Lane Harder

Artist Bio & Experience

The music of Lane Harder has been called “vibrant,” “highly-crafted,” (Percussive Notes) “dramatic,” “aggressive and engaging” (Austin American Statesman) and possessing an “eclectic, always intriguing, take on modernist tonality” (TheaterJones). Recent performances of his music have been by the Catholic University of America Symphony Orchestra, Peabody Opera Theatre, University of Texas New Music Ensemble, CLUTCH Wind Ensemble (UT), cellists Frank Jenkins and Anna Park (Austin Symphony Orchestra), marimbist Makoto Nakura (Young Concert Artists), soprano Rebecca Siler (The Crossing), The Ju Percussion Group, the University of Georgia Governor Honors Program Percussion Ensemble, 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 and 2015 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 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, Soundwaves, Slade Harte Records, BCM&D, and Bu Hanan record labels. His music is published by KPP, Alternate Chords, and Rassel Editions of New York. 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 and analysis 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 recently served as a Graduate Fellow for Texas Performing Arts, a position made possible by a grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. A composer, percussionist and teacher living in Dallas, Harder teaches composition and music theory at Southern Methodist University. He has recently 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. He further serves on the faculty and administration of the European American Musical Alliance Summer Program in Paris, France, where he teaches counterpoint, keyboard harmony and score reading courses and serves as program coordinator. Harder is a member of ASCAP.