Ken Fischer

Ken Fischer is a French horn player, lifelong musician, and President Emeritus of the University Musical Society (UMS) at the University of Michigan, where he spent 30 years bringing world-class artists to Ann Arbor and creating meaningful connections between performers and audiences. His philosophy of "Everybody In, Nobody Out" — now the title of his book — drove UMS to become the first university presenter to receive the National Medal of Arts in 2014. Ken pioneered artist residency programs that allowed U-M students to work alongside organizations like the New York Philharmonic and Jazz at Lincoln Center, believing that art experiences should bring communities together.

Since retiring from UMS, he's been teaching Arts Leadership at the U-M School of Music, Theatre & Dance, passing along decades of wisdom about building authentic partnerships and creating uncommon experiences. Ken and his wife Penny, an accomplished flutist, remain deeply committed to the arts in Ann Arbor. Any evening, you might find them at a concert hall or walking through the Arboretum, finding inspiration in the natural beauty that makes Ann Arbor special.