معرفی
Patrick Fitzgibbon serves as a Lecturer at Oakland University's School of Music, Theatre and Dance, where he teaches world music, aural skills, and Steel Band. Based near Detroit in Ferndale, Michigan, he maintains an active career as a performer, composer, and educator across diverse musical traditions.
His educational background includes:
- Michigan State University: Music scholarship recipient; studied under Alison Shaw, Jon Weber, and David Hall; member of Spartan Marching Band snare line; earned Budress Foundation Award and MSU Outstanding Senior Academic Achievement Award
- California Institute of the Arts: Advanced studies with Randy Gloss and David Johnson
- Oakland University: Master of Music in world percussion under Mark Stone
- International training: Tabla in India with Rahul Pophali, gyil in Ghana with Bernard Woma, steel pan in Trinidad with Andy Narell
Fitzgibbon's artistic practice spans world percussion, composition, and cross-genre performance. He specializes in steel pan, tabla, and gyil while engaging with orchestral, jazz, Latin, and world music contexts. His compositional work blends global traditions with contemporary elements, featured on albums "The Travelers" and "Just Ahead" which have been licensed by Ford, Bosch Automotive, and Investigation Discovery Studios. As a founding member of Rela Percussion, he commissions new works and performs nationally at venues including Duke University and Central Michigan University.
His professional recognition includes:
- First prizes in snare and marimba solo competitions at 2001 MCGC finals
- Budress Foundation Award
- MSU Outstanding Senior Academic Achievement Award
Fitzgibbon performs extensively with regional orchestras (Flint, Saginaw, Jackson, Warren, Rochester), Nuevo Jazz Detroit, Nighthawks Jazz Orchestra, and his professional steel band. His community engagement includes directing the Oakland University Steel Band and creating educational content through multiple album releases with Tapspace and C. Alan Publications.
