Chris Hardesty will begin his 9th year as a band director and his 4th year teaching at Northwest Cabarrus High School.  Prior to this appointment, Chris taught at Marvin Ridge Middle School where he co-directed the 6th-7th-8th grade bands and other performing ensembles offered within the band program.  He was also an assistant director with the Marvin Ridge High School Band.

Chris graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Music (Music Education) from East Carolina University.  As a student at ECU, Chris participated in a wide variety of performing groups offered by the university - including jazz band, various choirs, and concert ensembles.  Expanding his instructional opportunities, Chris has worked as a technician/consultant with several notable bands throughout North Carolina including: Croatan High School (Newport), East Carteret High School (Beaufort), Green Hope High School (Cary), Northwest Cabarrus High School (Concord), and Butler High School (Matthews).  During his drum corps career, Chris marched with the Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps (2005) and the Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps (2007).  Chris has also taught as a visual technician with the Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps (2010, 2011, 2016-Present).  In addition, Chris also serves as a representative for the South Central District within the North Carolina Bandmasters Association's Marching Band Committee. 

Chris' professional affiliations include the North Carolina Music Educators Association, NafME (National Association for Music Education), South Central District Bandmasters Association, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.