Born in Columbus, GA, Michael Hardy learned to play popular music from his mother during his teen years. His interest soon turned to the classical guitar, and he became the first person to graduate with a degree in guitar performance from Columbus State University. He earned his Master of Music degree from The University of Texas and a Graduate Performance Diploma from The Peabody Conservatory. Michael was awarded his Doctorate of Musical Arts at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY. In addition to being a student of outstanding musicians such as Julian Gray, Adam Holzman, Nicholas Goluses and Andrew Zohn, he has performed in masterclasses with internationally recognized guitarists such as David Russell, Manuel Barrueco, the members of the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet and Soloduo.

His performing career has taken him throughout the US and to Italy, where La Stampa called his playing “brilliant and expressive.” Michael is enthusiastic about collaborating with other musicians. He has performed with violinists, violists, flutists, oboists, vocalists and other guitarists in duo, trio and quartet settings. He has also worked under the baton of conductors, a place guitarists rarely find themselves, in the Columbus State University Wind Ensemble, the Rochester Lyric Chorale and the University of Texas New Music Ensemble. 

Michael has performed successfully in many competitions and festivals. He was a top prize winner in the 2000 Columbus State University Guitar Competition and the 2006 East Carolina University Competition. An avid supporter of new music, Michael has premiered new works with the Texas Guitar Quartet and the Texas New Music Ensemble. He has also actively volunteered for Creative Access, the Peabody Conservatory’s outreach program. An explorer of new music and new audiences, Michael works to be at the forefront of the path of the guitar in the 21st century and was a founder of the Great Lakes Guitar Society.

Michael is also highly sought after as a teacher. His students have been accepted into colleges and universities across the US. From 2004 to 2006, he headed guitar studies at Campbell University and Chowan University in North Carolina. He was also awarded a teaching assistantship at The Eastman School of Music. Recently, he has given masterclasses at Buffalo State College, East Carolina University, Tennessee State University and the Weaver Academy for the Arts in North Carolina. Currently, Michael is Instructor of Guitar at Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania. He is also an owner and teacher at Fret & Bow Music Academy in Rochester, NY.