The Williamsport Music Club has chosen violinist Michael Fisher, son of Kristin and Don Fisher as winner of the $1500 Budd Memorial Scholarship. A panel of three judges who listened to the auditions were Dr. Christopher Para, Dr. David Lassiter and Dr. Kenneth Sarch.

Michael is a senior at Williamsport High School and has played violin since he was four years old. His first lessons were Suzuki with Pat Thayer as his teacher and in 2014 he began his study with James P. Lyon of Penn State University. He is deciding his future between the Juilliard School or New England Conservatory of Music, where he would get a bachelor’s degree in music in performance.

Michael has been the recipient of several prizes and awards. Several times he was chosen as Young Artist winner for the Williamsport Symphony Orchestra and once as Young Artist winner for the Senior division of Bloomsburg Symphony and this past year for the West Shore Symphony Orchestra. He was awarded a place in the National Youth Orchestra of the United States and position as Concert Master in the Central Pennsylvania Music Association for the Central Pennsylvania Region and for the State.

In school Michael has participated in Sympohnietta, Choir, and Strolling Strings. In addition he has run track and field and cross country and played intramural basketball.

He has perfomed the Partita No 2 in D minor ( BWV 1004) “Chaconne” by Johann Sebastian Bach at the recent Music Club’s Gala Concert. Presenting the award to Fisher at that time were Mitzi Burget and Doris Teufel, co-chairs of the Scholarship Committee.

The Budd Memorial Scholarship is funded by contributions from members of Music Club, former winners and music lovers. The award is given to a high school senior who plans to continue education with music as a major. The award has been given annually since 1997 when Matthew Radspinner was the recipient. Following years the Scholarship was given to Christopher Kozen, Kristin Rightnour, Carol Shellenberger, Jessica R. Lewis, Jason Michael Hurwitz, Sarah Hamm, Kayla Carpenter, Sarah E. Ambrose, Andrew Giordano, Noah Wolfinger, Brian Mextorf, Drake Bailey, Nathan MacAvoy, Amanda Harding, Jennifer Judd, Sarah Long, Jesse Thompson, Theoron Hershey, Lora Boll, Ellen Boll, Juliet Jacques Emilie Tupper and David Hutchinson.

The Williamsport Music Club is a member of the National Federation of Music Club and Pennsylvania Federation Music Clubs.