The San Francisco Conservatory of Music has announced the appointment of ROBERT FITZPATRICK as provost and dean. As dean he will serve on an interim basis pending the selection of a successor to MARY ELLEN POOLE, who has stepped down from that post after ten years. Fitzpatrick is a musician and educator who has nearly 30 years of experience in post-secondary education. From 1986 to 2009 he was dean and chief academic officer of the Curtis Institute of Music. Earlier positions include special projects coordinator at Philadelphia’s Settlement Music School; dean of students and executive assistant to the director at Curtis; and chair of the Fine Arts Department at St. Joseph’s Prep in Philadelphia. Fitzpatrick was music director of New Jersey’s Garden State Philharmonic from 1976 to 1982, and has conducted the Orchestra Society of Philadelphia, where he also served as principal clarinet. As a clarinetist he was a founding member of the Philly Pops and performed frequently with the Concerto Soloists of Philadelphia (now known as the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia). Fitzpatrick holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in clarinet from Temple University.
Posted January 21, 2014
Robert Fitzpatrick photo by David DeBalko
