Michael Fitzpatrick (cellist)

Fitzpatrick was born on December 5, 1964 in Columbus, Ohio to a family of Jewish-Polish, Jewish-Russian, Catalan, and Irish musicians and artists. His maternal grandmother, Rose Bein Lerman, was solo pianist with The Louisville Orchestra at age 14, and later was vocal coach to Metropolitan Opera star and cantor Jan Peerce. Fitzpatrick's Jewish-Polish relative, world-renowned violin virtuoso Bronislaw Huberman, was the Founder of the Israel Philharmonic, which gave its world-premiere concert in 1936 under the baton of Arturo Toscanini. His father, of Catalan and Irish descent, was an artist and professor of art. His sister, Josephine, is Co-Principal Violist of The Barcelona Symphony Orchestra. His sister Tamara Fitzpatrick was photographer at The White House (Special Assignment). His cousin, the late Robert Bein, was a Founder of Bein & Fushi, the pre-eminent rare violin dealer in the world. His cousin Joe Bein carries on the family tradition at Bein & Company in Chicago. [2][3]

Fitzpatrick formal musical studies were at The Cleveland Institute of Music, Northwestern University School of Music, Yale University School of Music, and New York University. He holds the Bachelor's Degree and Certificate in Performance from Northwestern University, and the Master of Arts from New York University. His principal cello studies were with the renowned pedagogue and soloist Scott Ballantyne, Personal Teaching Assistant to Leonard Rose at The Juilliard School. He studied as well with Robert Gardner, Yehuda Hanani, Rodney Farrar, Alan Harris, Susannah Onwood, Frank Church, Ronald Leonard, Hans Jorgen Jensen, and in Master Classes with Leonard Rose, Mstislav Rostropovich, and Albert Catell, Principal Cellist of The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra.[4][5][6]

Fitzpatrick has performed in concerts across Europe, the former Soviet Union, the Middle East, India, Australia, and numerous tours across the United States and Canada. He has performed as cello soloist at the Hollywood Bowl, Lincoln Center, Town Hall, and the Aspen Music Festival.[4][7]

Fitzpatrick was Music Director and served on the Board of Advisors of the Aspen Institute’s Global Forum on Cultural Diplomacy during its tenure. He is the recipient of The Aspen Fellowship, the Aspen Music Festival's highest honor. He is the Founder of Millenia Music, which brings healing music to people in need worldwide. [10]

Fitzpatrick serves as a music advisor to the Dalai Lama Foundation and as music director of Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Awards.

Fitzpatrick lives in Los Angeles, California.