Introducing our Guest conductor for Latin Passion, Mike Fitzpatrick.

SCSO is thrilled to introduce our audience to our second guest conductor for 2025 – Mike Fitzpatrick.

Mike is a Sunshine Coast local with a national and international music career, and he brings a wealth of experience to share with us in preparing SCSO to perform our upcoming Latin Passions concert.

As a professional trombone player Mike has been a member of the West Australian Symphony Orchestra and The Australian Army Band, and as a freelance musician has played with bands supporting world class acts such as Peter Allen, Olivia Newton-John, and James Morrison.  Prior to retiring Mike was appointed as the Officer Commanding and Music Director of The Australian Army Band, and he continues to work as an educator with the Army Reserve and the Defence Force School of Music.

Mike has attained a Masters of Music degree from the University of Melbourne, and undertaken formal training in conducting under Professor John Hopkins and Dr Barry Bignell.  His conducting talents were recognised with the Defence Force School of Music’s Commanding Officer’s award for Best Conductor. In addition, Mike’s Orchestral and Band compositions have received many awards, including the prestigious Harvey Phillips award for Composition Excellence in the US.

Mike lives in the Sunshine Coast hinterland with his wife Lynda, and enjoys trail running, ultramarathons, and (occasionally) risking life and limb on a mountain bike!

Come and meet Mike at the Latin Passion concert at the Event Centre, Sunday 2pm on June 22nd, it’s going to be a cracker of a concert!