My Bio

“Give people a reason to want to be a part of your journey".”

A Little About Me

Younger Years

Michael started playing the violin at age four in the Suzuki studio of Pat Thayer in Williamsport, PA, and furthered his studies with James Lyon of the Pennsylvania State University. A graduate of the Williamsport Area High School, Michael participated in the Williamsport String Quartet, WAHS Orchestra and Choir, the Millionaire Strolling Strings, and sat as Concertmaster of the 2019 Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) District 8, Central Region and All-State Orchestras. Michael has also been a member of the All-National Honors Orchestra of the National Association for Music Educators (NAfME). Another large part of his musical education and development are the summer institutes he has attended, including the Pennsylvania Suzuki Institute, Ithaca Suzuki Institute Advanced Program, Credo Chamber Music Camp, and the Wintergreen Summer Music Program.

Early Accomplishments

As part of his college audition process, Michael was faced with an extremely tough decision process. Accepted at the University of Michigan, Eastman School of Music, Cleveland Institute of Music, New England Conservatory of Music, and The Juilliard School, Michael ultimately followed his heart to Boston, MA!

Michael is now a junior at the New England Conservatory of Music, studying with Professor Soovin Kim. Michael has found the change of scenery to be greatly inspiring. Between the diverse stories of so many similar to his age and the amazing music he is surrounded by every day, Michael has been thriving! It is certainly the perfect environment for his drive and determination to run rampant! Not to mention, there is no lack of opportunity in the great city of Boston!

 Amongst his various awards and recognitions (all listed below), Michael’s greatest accomplishments have been his acceptance to the 2019 National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America (NYO-USA), sponsored by Carnegie Hall, acceptance to The Juilliard School, and sitting as concertmaster of the Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra under the baton of Benjamin Zander.

NYO-USA

As a part of being selected for the 2019 Carnegie Hall’s National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America,  Michael spent a two and a half week residency at Purchase College, in New York, studying with the top musicians in orchestral music, such as James Ross, Justin Bruns, and Alex Kerr. The orchestra was led by conductor Sir Antonio Pappano and featured soloists Isabel Leonard, Magdelena Kozena, and Joyce Didonato. At the end of the residency, Michael and the NYO-USA performed twice in the US before departing for their European tour at Carnegie Hall and Seigi Ozawa Hall at the Tanglewood Music Center. Then, they performed in some of the greatest halls in the world throughout Europe, including Royal Albert Hall, the Royal Concertgebouw, Usher Hall, the Konzerthaus Berlin, and at festivals such as the BBC Proms and Edinburgh International Music Festival. 

“Playing with the finest young musicians in our country has given me the greatest gift known to man: a taste of what is possible.”

-        Michael Fisher

World Tour

Most recently, Michael sat as concertmaster of the Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Benjamin Zander on the group’s tour to South Africa. Amidst the other works programmed for the concerts, Strauss’s Ein Heldenleben (A Hero’s Life) consumed the majority of Michael’s focus. The massive tone poem features one of, if not the longest and most challenging concertmaster solo in all of classical music, very rarely performed even by the best orchestras in the world. Totaling nearly 18 minutes of solo violin in the 50 minute long work, Strauss uses the solo violin to represent the Hero’s wife. Within the development of this character, Strauss seeks to highlight the vast range and sporadic nature of Pauline’s emotions. It is these vast contrasts coupled with the extreme technical demand that gives these soli their reputation.

Performing Ein Heldenleben three times throughout South Africa, including the University of Pretoria, the Hugo Lambrechts Hall in Cape Town, and at the National Arts Festival in Makhanda, Michael also sat as associate concertmaster for performances of Beethoven’s 5th Symphony and Mahler’s 2nd Symphony (“The Resurrection Symphony”).

Read Jonathan Blumhofer’s (professional music critic with Boston Classical review) reviews on Michael’s performances and the tour here. Hear Michael’s solos from the final performance at the National Arts Festival in Makhanda here.

Personal Life

Michael roots the majority of his life around two main values: discipline and love. Michael’s favorite way to spend his free time is with his closest friends and his family. Nothing is more important to him than the people he loves. With the rest of his life, Michael’s search is to become the best version of himself in every facet. With this level of determine and passion, Michael strives to live a productive, healthy lifestyle, strengthen his character and be a good human, and pushes himself to discover his fullest potential. The majority of Michael’s time outside of violin is spent training for marathons, lifting weights, content creating on social media, and growing his businesses attaining his real estate license and creating performance/gig opportunities for himself.

My Resume