Luke Fitzpatrick, NRO 2012 alumnus, was recently appointed the new Principal Flute of the Fort Wayne Philharmonic. During the summer months, he also performs with the Des Moines Metro Opera orchestra.
Des Moines Metro Opera is a major American Summer Opera Festival founded in 1973 and is the state’s largest performing arts organization, annually producing over 100 performances in the metro area and around the region. Every summer, DMMO performs 3 operas in 15-16 MainStage performances. DMMO has received praise from Opera News Magazine, Opera Today, and the Colorado Music Buzz Magazine! As principal flutist of the DMMO, Luke performs on all of the MainStage operas, as well as other functions put on by the company as needed.
During the academic year, Mr. Fitzpatrick plays principal flute with the Fort Wayne Philharmonic Orchestra. The Fort Wayne Philharmonic is a cultural staple of Fort Wayne, Indiana, and presents an eclectic variety of concerts each season. Since 1980, the orchestra has won 5 awards for its adventurous programming form ASCAP (American Society of composers, authors, and publishers). The orchestra performs classical jewels on the “Masterworks” series, and in addition has a pops series, and a Freimann chamber music series. The Philharmonic is also highly invested in music education, and orchestra members are frequently performing and lecturing in area schools.
When asked about his NRO experience, Luke shared, “NRO was an crucial part of my musical development, and I carry the experiences I had in Breckenridge with me to this day. The sheer amount of diversity in programming at the NRO helped to shape me into a versatile musician with experience in multiple styles of playing. I was especially influenced by the talented musicians I had the privilege of being in the flute section with that summer. A favorite memory of my summer in Breckenridge would certainly have to be July 4th, when all four flutes played “Stars and Stripes Forever” at the front of the stage with tiny American flags sticking out of the end of our piccolos.”