4BR Downunder Profile Interview - Mark Fitzpatrick

With all the attention the poor old soprano cornet has been receiving lately, it is appropriate to profile one of our rising stars.

Mark Fitzpatrick

At the age of 25, Mark Fitzpatrick from Hawthorn Band has made a name for himself as Australia's leading soprano cornet player. Last month 4BRDU caught up with Mark at the Melbourne International Festival of Brass where he added yet another award to his list by winning the Barry Tuckwell Brass Prize.

Mark began playing in the Hyde Street Youth Band in 1991 at age 10 on cornet. He began studying trumpet at the Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School in 1995 and was appointed Principal Trumpet of the Percy Granger Youth Orchestra the next year.

Mark joined the Hawthorn Brass Band in 1997 and in 1999 he won the National Junior Cornet Championship, the National "A" Grade title with the band and was appointed Principal Cornet of Hawthorn later that year. Also in year, he was accepted in to the Victorian College of the Arts to study with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra's principal trumpet, Geoff Payne.

In 2000, Mark was appointed Principal Trumpet of the Melbourne Youth Orchestra, a position he held for two years. Upon switching to Soprano Cornet with Hawthorn in 2001, he won the Victorian State Soprano Cornet Championship in 2002 and 2003, the National Soprano Cornet Championship in 2003 and 2004, the 2004 National "A" title for the second time, the New Zealand Open Soprano Championship in 2004, the Victorian Open Champion of Champions title in 2003 and the 2004 Australian National Open Champion of Champions title. Mark also competed at the prestigious "Ern Keller International Soloist of the Year Competition" in 2004 and 2005.
 
Mark has performed as a soloist with various bands, orchestras and ensembles around Victoria on trumpet, Bb cornet and soprano cornet and has performed as a casual trumpet player with professional orchestras including the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra Victoria and the West Australian Symphony Orchestra. In 2004, Mark was a guest artist with the Australian National Academy of Music and was a soloist with the VCA Symphony Orchestra.
 
Last month Mark performed with the Australian Chamber Brass Ensemble in the Showcase Concert of the Melbourne International Festival of Brass and was presented with his prize of a piccolo trumpet as the winner of the second annual "Barry Tuckwell Brass Prize".

Interview:

What was the process you had to go through to win the Barry Tuckwell Prize?

"To enter the contest I had to submit a recording of the Haydn Trumpet Concerto, First Movement, and an own choice piece. I chose the Hindemith Sonata. The first round of the MIFB was on Monday (during the festival week) and the five competitors played two pieces each. I played the First Movement of the Hindemith Sonata and the Fasch Trumpet Concerto in D Major. Two finalists where then selected by the panel to play on the Friday.

The panel members were Barry Tuckwell, Rex Richardson, Oystein Baadsvik, Allen Vizzutti (for the final only) and Tristram Williams (MSO Associate Principal trumpet - for the first round only).

In the final I played the Haydn Trumpet Concerto and Rustiques by Eugene Bozza. Shane Hooten, who was the other finalist, played the Tomasi Trumpet Concerto. When we were told the results, I got to go and pick my trumpet!!"
 
Who have been your teachers?

"Jason Mears then Steven Spain, Rob Sims, Geoff Payne, Tristram Williams and Rob Smithies."
 
Do you come from a musical family?

"Not really. We always had music on the radio though. Mum loved classical music. My older brother and sister played guitar at school and my little sister started playing brass when I did but stopped about five years ago. After I started playing though, I found out that my grandfather used to play cornet in the Sunshine Brass Band before he had a family!"
 
Who have been your great influences?

"All my teachers, Tom Paulin, Dave Barker, good music and playing in general. If it's good, I like it and it influences me."
 
What are your future aspirations?

"I am heading towards becoming an orchestral musician at the moment but I have always wanted to travel to the UK and play with some of the bands there. Working with an orchestra is a big goal at the moment. I still would like to do a bit more solo work and travel too."
 
What do you do other than play trumpet/cornet?

"I love my sport, fishing and Formula One racing. I also enjoy surfing the net, reading when I have the time and lots of listening to music. When I don't have much on I work in a newsagency which helps pay the bills."
 
What advise do you have for other young aspiring players?

"Have lots of fun but work hard too. Listen, listen, listen........."
 
Would you like to than anyone?

"My partner Laura, my teachers, my band and the people who turn up to listen to live music."  

We will be eagerly watching your progress – well done Mark!