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