MattHardmanDirector of Communications, Marketing and Public RelationsAdministration,Marketing,StaffStaffMatt.Hardman@unt.edu940-208-2333247E

Music Building

StaffAdministrationMarketingStaffMatt 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. He leads a team of salaried and hourly professionals, graduate assistants and an external creative firm. Prior to joining UNT, he served as Institutional Giving Manager for Texas Ballet Theater. He annually wrote more than 100 foundation grants and corporate proposals and was responsible for raising nearly 20% of the organization operating budget. He penned the winning proposal to fund choreographer Carl Coomer's and TBT's new production of "Dracula." 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. Matt is a member of the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition Marketing Committee for the next quadrennial Competition to be held 2029. The group of five will lend its skills to this globally respected performing arts event and to the marketing team at The Cliburn. His successes with the College of Music include: Launching of the first-ever full-line of College of Music fully-licensed merchandise for sale to the public as trademarks of the University of North Texas. Initiated conversation, established relationship, negotiated agreement, and oversaw site promotional assets for local female owned vendor to provide full online storefront retail services. All sales of this storefront reflect new revenue for the College of Music and the University. 2026. Establishing relationships and contracting with external creative marketing firms producing four major and two event specific video productions highlighting the UNT College of Music; With Hoegger Communications, produced the first ever College of Music commercials. The five varying length shorts have been placed digitally and on streaming services throughout Texas and in targeted geographic areas of the United States. The digital campaign advertisements have been viewed more than 6.3 million times;  Receiving eight awards for seven minute promotional video; 2025. Lone Star EMMY® Award. Two National Gold Winner Telly Awards. Recruitment - Online General Educational Institution - Online Five ADDY Awards from the American Advertising Federation presentations in Fort Worth, Texas and Oklahoma City.  Gold – Single Webisode; Gold– Art Direction Silver– Internet Commercial; Silver– Video Editing; Silver– Cinematography See the video at Join the Journey. "Honoring excellence in marketing & advertising specific to the field of higher education." 2026.for schools of 20,000+ students Gold - Admissions Wall Display - Poster/Display - Single Gold - Greenlaw Salon Concert Invitation - Invitations Silver - Wordscape in "Hollywood Reporter Magazine" - Magazine Advertising - Single Bronze - Admissions Booklet - Recruitment 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 with 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 was twice an invited guest to the White House during the Clinton administration.