Mr. Harding
Simon Harding has been an educator for over 12 years teaching instrumental music to students grades 5-12. Currently employed at the Mendon Upton Regional School District, Simon is the K-12 Curriculum Coordinator for Music as well as the director of the high school’s instrumental ensembles which include: Jazz Ensemble, Lab Band, Wind Ensemble, Concert Band, Percussion Ensemble and Pep Band. Over his eight-year career at the middle school level his concert bands performed at the MICCA Festival where they’ve received excellent ratings and his jazz ensembles performed at the UNH Clark Terry Jazz Festival where they received the Outstanding Performance Award as well as the Central District MAJE Junior Festival where they received numerous gold medals. Over the past four years at the high school level Simon’s jazz ensembles have received gold medals at the MAJE State Finals, providing them the opportunity to perform at the Hatch Shell in Boston and most recently his wind ensemble received a gold medal at the MICCA festival allowing them to perform at Boston Symphony Hall. Simon has also had the honor of guest conducting concert bands and jazz ensembles across the state, including the Northeast Junior Festival and Quabbin Valley Junior Festival, as well as judging festivals and providing clinics.
Simon has been an active member of MAJE, coordinating the Central District Senior and Junior High Festivals for over 10 years, developing and implementing jazz clinics/workshops, as well as developing MAJE’s online festival registration process. He has also been active in the CDMMEA, managing and assistant managing the Junior High Jazz Ensemble for over 8 years. Currently, Simon is the developer and technical manager for the CDMMEA Auditions online student registration system. At the state level, Simon has been the MMEA housing manager for the Massachusetts All-State Conference for several years.
He received his B.A. in Music Education from Westfield State University while studying saxophone under Ted Levine and conducting under Dr. Karen LaVoie. He received his M.M. Ed from Gordon College while studying choral conducting under Dr. Ken Phillips and instrumental conducting under Gerry Dolan. Both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees had a dual focus of choral and instrumental music and conducting. Simon has also recently taken conducting courses with Robert Hasty from Northwestern and several courses with Chris Azzara from Eastman, focusing on the “Jump Right In” series as well as “Developing Musicianship Through Improvisation” series. Simon has two young boys, Colin and Nathan who keep him busy at home and a loving wife, Erin, who’s support, commitment and understanding help make all of the above possible.
Simon has been an active member of MAJE, coordinating the Central District Senior and Junior High Festivals for over 10 years, developing and implementing jazz clinics/workshops, as well as developing MAJE’s online festival registration process. He has also been active in the CDMMEA, managing and assistant managing the Junior High Jazz Ensemble for over 8 years. Currently, Simon is the developer and technical manager for the CDMMEA Auditions online student registration system. At the state level, Simon has been the MMEA housing manager for the Massachusetts All-State Conference for several years.
He received his B.A. in Music Education from Westfield State University while studying saxophone under Ted Levine and conducting under Dr. Karen LaVoie. He received his M.M. Ed from Gordon College while studying choral conducting under Dr. Ken Phillips and instrumental conducting under Gerry Dolan. Both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees had a dual focus of choral and instrumental music and conducting. Simon has also recently taken conducting courses with Robert Hasty from Northwestern and several courses with Chris Azzara from Eastman, focusing on the “Jump Right In” series as well as “Developing Musicianship Through Improvisation” series. Simon has two young boys, Colin and Nathan who keep him busy at home and a loving wife, Erin, who’s support, commitment and understanding help make all of the above possible.