Fisher, Dennis W.

Dennis Fisher is the Conductor of the Symphonic Band, Associate Director of Wind Studies at the University of North Texas, and Professor of Music in Conducting and Ensembles. A Kansas native, he has been a member of the faculty since 1982.

Fisher has a wide variety of experience and expertise as a conductor, arranger, clinician, and consultant. He has conducted extensively and lectured in 32 states along with international appearances in Thailand, Japan, China, Great Britain, Europe, Scandinavia, Canada, Greece, Brazil, Cuba, and Russia. Fisher was appointed principal guest conductor of the Volga Band, Professional Wind Band in Saratov, Russia, and has served in that capacity continuously since 2006.

Fisher has recorded extensively on the Mark, Klavier, GIA, and Eurosound labels with the University of North Texas Symphonic Band and Wind Symphony. He is co-author of Teaching Music Through Performance in Beginning Band, Volume 2 (GIA Publications) and has been a contributing author of teaching guides for the seriesFisher recently collaborated with composer David Gillingham to co-author Beyond the Chorale, a comprehensive warm-up series for band (C. Alan Publications). Additonally, he serves as recording and editing producer of the Teaching Music through Performance in Band series compact disc recordings, and producer of Volumes 1, 2 and 3 of the Master Conductor DVD series, published and distributed by GIA. Fisher and the CD recordings of the UNT Symphonic Band have received entry inclusions for Grammy Awards over ten times. In addition, he has been entered into nomination for classical recording producing more than six times.

Fisher holds professional memberships in the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, the College Band Directors National Association, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. He has been honored by being elected to membership in the prestigious American Bandmasters Association and with invited membership in Phi Beta Mu National Band Fraternity. He is a voting member of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (the Grammys) and is Past-President of the Southwest Division of the College Band Directors National Association.

In 2008, Fisher was awarded the Gagarin Medal of Honor from the Society of Cosmonauts of the Russian Federal Space Agency. He is the recipient of the Outstanding International Contributor Award from Phi Beta Mu, International Band Fraternity. He has also been awarded the Meritorious Achievement Award from the Texas Bandmasters Association for contributions to the field of music education and to bands. He was recently inducted into the Frank A. Beach Hall of Distinction at his alma mater, Emporia State University.