Professor Stephen Fitzpatrick

Stephen Fitzpatrick is Principal Harpist of the Staatskapelle Berlin, a position he has held since 2000.

He joined the orchestra following an audition in the presence of Daniel Barenboim, who was its General Music Director for much of Fitzpatrick’s tenure, and has performed extensively at the Staatsoper Unter den Linden and on international tours throughout Europe, Asia and the United States under many of the world’s leading conductors. His orchestral career has also included positions with the Gothenburg Opera and the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, as well as guest appearances with the Berlin Philharmonic, Rotterdam Philharmonic and NDR Symphony Orchestras.

Before joining the Staatskapelle Berlin, Fitzpatrick was particularly active as a soloist and chamber musician, performing throughout southern France and Spain. His concerto repertoire has included Lutosławski’s Double Concerto, performed in the presence of the composer, Henze’s Double Concerto, as well as works by Debussy, Mozart and other major works of the harp repertoire. He has also appeared as soloist with the Staatskapelle Berlin in Debussy’s Danse sacrée et danse profane.

Alongside performing, he has developed an extensive international teaching career. He is Professor of Harp at the Universität Mozarteum Salzburg and Head of Harp at the Royal Academy of Music. Previous appointments include Tutor in Orchestral Studies at the Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler Berlin, Visiting Professor of Harp at the Royal College of Music, as well as teaching at the Barenboim-Said Academy in Seville. Fitzpatrick gives masterclasses internationally and is regularly invited to serve on competition and audition juries. He serves on the Board of Directors of the World Harp Congress.