meet the conductor
Lem Hardy
Since 1993, when Lem Hardy received his first piano book from his parents, his journey with music has been one of passion and curiosity. Initially self-taught, Mr. Hardy’s love for music led him to teach himself how to play and read music on the piano. He later agreed to formal lessons, lured by the promise of a real piano. The following year, he joined the middle school band, picking up the alto saxophone, and immediately discovered his true musical calling: the symphonic concert band. His time in middle school also sparked an interest in composition, culminating in his first piece for concert band, which he conducted at his spring concert in 1996.
Mr. Hardy has since composed and arranged for theater groups, choirs, and school bands across North Carolina, producing works that include Variations on a Civil War Song, commissioned for the 2007 Pitt County All-County Middle School Band. In 2004, he wrote Centennial Fantasy to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the University of North Carolina Band Program, where he was then a student. Recently, he has focused on revitalizing classic concert band pieces, crafting modern scores that honor the original compositions while embracing contemporary orchestration techniques.
Throughout his career, Mr. Hardy has enjoyed participating in the 2004 Cours Internationale de la Musique in Morges, Switzerland, and a conducting masterclass in 2005 with Maestro Leonard Slatkin of the National Symphony Orchestra.
In 2010, Mr. Hardy joined The Raleigh Concert Band as conductor, where he continues to foster a community of dedicated volunteer musicians, nurturing their growth and musicianship.
A native of South River, North Carolina, Mr. Hardy holds both a Bachelor of Music in Saxophone Performance and a Master of Arts in Teaching with a music focus from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Mr. Hardy’s musical philosophy, inspired by composer Bruce Adolphe, is simple yet profound:
“We do not become musicians because we have something to prove; we become musicians because we have something to give.”
Bruce Adolphe
Raleigh Concert Band 