Lexington music composer invites all to live recording performace at School of the Arts
Music has been a part of Mike Fisher's life since he was a 4-year-old growing up on the family's 120-acre Indiana farm and taking piano lessons from his aunt.
More: Deal to purchase Speedy's Barbecue for Winston Road widening project going too slow for owner
Now a Davidson County resident, the composter and former music educator has just completed a new Quartet for Piano and Strings titled, "The Missing Link." He will perform on piano and record it at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 3, at Watson Hall on the University of North Carolina School of the Arts campus in Winston-Salem. He is inviting anyone interested in hearing the music and viewing the live recording to attend.
The music hall is located on the campus at 1533 S. Main St. in Winston-Salem.
"If people want, they can come to see what is involved in a recording," he said. "It's a beautiful auditorium with a beautiful sound, so that is why I wanted t to invite people to attend."
To keep up with what is happening in Davidson County, please support local journalism by subscribing.
It took just more than a month for Fisher to complete the piece of music. This is a difficult season of life for Fisher as he cares for his wife of 58 years, Linda, who has Parkinson's Disease.
Now, his days are spent caring for the woman and musician he met at Manchester College at a square dance during freshmen orientation. Watching her decline is emotionally overwhelming at times and he said that feeling of loss and longing is heard throughout his latest composition.
"I have kept on writing music after retirement," he said. "It's a hobby and keeps my mind active."
Fisher taught vocal and general music in the Indiana public school system for more than 32 years. While teaching, he began arranging music for his school choirs. In addition, he composed 20 choral anthems and an Easter cantata for the Edwards Memorial United Methodist Church Choir in Liberty, Indiana. His wife also worked with him on these music arrangements.
They moved to Lexington to be near their daughter, Debbie Fisher Davis. They are members of Lexington's First United Methodist Church, where he sings in the chancel choir and has written with Linda an additional 21 anthems. The church recently produced a music CD, mostly of Fisher's music, called "Sounds from Fourth & Main."
Fisher worked with his mentor, Robert Chumbley, of the Community Music School at UNC School of the Arts, while writing "The Missing Link." The composition has three movements and lasts for 12 minutes.
He will perform the music on a Hamburg Steinway grand piano with the string quartet at least twice at Watson Hall as two recordings are needed. Admission is free.
More: Thomasville resident opens Bueno Burrito to bring 'good,' fresh southwestern food to Chair City
What's Happening: Buyers pay millions in separate purchases of apartment complex, rehab facility
- Jill Doss-Raines is The Dispatch trending topics and personality profiles senior reporter and is always looking for tips about businesses and entertainment events, secret and new menu items, and interesting people in Davidson County. Contact me at jill.doss-raines@the-dispatch.com and subscribe to us at the-dispatch.com.
This article originally appeared on The Dispatch: Pain of wife's illness comes through latest work by Lexington composer
