Dennis W. Fisher

Dennis Fisher is formerly 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 was 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, G.I.A. 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, and has been a contributing author of teaching guides for the series. Fisher recently collaborated with composer David Gillingham to co-author Beyond the Chorale, a comprehensive warm-up series for band, published by 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 G.I.A. Publications. 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. In December 2017 he will receive the Outstanding International Contributor Award from Phi Beta Mu, International Band Fraternity. He has also been honored by being awarded the Meritorious Achievement Award from the Texas Bandmasters Association, for contributions to the field of music education and to bands. Other honors include twice being named “Top Prof” by the Mortarboard Society at U.N.T., a recipient of the University of North Texas Community Award, and named to Who’s Who in America.