Williamsport Area High School senior Michael Fisher will virtually compete as a division finalist in the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) Eastern Division Senior String Performance.

Fisher secured his spot after his recent win in the Pennsylvania State Senior String Competition.

“Being the Pennsylvania representative in this competition is a true honor,” Fisher said. “I have worked so hard for so long — it’s just so nice to see it pay off. I am simply thankful for the opportunity to be a part of the real musical world.”

Division-level winners will advance to compete virtually in the National Finals.

Finalists from that round will be announced in mid-January.

The son of Don and Kristin Fisher, the high school senior has studied violin for 14 years.

At WAHS, he’s a member of the orchestra, choir, Williamsport String Quartet and Strolling Strings. He sat as concertmaster for the 2018 Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) District 8, Central Region and All-State orchestras. He also was selected to participate in the 2019 National Association for Music Education (NAfME) All-National Honors Orchestra.

In addition to the music education he receives at WAHS, he also trains under Professor James Lyon of Penn State University.

In the community, he’s performed with the Williamsport Symphony Orchestra and at St. Boniface Catholic Church.

Over the years, the young musician has secured a number of awards and recognitions. Most notably, he was selected to perform in Carnegie Hall’s 2019 National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America, which, among other experiences, included a European performance tour in Berlin, Edinburgh, Amsterdam, London and Hamburg.

“I would never have come as far as I have without [WAHS orchestra teacher] Matthew Radspinner,” Fisher said. “This man has provided me with the opportunities of a lifetime, and shaped me into a more humble, mature person than I ever could have hoped for. What he does for the Williamsport Area School District has truly made him indispensable, and he will always be one of my dearest friends.”

Fisher plans to attend a music conservatory to further his study of the violin after graduation.

MTNA is a nonprofit organization comprised of 17,000 independent and collegiate music teachers committed to advancing the value of music study and music making to society and to supporting the professionalism of music teachers. Founded in 1876, MTNA is the oldest professional music association in the U.S. For more information, visit http://www.mtna.org.