Dr. Richard Fischer, Professor of Music and the Fred and Jane Wittlinger Endowed Chair for Music Performance, conducts the Wind Symphony and University Band, and teaches basic and advanced-level conducting courses.


 

He holds the Bachelor of Music Education and Master of Music degrees from De Paul University and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Michigan State University.The Wind Symphony has performed in almost every state, Canada, Europe, China and South Africa. The ensemble was invited as a Showcase Ensemble for the New York City Wind Band Festival at Carnegie Hall in 2014 and 2019 and has recorded 16 compact discs. Dr. Fischer is in demand as a presenter, clinician, adjudicator and guest conductor in the United States, Canada, Australia, South Africa and Japan.

Degrees

  • DMA, Conducting - Michigan State University; East Lansing, MI
  • M.M., Music Education - DePaul University; Chicago, IL
  • BME, Education-  DePaul University; Chicago, IL 
  • Illinois, Type 10, K-12 Music Specialist Certificate 

Academic and Professional Highlights

Performances with Concordia-Chicago Wind Groups

  • Performed in 43 U.S. states and 3 Canadian provinces
  • Overseas tour to Germany, The Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia, 2001
  • Overseas tour to China, 2005, 2009, 2013
  • Overseas tour to South Africa, 2017
  • Orchestra Hall/Symphony Center - Chicago, IL, Fall 1995
  • Carnegie Hall - New York City, NY
    • Performance, March 2014
    • Showcase Ensemble for the New York City Wind Band Festival, March 2019
  • College Band Directors National Association National Conference, Northwestern University - Evanston, IL, 1987
  • Illinois State Music Convention, February 2003
  • The Meyerson - Dallas, TX, 2017
  • Conducted pit orchestra for musical productions for 20+ years

Highlighted Guest Conducting Performances

  • The Symphony of Oak Park & River Forest (assistant conductor), 1977-1994
  • Music Director for Ballet Le Gere's Production of the Nutcracker, 1989-2011
  • District Honor Band in Virginia, 1996
  • University of Wisconsin Summer Music Camps, 1996-2010
  • International Summer Music Camp in North Dakota (1996)
  • University of Minnesota - Morris, MN, 1996
    • HS Honor Band & University Wind Ensemble
  • University of Nebraska Honor Band, Omaha, NE, 1998
  • Alaska Honor Band, Four times during 1999-2015

Produced Compact Discs

  • "Festive Adorations" (released 9/1/93)          
  • "Sinfonia Voci" (released 8/1/95)
  • "Holsinger II" (released 9/1/95)
  • "Watchman, Tell Us of the Night" (1997)
  • “Rejouissance” (1999)
  • “What Child is This?” (2000)
  • "Expressions of Faith” (2001)
  • “Be Thou My Vision” (2003)
  • “Who Puts His Trust in God Most Just” (2005)
  • “Light of My Soul” (2007)
  • “If Thou Be Near” (2009)
  • “With Heart and Voice” (2011)
  • “Let the Amen Sound” (2013)
  • “Banners of Concord” (2015)

Awards and Honors

  • Named to the "A Team" of University Professors by the Chicago Tribune, 1994
  • Named Fred and Jane Wittlinger Endowed Chair in Music Performance at Concordia-Chicago, 2013 Spiritus Christi Award, 2024.
  • World Association for Symphonic Band and Ensembles as the Director of Communications (1993-95) and Planning Committee for the 1995 conference in Hamamatsu, Japan
  • British Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles
  • National Band Association
  • Illinois Music Educators Association

Professional Memberships

  • College Band Directors National Association
  • World Association for Symphonic Band and Ensembles 
    • Director of Communications (1993-95)
    • Planning committee for 1995 conference in Hamamatsu, Japan
  • National Band Association 
  • National Association for Music Education 
  • Illinois Music Educators Association 

Publications:

  • Performed in 43 states and 3 provinces of Canada

  • Overseas tour to Germany, The Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia, 2001 and South Africa in 2017

  • Overseas tour to China, 2005, 2009, 2013

  • Performed at Orchestra Hall in Chicago, Ill., Fall 1995

  • Performed at Carnegie Hall, New York City, New York, March 2014 and March 2019 as the Showcase Ensemble for the New York City Wind Band Festival

  • Performed at the 1987 national conference of College Band Directors National Association held at Northwestern University

  • Selected to perform at the Illinois State Music Convention, February 2003

  • Conducted Pit Orchestra for musical productions 20 years

  • Performed at The Meyerson in Dallas, Texas in 2017

Presentations:

  • Produced Compact Discs:

  • The Symphony of Oak Park & River Forest (assistant conductor), 1977-1994

  • Music Director for Ballet Le Gere's Production of the Nutcracker, 1989-2011

  • District Honor Band in Virginia, 1996

  • University of Wisconsin Summer Music Camps, 1996-2010

  • International Summer Music Camp in North Dakota (1996)

  • University of Minnesota - Morris, Minn., 1996 (HS Honor Band & University Wind Ensemble)

  • University of Nebraska Honor Band, Omaha, Neb., 1998

  • Alaska Honor Band, Four times during 1999-2015