Michael Fitzpatrick (cellist)
Michael Fitzpatrick is an American Cellist and Composer. Fitzpatrick is the recipient of The Prince Charles Award for Musical Excellence conferred by the Prince of Wales. Based in Los Angeles, he is the founder, chairman and artistic director of Millenia Music and its Earth's Call production. Fitzpatrick has musically collaborated for the past nineteen years with the 14th Dalai Lama as part of Tuning The Planet, an East-West musical recording inside the largest cave in the world, Mammoth Cave National Park. The Dalai Lama stated: “The emotion induced by Michael Fitzpatrick’s music is so  powerful, it seems almost verbalized.” Early years. Fitzpatrick was born on December 5, 1964 in Columbus, Ohio to a family of Catalonian, Irish, Ukrainian, French, and Polish descent. His maternal grandmother, Rose, was a concert pianist. Another relative, Bronislaw Huberman, was founder of the Israel Philharmonic, and his father was an artist and professor of art. His sister, Josephine, is co-principal violinist of the Barcelona Symphony. Fitzpatrick studied at Cleveland Institute of Music from 1982 to 1984. He then studied at Northwestern University where he got his Bachelor of Music. Fitzpatrick then went on to Yale University, and received  his Master of Arts from New York University. His principal cellistic study was under Scott Ballantyne. Career. 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. Film Scores. Fitzpatrick performed as cello soloist on the film score for Journey from Zanskar by Frederick Marx, the director of Hoop Dreams. Fitzpatrick's cello solos are also featured in the films “One” and Earthlings (film) narrated by  Joaquin Phoenix, in composer Laura Karpman's soundtrack to PBS Craft in America, and in Christopher Guest’s HBO series Family Tree (TV series), scored by CJ Vanston. Tuning The Planet. Fitzpatrick has worked musically with the 14th Dalai Lama on Compassion: Tuning the Planet, which was created “with the intent to induce a feeling of peace in everyone who listens.” Earth’s Call. Earth's Call Foundation is a non-profit co-founded by Fitzpatrick that brings together musicians from different cultures accompanied by The Earth Symphony Orchestra of Maestro Steven Mercurio. Social Activism. Fitzpatrick serves on the Board  of Advisors of the Aspen Institute’s Global Forum on Cultural Diplomacy. Fitzpatrick serves as a Music Advisor to The Dalai Lama Foundation and as Music Director of Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Awards. Personal. Fitzpatrick lives in Los Angeles, California.