Fisher returns to SFA graduate school

Wanda Nichols Photo PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT -- Weston Fisher demonstrates to BHS junior and band drum major Marla Pollard how to effectively blow into the mouth piece of the French horn as she prepares for the Area contest held Saturday.

French horn musician Weston Fisher said he gained his appreciation for music as a child while attending Chandler Elementary. He even won the elementary level UIL Music Memory competition.

This month, after receiving his Bachelor's degree in music education and music performance (a double concentration) from the Stephen F. Austin University, in Nacogdoches, on December 16, Fisher is returning to SFA graduate school to work on his Master's degree and student teach there.

"They offered me a graduate teaching assistantship, and will pay me a salary to teach whatever the professors need me to do," Fisher said.

After graduating from Brownsboro High in 2001, Fisher spent four years in SFA's school of music. During his final year in the Bachelor program he attended SFA's school of education taking general courses of education philosophy.

"It's a very rigorous process, " he said. "Many people find out it's not for them. SFA's education program is one of the top three rated education schools in the state."

A requirement of the SFA's Bachelor music education program is to student teach for a semester.

His obvious choice for fulfilling that requirement was his alma mater, Brownsboro High, and when band rehearsals began last August, Fisher was on board.

"It was a pretty easy choice," he said. "My family is here and the Brownsboro High School band is the best in the region and the state, many people want to emulate. Brownsboro has an outstanding program. It's the most resilient bunch of people I've met, with a combination of outstanding students and outstanding faculty."

Fisher eagerly assisted in all aspects with the high school band from marching to directing as well as other tasks. Even after fulfilling his student teaching requirement Fisher remained at BHS throughout the winter break to help several students prepare for Saturday's Area contest.

"He's done phenomenally. I wish I could keep him around," said Jeffrey Russell, BHS band director. "He's going to be a really good band director. With him it's natural. "

Fisher joined the school band in the sixth grade to play the French horn and earned the distinguished Outstanding Musician award seventh grade through his junior year.

During his high school days, Fisher qualified for All Region Band all four years, and made All State Band his freshman, junior and senior years. He was chosen as an alternative to the All State Band during his sophomore year.

As a junior he placed First Chair in the Symphonic Band in the Association of Texas Small School Bands.

"While it's a great achievement to be named to the All State Band, it's even a greater achievement to be selected as the number one French horn player in the Association of Texas Small School Bands," said Weston's parents Marlin and Jackie Martin, of Chandler, after the competition held Feb. 19, 2000 in San Antonio.

Fisher was elected to serve as band president in both eleventh and twelfth grade, and was voted Band Beau by his classmates his senior year. He also received the John Philip Sousa award his senior year, and graduated eighth in his class.

On Sunday, Fisher bid farewell to family and friends and moved back to Nacogdoches to prepare for a concert Tuesday evening in the Perot Theater in Texarkana where he and his professor Charles Gaven will perform with an orchestra.

Along with his return to class, he will resume his duties as assistant music minister at the First Baptist Church in Nacogdoches.

Fisher said he hopes to complete his graduate school work in a year and a half.

After graduation?

"I'm going to keep my eyes and ears open and see what happens," he said. "Whatever I see that appeals to me that I can do some good at."