Thank You, Mrs. Hardin
Dear ETYO musicians, family, friends, and patrons,
It is with mixed emotions that I share the news that Mrs. Jill Hardin will be departing ETYO effective August 1, 2019. I know many of you have been aware of this news for some time, but I wanted to share a few notes about Mrs. Hardin and thank her for all that she has done for ETYO.
When I first accepted the position with ETYO, I was floored by Jill's reception of me and her enthusiasm to continue pushing ETYO forward. Her accomplishments are many, but here are a few of the highlights of tenure with ETYO:
Growing enrollment to 100+ students
Growing individual and corporate giving
Overseeing the addition of our Jazz Academy
Overseeing the hiring of a new music director
Administering ETYO’s first, international tour to Vienna, Austria
These are, of course, but a few of Jill's accomplishments. Her systematic approach to the behind-the-scenes aspects of ETYO are what have helped accomplish the above goals and many others. It is these same systems that will propel us into the future.
When Mrs. Hardin announced to the board in April that she would be leaving, she immediately said that she didn't want anyone to make a fuss about it, and wanted to focus on our musicians, our upcoming season finale concert, and our trip to Vienna. Her commitment to our musicians has been a trait of hers that I have always appreciated.
I asked Mrs. Hardin to share a few thoughts with us:
Why have you decided that now is the time to depart ETYO?
I feel that ETYO is poised for great growth in size, in programs and in opportunities. With these come a need for special skills that are dedicated to these areas. These needs are broader than my skill-set and frankly, make me weary to consider! We are on the brink of a new season and I’m still trying to recover from the previous one!
What has been your fondest memory of your time with ETYO?
How on earth can I narrow this down to one? Yo-Yo Ma in our rehearsal, sharing the stage with ETSO, hearing our musicians in the Golden Hall of Vienna’s Musikverein…..memories are precious. But my treasures are the individual musicians in our orchestras….their personalities, their talents, and how they interact with one another across so many boundaries. I love those kids!
What is your proudest accomplishment as Executive Director of ETYO?
Besides getting all our musicians home from Vienna, I am especially proud of the systems put in place to make our seasons run smoothly. These systems can be replicated year in and year out for success whether I am here or not! The organization is a well-oiled machine with musicians, parents, conductors, and board members working together for the good of our community and its musicians.
What are looking forward to in the coming months?
I am looking forward to weekends free to travel with my son, who is a competitive shooter, and to California to see my daughter play cello at college.
What's next for you in your career path?
I will be returning to our family business which I helped start 34 years ago. I managed the business for 17 years before I left it to raise our children. I am so looking forward to working with my husband again!
Please join me in thanking Mrs. Hardin for four years of service to ETYO, youth music education, and to the East Texas community!
Best,
Felix
Mrs. Hardin with daughter, Anna Grace, in Vienna, Austria
