About Us
About The Director
Mr. Matt Harden, Director of Instrumental Music
Mr. Harden is the K-12 Department Chair for Fine & Performing Arts for the Hanover Public Schools and Director of Instrumental Music at Hanover High School where he directs the marching band, symphonic band, wind ensemble, jazz ensemble, and various chamber ensembles. He also teaches AP Music Theory and music appreciation and technology electives. Mr. Harden is on the faculty of the South Shore Conservatory Summer Music Festival directing the Lab Jazz Ensemble and coaching trumpet. Mr. Harden was formerly the K-12 Director of Music and Instrumental Music Teacher for the Rockland Public Schools in Rockland, MA, and Director of Bands at Union-Endicott High School in Endicott, NY. He holds a bachelor's degree in Music Education from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst where he studied with George N. Parks, Malcolm W. Rowell, Jr., Walter Chestnut, Jeffery Holmes, David Sporny, Benedict Smar, and Roger Rideout. He earned his Master of Music (Summa Cum Laude) from Ithaca College where he studied under Keith Kaiser, Mark Fonder, Susan Avery, Verna Brumett, Jennifer Haywood, Timothy Johnson, Richard Clary, and Stephen Peterson. He is a member of Kappa Kappa Psi, Pi Kappa Lambda, Golden Key National Honor Society, National Honor Society, ASCD, NBA, NAfME, MMEA, AIME, and is an honorary lifetime member of the New York State Parent Teacher Association. Mr. Harden received the Lowell Mason Award from the Massachusetts Music Educators Association in 2020 and previously was the recipient of the Union-Endicott Founder's Day Award, New York State Lottery Educator of the Week, and has been named to Who's Who Among America's Teachers multiple times. He is an active trumpeter, composer, arranger, drill designer, and guest conductor. Mr. Harden serves on the Executive Board of SEMSBA as the Adjudication Coordinator and Webmaster and is the Jazz Adjudication Chair and Chairperson-Elect for the MMEA Southeastern District. Mr. Harden lives in Whitman with his wife Maegan, his sons Adam and Elliot, and their rescue dogs Tyrion and Arya.
Our Facility
We are fortunate to have a state-of-the-art facility for rehearsals and performance. The Hanover High School Music Suite includes an instrumental rehearsal room, choral rehearsal room, small ensemble room, two practice rooms, and a music technology lab. Our auditorium is the home of our concert performanes, musicals, and community events.