Michele Fernandez is an active instrumental music educator, guest clinician, adjudicator, and published instrumental music composer.
She has served in Florida’s public school system since 1989, where her Miami Senior High Symphonic/Jazz/Marching ensembles consistently earned top honors and gained international acclaim. Her groups have been selected for appearances at the Midwest Clinic (Chicago ’93 & ’98), IAJE (Boston ’94 & NYC ’97), Montreux Jazz Festival (Switzerland ’96), FMEA (Tampa ’94 & ’97), and have been featured in several national publications.
In 1998, Michele was the subject of a documentary spot on “CBS Sunday Morning”, was featured as the cover story in Band Director’s Guide and featured as an outstanding music educator in Downbeat Magazine.
Michele’s compositions have been premiered at Midwest, IAJE and All-State venues. Most recently she has published original works for jazz ensemble through Hal Leonard and also serves as a staff composer for the “Jazz Zone” book/music library series (authored by J. Richard Dunscomb at PrintMusicSource.com and JW Pepper).
She has served as commission composer for the 2021 Florida Allstate HS Jazz Ensemble, guest conductor/clinician for the 2020 Tennessee Mid-State HS Jazz Ensemble Conductor, 2019 Florida All-State Conductor MS Jazz Band, and frequently serves as a guest conductor for Regional Honor Symphonic and Jazz groups. She has appeared as a Midwest Clinic lecturer on rehearsal techniques (’07 & ’16), as well as a frequent FMEA Conference lecturer, clinician for Clark College Annual Festival (WA), and holds a yearly clinician/conductor position for FSU summer camps. Michele is a HAPCO Foundation staff clinician and in the past has also served as guest clinician/conductor for the Univ of Florida Band Camps and University of Northern CO Jazz Festival Adjudicator/Clinician. Michele is also an active oboist and percussionist in the Miami area and spent several years as a pianist in a busy Latin ensemble.