 Excellence in Teaching Award,
where he ended as a finalist.
As a composer Dr. Harding works consistently with small chamber ensembles,
writing music of intricate playfulness, knotted interwoven lines and excellent
craftsmanship. He has accepted commissions from colleagues both at CMU and
across the country, resulting in the creation of works like Four Short Dances, Episode I for Clarinet and
Electronic Accompaniment, Duo Concertante, Birdsong and the forthcoming Cork Pine Suite. Dr. Harding?s love of
percussion is evident in the pounding rhythms of Taiko, Thunder On The Bay and The Summoning Of Katakhanes, as well as
in the somber, lyrical strains of his homage to Robert Hohner entitled Eulogy. His music is published by C.
Alan Publications of Greensboro NC and Dorn Publications of Medford MA.
Website: http://www.scottrharding.com
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