Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Ard Named Top Piano Teacher

Sharon Ard was recently named the 1998 Independent Piano Teacher of the Year by the Arkansas State Music Teachers Association (ASMTA).

The award is given annually for outstanding teaching, service to the ASMTA and community involvement in music. The selection was made by a committee of college and independent piano teachers.

Ard graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor's degree in piano performance from Henderson State University. She holds a master's degree in piano performance and pedagogy from the University of Oklahoma.

In addition to teaching piano, she also teaches classroom music at Holy Redeemer Catholic School and serves as organist and choir director at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church.

Ard serves as treasurer and on the board of directors of ASMTA. She is also a member of the National Guild of Piano Teachers. She frequently judges piano festivals and competitions in Arkansas and Louisiana.

She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Sonny Sanford of Gurdon.

She is also a graduate of Gurdon High School, where she was a member of the Go-Devil band. She studied piano with Flo Kirby and Wanda Brown.