Jay Fishman has conducted more than 1850 performances over his 50-year conducting career and has arranged and composed approximately 350 works. As Artistic Director of the Minnesota Sinfonia he creates and directs all Sinfonia programming and conducts all rehearsals and concerts. A graduate of both the University of Minnesota where he studied composition and orchestration with Paul Fetler and Dominique Argento, and the famed Indiana University School of Music where he received a Master of Music in conducting, he also studied privately with Sir Neville Marriner in London, England.

Fishman founded the Sinfonia to ensure access to live orchestral music, regardless of ability to pay or familiarity with the art form. He created the “Music in the Schools” arts learning program specifically to serve students attending inner city public schools. Under his direction the Sinfonia has received many prestigious grants and support from The National Endowment for the Arts, the Minnesota State Arts Board and regional foundations such as the Target, McKnight, 3M, Ecolab, McNeely and many others.

guest conducting, teaching conducting and music composition, consulting to create educational programs