Ralph Hardimon

Ralph Hardimon is a percussionist, teacher, composer, and clinician. He is best known for his work in the areas of marching percussion, rudimental drumming, drum & bugle corps, and marching band.

His performance experience started in the late sixties with the Los Angeles Police Band, and later the Velvet Knights and Anaheim Kingsmen drum & bugle corps. He taught and studied with Fred Sanford and studied with Charles Dowd at the University Of Oregon.

Following Fred Sanford's departure after the 1980 season, Ralph became Director of Percussion for the Santa Clara Vanguard from 1981 through 1990. During this time, SCV won four High Percussion awards (1978, 1979, 1988, 1989) and three Drum Corps International (DCI) World Championships. Ralph served as a consultant for SCV from 1997 to 2000. He has scored music for many other corps (including The Blue Knights Drum And Bugle Corps from 1990 to 2001), the Capital Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps in 2006, the Arizona Academy Drum & Bugle Corps, Percussion Arranger and Designer of Bushwackers Drum & Bugle Corps from Princeton, NJ as well as college percussion ensembles and marching bands. He has worked for The Walt Disney Company and bowl games such as the Citrus Bowl, Orange Bowl, and Super Bowl.

Ralph received Grammy nominations for Jazz and Rhythm and Blues. He was inducted into the DCI hall of fame in 2000, inducted into the Santa Clara Vanguard Hall of Fame in 2014, and received the “Life Time Achievement Award” from Sabian Cymbals in 2005.

Ralph is also a music judge for Winter Guard International (WGI) and Bands Of America (BOA).

Ralph is currently the percussion caption head for The Blue Knights Drum And Bugle Corps, a World Class drum corps from Denver, Colorado. He travels to Japan several times a year to work with percussion ensembles, marching bands, and drum corps. He is also a member of Mu Phi Sigma national percussion fraternity, and an Honorary Member of Snare Si Phi percussion organization.