Hello
I have many interests, but have primarily spent my time conducting, composing, arranging, orchestrating, and leading worship.
Bio
Dr. Garry Joe Hardin II began his role as Associate Minister of Instrumental Music at First Baptist Dallas in 2014. Under his leadership, the First Dallas Orchestra has performed at prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall (2015) and the Kennedy Center with special guest President Donald Trump (2017). The choir and orchestra's performance of his arrangement of "Make America Great Again" was notably recognized by President Trump on social media. The First Dallas Orchestra, under his direction, can be heard on several recordings featuring his original works, including Royal Diadem, Blessed Trinity, To God Be the Glory, and An Instrumental Christmas, as well as Pathway to Victory's patriotic release For God and Country. They have collaborated with world-class artists such as Michael W. Smith, Rebecca St. James, Chris Tomlin, Sandi Patty, Anne Wilson, We The Kingdom, Newsboys, For King and Country, and many more. Dr. Hardin has also had the honor of leading worship with the choir and orchestra for numerous Sunday services with over 3500 in attendance and streamed to millions. He is a prolific writer, arranger, and orchestrator, with his work regularly featured in First Dallas worship sets.
Previously, Dr. Hardin served as Chair of the Department of Instrumental and Jazz Studies and Director of Chapel Music and the Chapel Ensemble at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He pioneered the Jazz Studies concentration, developing course content and ensembles, and rejuvenated chapel worship by founding the Chapel Orchestra and Chapel Band. He led energized congregational singing and managed musical content for three weekly chapel services, often featuring distinguished guest speakers. In 2008, his congregational anthem "As You Go" was sung to commemorate the Seminary Centennial. He also composed a work for jazz combo and orchestra that featured faculty members with the Fort Worth Symphony. Dr. Hardin was honored with the President’s Thanksgiving Award in Fall 2013.
At College of the Ozarks (MO), Dr. Hardin was the Director of Instrumental Music and Chapel Music. He directed the C of O Concert Band and expanded it into the C of O Community Band. As the jazz ensemble director, he led performances at the North Texas Jazz Festival in Addison from 2003 to 2005. He also directed the Chapel Choir and planned weekly chapel services in the school's neo-gothic style Williams Chapel. In this capacity, he directed the combined department choirs and orchestra in the annual "Christmas Card to the Community" concert from 2002 to 2005 and planned and conducted music department choirs and band in performances for biannual college convocations, featuring internationally renowned guest speakers such as Colin Powell, Benjamin Netanyahu, Ken Starr, J.C. Watts, Robert Gates, Bob Dole, Caspar Weinberger, Tom Brokaw, and others. He also planned and hosted the "Branson All-Star Big Band" concert and jazz clinic. Dr. Hardin was awarded a Summer Enrichment Grant to compose a new musical work to commemorate the opening of the new Gittinger Music Building.
Dr. Hardin earned degrees from Dallas Baptist University and Appalachian State University (NC), as well as MM and DMA degrees in Composition from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, where his orchestral composition The Vagrant’s Dance was selected as the annual student composition performed by the CCM Philharmonia. He has been a finalist in the International Trumpet Guild Solo Competition, trumpeter for symphonies in Johnson City (TN), Irving and Mesquite (TX), the lead trumpeter on the live PBS telecast Daniel O’Donnell: Live from Branson, and has performed with big bands such as the Les Brown Band of Renown (Branson, MO).