Donald Mertz Hardisty is a longtime member of the Association of Composers and Publishers of America, the Music Teachers National Association and the International Double Reed Society.
LAS CRUCES, NM, December 03, 2018 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Marquis Who's Who, the world's premier publisher of biographical profiles, is proud to present Donald Mertz Hardisty, DMA, with the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award. An accomplished listee, Dr. Hardisty celebrates many years' experience in his professional network, and has been noted for achievements, leadership qualities, and the credentials and successes he has accrued in his field. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
A retired music educator, Dr. Hardisty was a teacher, mentor and talented musician for many years. Retiring in 1994 as a professor emeritus at New Mexico State University (NMSU), he taught college level students on campus since 1969. He not only taught music, but also served as the chairman of theory and graduate music education and was the principal bassoonist for the NMSU Las Cruces Symphony between 1969 and 1998. Dr. Hardisty's tenure in the field also included his role as the director of bands at California State University, instructor of bassoon and theory at the University of Arizona and associate director of choral activities and principal bassoonist for the Tucson Symphony.
Dr. Hardisty was a guest conductor and clinician, composer of music and guest lecturer who began his journey in 1958. He has performed bassoon concerts with local groups at various music events throughout the Southwest. Outside of his career in music and academia, Dr. Hardisty is the longtime owner of Don's Collectibles in Las Cruces since 1968. Specializing in Bossons Artware from England and Hummels from Germany, Dr. Hardisty buys, appraises and sells authentic pieces from his extensive collection. He is notably a certified Bossons and Hummel restoration artist and a longtime member of the International Bossons Collectors Society. Furthermore, he has authored various publications on Bossons over the years, including "Don's Bossons Reflectibles," "Rosa Travels the Imagical World of Bossons with her Bossons Friends" and "Captain Whozhe and Disney Bossons" and has had articles featured in the Bossons Briefs, a quarterly magazine. Dr. Hardisty has two websites affiliated with his business: www.bossons.us and www.collectiblebossons.com.
Affiliated with several professional organizations, Dr. Hardisty was the president of the New Mexico Music Educators Association, where he was named Teacher of the Year and concurrently served as president and later executive administrator for the Association of Concert Bands that has worldwide membership. He also served as chairman of the New Mexico Alliance for the Arts in Education and a charter member and guest lecturer with the (IBCS) International Bossons Collectors Society. Additionally, Dr. Hardisty has held various leadership positions for the Music Educators National Conference and the Southwest Music Educators Association and is a longtime member of several other organizations, including the Association of Composers and Publishers of America, the Music Teachers National Association and the International Double Reed Society.
Growing up in a very artistic household, Dr. Hardisty's mother was an artist and several of his family members were professional photographers. However, it was his father who really had an influence on him. Capable of playing the piano by ear, Dr. Hardisty most likely inherited his dad's talents when it came to music.
Dr. Hardisty has been cited in Who's Who in American Education, Who's Who in the West and Who's Who in Entertainment. He earned a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Montana in 1955, Master of Music Education from the University of Montana in 1956, and Doctor of Musical Arts from the Eastman School of Music, University of Rochester in 1969. Dr. Hardisty is also certified to teach music in elementary and secondary schools. After completing his master's degree, he served two years in the U.S. Army, beginning in 1956 and with honorable discharge in 1958. While in the military, he was a member of the Second Army Band, Headquartered in Ft. Meade, MD, where the Second Army Choral Group was attached to the Band. He composed special Choral Music arrangements, in the Marching Band played percussion, and was principal bassoonist with the Concert Band.
Married to Barbara Bridges Hardisty, Dr. Hardisty has twin sons, Donald and Douglas. In retirement, he enjoys a host of activities. He especially enjoys maintaining his saltwater fish aquariums and botanical house plants. He also loves collecting minerals, working in his garden, and traveling with his family in his motor home.
Photo One: Dr. Donald M. Hardisty, Music Professor Emeritus, NMSU
Photo used with "Global Mind Power" articles Entitled "An End to Musically Illiterate Musicians"
Photo Two: W. Ray Bossons, Director W.H. Bossons (Sales) Ltd.
Presents his original "Pen and Ink" Drawing and his "American Bald Eagle" Sculpture to Dr. Hardisty at the Bossons Factory, Congleton, Cheshire, England
Photo Three: Dr. Hardisty with Heckel Bassoon
Background: "The Man of Peace" Original Quintet-Advanced Tonguing Study for Bassoon from a graded "Collection of Eighty Original and Transcribed Rounds Arranged foir Bassoon Ensembles with Pedagogical and Performance Comments" DMA Thesis, Eastman, 1969
Photo Four: Don and Barbara Hardisty, Owners
Don's Collectibles, Las Cruces, NM 88011
In recognition of outstanding contributions to his profession and the Marquis Who's Who community, Donald Mertz Hardisty, DMA, has been featured on the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement website. Please visit www.ltachievers.com for more information about this honor.
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