Ron Hardin serves as the Regional Sales Manager of Stanbury Uniforms for North Texas, Colorado, Nebraska and Hawaii. A life-long resident of the Midwest, Ron now resides in Waikoloa, HI and spends about half the year on the mainland working for Stanbury, teaching high school bands, drum corps and adjudicating. Ron’s uniform designs can be seen on bands throughout the country. He has also done uniform consultation with the Blue Stars and Bluecoats.
As a drill designer, Ron is very active and closely connected with the pageantry activity. Ron has designed hundreds of shows for bands, drum lines, winter guards and drum corps.
Ron is in demand as a clinician and adjudicator throughout the world, having done many clinics throughout the United States, Europe and Japan. Since 1999, Ron has served as a visual judge for Winter Guard International, annually adjudicating for many circuits, regionals and world championships.
Ron has performed judging clinics for NMEA, NSBA, WGI, numerous indoor percussion circuits and the Judging Association of Mid America. Ron has produced several instructional videos, and has appeared in WGI’s “Meet the Judge” and “Top Secrets” series. He has also recorded several podcasts with Marching Roundtable. Ron has led instructional sessions in Tokyo, Japan and in the Netherlands.
His designs have appeared in several BOA regional finals, won numerous state championships, circuit contests and have won three WGI Percussion Gold Medals.
As an instructor, Ron has led visual teams earning six DCI World Championships and ten High Visual Awards, most recently including the 2012, 2013 & 2016 John Brazale Best Visual Award, and the 2013 & 2015 Steve Brubaker Best General Effect Award.
Ron’s experience in the drum corps activity is extensive, spanning over twenty years. As a performer, he spent the 1991 and 1992 seasons with the Star of Indiana. Upon the completion of his performing career, Ron joined the Blue Devils as a member of their visual staff. After eight seasons, he then spent five years as the Visual Caption Head of the Santa Clara Vanguard, and four years as Visual Caption Head of the Canton Bluecoats before taking his current position as Visual Caption Head of the World Champion Carolina Crown, where he has served since 2011.
In addition to instructing, Ron has designed visual programs for Yamato, Pride of the Lions, Magic of Orlando, Minnesota Brass, Legends and Pioneer. He has also served as Visual Coordinator for the Blue Stars. Ron has served as an instructor representative on the DCI Instructors’ Task Force, Rules & Systems Task Force and on the DCI Medical Project Advisory Board.
Before his career with Stanbury, Ron Hardin most recently served as the director of Bands at Papillion – La Vista South High School. Ron took this position in 2014, and quickly built the program to a national level program over two years. Prior to that appointment, Ron was the director of Bands at Bellevue East High School for 14 years, and led the Chieftains to many successful performances in all areas, including Concert Band, Wind Ensemble, Marching Band, Jazz Bands, Indoor and Concert Percussion, Chamber Ensembles and Indoor Color Guard. Under his watch, the band programs have performed in ten different states. Ron spent the first six years of his career as the Director of Bands at Clayton Valley High School in Concord, CA.
Ron also has extensive history as a professional music educator and performer. He was the founder and past conductor of the Diablo Wind Symphony, and the Principal Conductor of the Omaha Symphonic Winds. In addition, he was the recipient of the Jack R. Snyder Young Band Director Award.
Ron has also served two terms as the Nebraska State Bandmasters Association Marching Band Chair. He has also served as president of the Contra Costa County Band Director’s Association and Vice-President and Contest Coordinator of the Western Band Association.
When he is not teaching or conducting, Ron finds time to play bass trombone with several ensembles. His greatest pride and joy is his family: his wife, Molly, and their daughters, Emma and Celeste.
