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Thomas D. Fitzpatrick papers

 Collection
Identifier: MSD-0000-067

Collection Statement

The collection includes programs from many of the vocal performances of Thomas Fitzpatick. Also included are photographs and copies of his obituary.

Dates

  • 1947 - 2009

Creator

Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

Usage Restrictions

Copyright interests for this collection are held by DePauw University or the United Methodist Church.

Biographical Sketch

Thomas D. Fitzpatrick was born May 1, 1926 in Reynolds, Illinois. He earned an A.B. in music education from St. Ambrose College, a B.S. in music performance from the Juilliard School of Music, an Artist Diploma from the Teatro Lirico Sperimentale in Rome, and an M.Mus. from Indiana University. The tenor received performance scholarships from all of the institutions and made his operatic debut with the Rome Opera Company as lead tenor in Madama Butterfly while studying in Italy as a Fulbright Scholar.

After completion of his grant, Fitzpatrick remained in Europe for another 18 months.

Before joining the DePauw University School of Music faculty in 1963, Fitzpatrick taught at the Cosmopolitan School of Music, Chicago (1956-61); University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (1961-62); and Indiana University (1962-63).

Over the course ofhis career, Fitzpatrick also performed in concerts in London, Berlin, Freiburg, Vienna and London and with such orchestras as the Chicago Symphony. He also engaged in operatic work with theatre companies in Chicago, Denver, Dallas and at Indiana University, and he appeared on radio and television programs such as NBC's Artists Showcase and the Arthur Godfrey Show.

"Fitzpatrick has a tenor voice of beautiful quality and he sang the varied program with fine musicianship and sensitive interpretation," noted a review in Oklahoma's Tulsa Daily World. Another reviewer wrote in Opera News, "Thomas Fitzpatrick revealed a supple tenor of smooth range and warm timbre and acted the cocky hero with aplomb." The Indianapolis Times simply declared, "Thomas Fitzpatrick, a most excellent tenor."

Thomas Fitzpatrick was a member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing, the National Opera Association and Pi Kappa Lambda, serving as president of Omicron chapter.

At DePauw, Fitzpatrick taught voice and diction classes in four languages and served as director of admissions counseling for the School of Music as well as resident director of DePauw's Freiburg study abroad program. He retired in 1991. Fitzpatrick died September 9, 2009 at his Greencastle home. Professor Fitzpatrick, who taught at DePauw for 28 years, was 83 years old.

The professor's legacy continues through the Fitzpatrick Opera Award. Income from an endowed fund provides an award which is presented annually to the graduating senior vocalist who has been deemed to have contributed the most to opera/musical theatre productions presented while at DePauw.

Extent

0.215 Cubic Feet (1 document case)

Language of Materials

English

Source

Status
Completed
Author
Jenney Taylor
Date
07/21/2011
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
Description is in English.

Repository Details

Part of the Archives of DePauw University and Indiana United Methodism Repository

Contact:
Roy O. West Library
405 S. Indiana St.
Greencastle Indiana 46135 United States