February 11, 2026
Indigo Fischer. Photo by Cristina Cutts
Indigo Fischer, a 2021 graduate of the Butler School of Music’s Master of Music program in flute performance, has been named Vice President of Artistic Planning at the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara, California.
Fischer’s path to arts leadership was anything but conventional. A lifelong musician, she attended Interlochen Arts Academy for high school before earning her undergraduate degree in flute performance at the University of Colorado Boulder. While there, she began to question the sustainability of a traditional orchestral career.
“I was getting into summer festivals, but not that top one percent,” Fischer said. “As a flute player, there are very few spots and a lot of players.”
That realization prompted her to explore alternatives that would allow her to remain deeply engaged with music. An artist liaison position at the National Repertory Orchestra in Breckenridge that proved formative, offering her a first look at the administrative and artistic planning work that supports performance from behind the scenes.
“I realized that I could still help make music happen, and have fun, without spending endless hours in the practice room,” she said.
Fischer brought that evolving perspective to the Butler School of Music, where she enrolled in her master’s program to study with Marianne Gedigian and arrived in Austin just as the COVID-19 pandemic upended campus life. While the circumstances were challenging, the period became pivotal. With classes entirely on Zoom, Fischer was able to devote increased attention to her career exploration and the broader ecosystem of musical organizations as she took on the role of the flute studio Teaching Assistant and organized outdoor concerts throughout Austin with her woodwind quintet.
It was during a Butler course taught by William Fedkenheuer, violinist of the Miró Quartet and himself a Music Academy alum, that she met Scott Reed, then President and CEO of the Music Academy of the West. At Butler, she also distinguished herself academically and artistically, ultimately earning an Outstanding Master's Thesis award for her digital master's recital.
Indigo Fischer in front of the Pacific Ocean, the Music Academy of the West is located just steps from the beach.
Although the pandemic limited her ability to fully experience Austin, Fischer still formed strong connections to the city and the Butler community. She recalls discovering local favorites like Taco Joint and P. Terry’s and attending KMFA’s new studio, experiences that helped anchor her time there.
While studying at Butler, Fischer auditioned for the Music Academy of the West as a flutist, competing against hundreds of musicians for just four positions. She remembers the audition clearly, despite ultimately not being accepted. Unbeknownst to her at the time, that same audition proctor would later become a close colleague.
After graduating from the Butler School of Music, Fischer joined the Music Academy of the West as a seasonal staff member. From there, she steadily advanced through a range of roles, gaining hands-on experience in artistic planning and organizational leadership. That progression culminated in her recent appointment as Vice President of Artistic Planning.
In her new role, Fischer aims to broaden community partnerships, expand access to classical music, and design programming that speaks to both longtime audiences and newcomers. She is particularly interested in expanding the age group the Music Academy serves with their new high school program and creating performances that lower barriers to entry for those unfamiliar with the genre.
From graduate study at Butler to executive leadership at one of the nation’s premier music institutions, Fischer’s journey highlights how musical training can lead to influential roles far beyond the stage.