Kathy Meadows Fishburn

Kathy Fishburn passed away on January 19, 2020.  Services is scheduled at Llano East Cemetery on January 24, 2020 at 3:00 P.M. A memorial service will be held at Trinity United Methodist Church on January 24, 2020 at 4:00 P.M.

Kathy was born to Fred and Evelyn Meadows in Memphis, TX on June 18, 1947.  She is a proud 1965 graduate of Amarillo High School.   As a student there, she was committed to the Sandie Band and Orchestra.  She knew she wanted to major in music.  She completed degrees in Proficiency Certificate for Double Bass at the Sherwood Conservatory in Chicago and West Texas State University.

She taught Orchestra in Texas for 47 years and had recently retired from Tascosa High School as the Director of Orchestra.  Prior to Tascosa, she was at Permian High School in Odessa, TX from 1979 to 1999.   Her orchestras were consistently Sweepstakes winners and were named “Best in Class” at many festivals throughout the United States.  Her students have performed all across the United States.   Her orchestra performed for the Inauguration of the President of Chihuahua in Mexico and had the honor of performing in Normandy France at the 50th Anniversary of “D” Day, as well as for the anniversary of the attack at Pearl Harbor.  Her students also played for President Bill Clinton inauguration in 1997.  She was named the “Orchestra Director of the Year” in 1999 and was the recipient of the “Award of Excellence” by the University Interscholastic League in 2015.   Many of her former students are Orchestra Directors throughout Texas.   Kathy is the former Executive Director of the Greater Southwest Music Festival.  This allowed her to continue working with middle school and high school students and their directors.

Ms. Fishburn is a Past President of the Texas Orchestra Directors Association, the Texas Music Educators Association and is a past President of the Texas Music Adjudicators Association.  As a member of TMAA, she has judged Orchestra contests throughout Texas and its’ surrounding states.  She is a past President of the Texas Unit of the American String Teachers Association.  She was the founder and first President of Mu Omicron, honorary fraternity for orchestra directors and supporters of orchestral music.

Ms. Fishburn has served as a conductor for many TMEA All-Region Orchestras on the junior high and high school levels, as well as All-State Orchestras.  She has published arrangements and compositions for string orchestra and is a member of the American Society of Composers and Arrangers.

Kathy is survived by her mother Evelyn Hill, son, Chris Greenley and wife Sarah of Yukon, OK with their daughters Sophie and Daphne.  Chris is also a musician.   Sister Rhonda and husband Doug Buie of Plainview, TX.  Niece Carissa Hamilton and family of Saginaw, TX and longtime friend Billy Prescott.