Lane Harder

Music

Senior Lecturer in Music Theory and Composition
Co-Chair of Music Theory and Composition

Email

lharder@mail.smu.edu

Phone

214-768-4609

Website


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 51²è¹Ý where he serves as Chair of Music Composition and as a Meadows School representative on the 51²è¹Ý 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, 51²è¹Ý
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 – 51²è¹Ý 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, 51²è¹Ý 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 – 51²è¹Ý 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)

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