As reported on NorthCentrolPA.com,  Williamsport Area High School freshman violinist Michael Fisher became a division finalist Sunday during the Pennsylvania Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) Eastern Division Junior String Competition.  Fisher, who won the Junior String Division, will travel to West Viriginia University in Jaunary to compete as a finalist in the MTNA Eastern Division Junior String Competition.  Sunday’s event was held at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

The son of Don and Kristin Fisher, the 14-year-old has been studying violin for 10 years and is a student of Penn State University’s Professor James Lyon.

Fisher has wanted to be a professional violinist since a very young age. Beginning at just 4 years old, he began playing in the Suzuki studio of Mrs. Pat Thayer. Today, he participates in the Williamsport String Quartet; Williamsport Symphony Youth Orchestra; and is a member of the orchestra, choir and Millionaire Strolling Strings at WAHS. He also is on the WAHS cross country and track teams. 

The MTNA Eastern Division Junior String Competition will take place during the MTNA Eastern Conference on Jan. 6. The winner of that competition will compete in the national finals during the MTNA National Conference in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., in March.

MTNA is a nonprofit organization comprised of 20,000 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 United States.