About Us: Meet the Musicians

Violist Christopher Fischer began his musical training at the age of three on the violin. Mr. Fischer began experimenting with the viola in high school and immediately fell in love with the instrument, switching at the age of sixteen. He went on to earn his Bachelor of Music degree at the University of Missouri, studying with Leslie Perna, followed by a Master of Music degree from Indiana University under the tutelage of Atar Arad.

Shortly after graduating from Indiana University, Mr. Fischer won the position of principal violist and resident string quartet member with the Midland-Odessa Symphony in West Texas. As a member of the Midland- Odessa Symphony’s resident string quartet, Mr. Fischer played quartet recitals on college campuses and in public schools across West Texas. In addition to teaching a private studio, he also joined the faculty of the University of Texas at the Permian Basin as adjunct professor of viola. After a year in Texas, Mr. Fischer joined the New World Symphony in Miami Beach, Florida, conducted by Michael Tilson Thomas.

As both a principal and section player in the orchestra he frequently performed chamber music as a part of the New World Symphony’s chamber series, including a concert with the Borromeo Quartet. Mr. Fischer has participated in several chamber and orchestral music festivals, including Aspen, Aria, and Bowdoin, where he studied with Heidi Castleman, Daniel Avshalomov, Helen Callus, Ralph Fielding, and Graham Oppenheimer. He also performed with professional summer orchestras including Spoleto Festival USA, the Missouri Chamber Orchestra, and the Southern Illinois Music Festival. Playing with the International Sejong Soloists, a chamber orchestra based in New York City, he performed nationally televised concerts at the Great Mountains Music Festival in South Korea. Mr. Fischer has worked with many of the world’s leading conductors, including David Robertson, Seiji Ozawa, Franz Welser Möst, Robert Spano, James DePriest, Gerhardt Zimmerman, and David Zinman.

In addition to playing full time as the assistant principal violist with the North Carolina Symphony, Mr. Fischer teaches privately and is on faculty at Saint Mary’s School in Raleigh.

How did you choose your instrument?
It was my parents’ idea for me to start on violin when I was three years old. I switched to viola when I was 16 because I loved the way it sounded, especially the C-string.

What are three of your favorite movies?
The Big Lebowski, the Maltese Falcon and Duck Soup.

What’s your favorite spot for a post-concert drink or bite to eat?
Poole’s Diner.

What do you think is the greatest misconception about classical music?
That it’s boring, unfamiliar and inaccessible. People listen to classical music a lot more than they know in movies and on TV. Contrary to what many people think, Top 40 music has more potential to be boring than classical music because of its conservative harmonies, forms and instrumentation. People can enjoy classical works for a lifetime , but may grow tired of a Top 40 song after a few hearings.

What is in your mp3 player right now?
Beny Moré, Exitos De Siempre.

What is your fantasy career?
Playing music. I’m livin’ the dream.

Other than performances with the North Carolina Symphony, where can we catch you performing around town?
I’ve performed as soloist with the Brussels Chamber Orchestra in Cary and also in chamber music concerts at Peace College.

What is your favorite North Carolina Symphony moment?
At the 2009 zombie-themed Halloween concert, I had the pleasure of dragging my living-dead colleague, Peng Li, on stage by the arm while he lay on his back with his cello on his stomach. As we neared our center-stage destination, I slapped him into a lessened zombified stupor so that he could drag his undead self the rest of the way to the cello section.

What is your favorite stress reliever?
Riding my bike, hiking in the woods, skiing, camping, canoeing, fishing, or pretty much anything outdoors.

What is always in your kitchen?
Hot sauce.

Do you have any performance superstitions or rituals?
I always like to arrive at Meymandi Concert Hall with my trusty thermos in hand, brimming with green tea. It’s always comforting to know that my thermos will be there for me in a pinch. Whether providing warm, soothing refreshment or doubling as a weapon, my thermos will always be number one.

Who is your personal Yoda?
Yoda is my personal Yoda. I’m lucky enough to hire him to be my personal Yoda with the interest from a trust fund that my great uncle established for that purpose when I was born.

Do you collect anything? If so, tell us about it.
I collect thermoses, but I only have one so far.