River Hill high School

12101 Route 108

Clarksville, MD 21029

MR. M. JOSEPH FISCHER

INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC DIRECTOR (BAND)

Mr. M. Joseph Fischer has been Director of Bands at River Hill High School since 2003, where he conducts two concert bands, the jazz ensemble, marching band and percussion ensemble.  Under his direction, River Hill’s band program has garnered many accolades including superior ratings at festivals and recognition as a finalist in the Grammy Signature Schools program. Mr. Fischer was honored as an Outstanding Music Teacher by the Maryland Music Educators Association in 2007 and was named the 2006 Howard County Music Educator of the Year.  In addition to his duties as band director, Mr. Fischer was instrumental in creating River Hill’s state-of-the-art, music technology lab. 

Mr. Fischer knew from an early age that he wanted to be a music teacher.  To that end, he pursued an eclectic mix of performing and educational opportunities so that he could become a well-rounded music educator.  Mr. Fischer earned his bachelor’s degree in music education from the University of Maryland, College Park, where he majored in trumpet.  He studied jazz with Chris Vadala, trumpet with Emerson Head and Timothy White, and percussion with Michael Gatti. Mr. Fischer is currently finishing a Master of Music Education degree at Towson University, with an emphasis in conducting.

Mr. Fischer sang in the all-male a Capella group, “The Generics,” marched and taught drum and bugle corps, and conducted numerous musicals.  One of Mr. Fischer’s favorite experiences was marching in the Drum Corps International World Championships with the world champion Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps.  He also loves theater and has enjoyed performing and conducting musicals, including Little Shop of Horrors, Pippin, Cinderella, My Fair Lady, Guys and Dolls, Oklahoma!, and West Side Story (his all-time favorite). 

In addition to his duties at River Hill, Mr. Fischer has served as an adjunct faculty member at McDaniel College and remains active in the Music Educators National Conference (MENC), the Maryland Music Educators Association (MMEA), the Maryland Band Directors Association (MBDA), the International Association of Jazz Educators (IAJE), Percussive Arts Society (PAS), and the International Trumpet Guild (ITG).  Through his involvement with MMEA and MBDA, Mr. Fischer has served as the coordinator for both the Maryland Jazz Festival and the All-State Jazz Ensemble.