JOSEPH M. KIRSCHNER

After serving as band and orchestra director in the school systems of Bledsoe County, Tennessee, and Atlanta, Georgia, Mr. Kirschner was appointed to the music administration staff of the Fulton County Schools in Georgia, where he remained until his retirement as Coordinator of Music Education.  During this time he also served tenures as violinist with the Chattanooga and Atlanta Symphony Orchestras.  For a ten year period, Mr. Kirschner was a Conductor and Director of the Atlanta Community Symphony Orchestra.  He has toured extensively as a violinist with both popular and classical music performing organizations.  He has served as an adjunct music education instructor for Georgia State University.

Mr. Kirschner believes that teachers must be able to do what they teach; and so to this day, he has continued to work professionally in all areas of music performance and school music administration.  He is a past president of the Georgia Music Educators Association and the Georgia (Zeta) Chapter of Phi Beta Mu, and national honorary bandmasters’ fraternity.  He also served as a member of the national board of directors of the American String Teachers Association.  He has served as a conductor of all-state bands and orchestras and as director and adjudicator at regional festivals, contests, and auditions throughout the southeastern and central United States.  He is especially proud to have served as a district band/orchestra director/festival adjudicator in every district of the state of Georgia.  He has served as a workshop presenter for the College Board and has conducted many specialized workshops and clinic events in brass and string instrument pedagogy and instrumental music education for students and teachers for school systems, universities, and professional music education associations, including the Festival Adjudication Workshop of the Georgia Music Educators Association.  Mr. Kirschner most recently chaired the organizing and development committee for the Georgia Music Educators Association College Scholarship Program.

Mr. Kirschner is the recipient of many awards and distinctions, including the Distinguished Alumnus, the School of Music of the University of Georgia Award, the Distinguished Career Award of the Georgia Music Educators Association, and certificates of appreciation and outstanding service, presented by the Georgia Chapter and the National Board of Directors of the American String Teachers Association.