Matt Hardman is Director of Communications, Marketing and Public Relations for the College of Music. His responsibilities include College of Music institutional reputation, recruitment marketing, audience development and development communication. Prior to joining UNT, he served as Institutional Giving Manager for Texas Ballet Theater where he annually wrote more than 100 foundation grants and corporate proposals totaling more than $4 million and was responsible for raising nearly twenty-percent of the organization operating budget. Before his time at TBT, Matt served as the Director of Communication and Administration at Ballet Lubbock, and as a public relations professional for a number of public/private corporations and non-profits in Texas and West Virginia.
His successes with the College of Music include:
- Establishing relationships and contracting with external creative marketing firms producing four major and two event specific video productions highlighting the UNT College of Music;
- From the seven-minute most recent production, produced by Hoegger Communications, came the first ever College of Music commercials. The five varying length commercials were placed digitally and on streaming services by Swash Labs throughout Texas and in targeted geographic areas of the United States. The commercials were viewed more than 1.8 million times;
- Receiving seven awards for the seven minute promotional video;
- Two National Gold Winner Telly Awards in the categories of Recruitment - Online and General Educational Institution - Online
- Five ADDY Awards from the American Advertising Federation presentations in Fort Worth, Texas and Oklahoma City.
- See the video at This is Where You Belong.
Matt holds an undergraduate degree with specialization in public relations from Stephen F. Austin State University and a master of arts degree with emphasis in arts administration, communication and business from Texas Tech University. Musically, he was a two-time member of the Texas All-State Choir and pursued music as a voice student in his early undergraduate years at what is now West Texas A&M, studying choral conducting and baton technique with René Clausen. He then transferred to Stephen F. Austin State University to study voice under the late David W. Jones before later focusing on communications, public relations and marketing.
He is a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity. Fun fact: Matt has twice been an invited guest to the White House.
