AFA Administrative Staff
Michael Remson, Executive & Artistic Director
Michael Remson is a composer, author and educator and is proud to have been a part of AFA since its inaugural season and as Executive Director since 2004. Prior to his appointment to AFA, Dr. Remson served as Assistant Director of the Carnegie Mellon University Pre-College Program and as CFO/ Senior Consultant with Downey Associates International in New York. In addition to his service to AFA, Dr. Remson is active as a composer and librettist. He has received numerous grants, commissions and fellowships and his music has been performed throughout the United States and in Europe. Dr. Remson serves as an Affiliate Artist at the Moores School of Music and is on the faculty of the Houston Ballet Academy. He is active in Houston’s arts community through board service, committee and community involvement, and advocacy work.
Amanda Fisher, General Manager
Amanda Kepke Fisher has been with AFA since 1993 and has helped AFA become a powerful force in arts education in the region. A native Houstonian, Mrs. Fisher studied vocal performance at the University of Texas at Austin and received a BA in English from the University of Houston. Prior to joining AFA, Mrs. Fisher was the Assistant Director of C. G. Rein Gallery, a national art gallery representing over 250 visual artists from around the world. She has coordinated all of AFA’s annual special events, grossing more than $1,500,000 for AFA. Mrs. Fisher has also chaired or coordinated events for Lawndale Arts Center, the Salvation Army Harbor Light Center and Houston Achievement Place. She is an active volunteer in Houston and has served on the Board of Directors of the Lawndale Art Center, Young Audiences of Houston, and on the PTO Board of Briargrove Elementary School. Mrs. Fisher lives in Houston with her husband David, Director of Foundations for The Episcopal Diocese of Texas and their daughters Elizabeth and Vivian.
Amanda Heathco, Associate Director
Amanda Heathco is an alumnus of the Moores School of Music at the University of Houston, where she graduated in 2005 with a Bachelor of Music in Oboe Performance. Mrs. Heathco studied oboe at University of Houston, AFA, and Domaine Forget in Quebec, Canada with Anne Leek, Keve Wilson, Elaine Douvas, and Linda Strommen. She attended school in Pearland, Texas and teaches private oboe lessons there. Prior to her appointment as Associate Director with AFA, Mrs. Heathco was an AFA student from 1998-2001 and worked as an Alumni Intern from 2002- 2005, making 2012-13 her sixteenth consecutive year with AFA. Mrs. Heathco lives in Houston with her husband George, a composer, and their daughter Ella.
AFA Faculty Artists
Download a list, with biographies of AFA’s current faculty artists
