Artistic Director

Artistic Director David J. Fitzpatrick is known for his innovative programing, creative and strategic thinking, and a collaborative leadership style that’s allowed him to grow flourishing programs with singers and instrumentalists from a variety of backgrounds. These skills, combined with his diverse and extensive experience in conducting and arts administration have laid a firm foundation in his career.

In addition to serving as Artistic Director of the Wheatland Chorale, David is the Artistic Director and Conductor of The Montgomery County Chorale and Orchestra (MCCO) in Fort Washington, PA. In this role, David serves as the principal conductor of the chorale and orchestra. Since his appointment, MCCO has seen substantial growth, including a 70% increase in donations and 30% increase in concert attendance. In addition, the organization has welcomed over 75 new members in just four years.

Prior to his appointment with MCCO, David was Director of Music and the Arts at Doylestown Presbyterian Church (DPC). In this capacity, he conducted the Chancel Choir, the DPC orchestra, two hand bell choirs, and a middle school children’s choir. He also founded and conducted the 80-voice Bucks County Ecumenical Choir (which grew from 25 to 80 singers in four years). As the administrator of the program. At DPC, he created several new initiatives to the music program, including three new ensembles, additional annual concerts, and a children’s summer camp. During his tenure, David increased participation in the music program from 90 to 200 members, and he increased sponsorship for the Celebrate the Arts program by 70%.

From 2016-2019 David served as the Assistant Conductor of the Bucks County Choral Society, a 100-voice auditioned community choir. In addition, He served as the Assistant Director of Music at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, in Philadelphia, PA, and Director of vocal studies at St. Benedict’s Preparatory School in Newark, NJ.

A strong advocate for commissioning and premiering new music from a diverse group of composers, David has commissioned works by Rollo Dilworth, Dan Forrest, Nancy Gifford, Andrea Ramsey, and Tom Shelton. As Artistic Director of MCCO, he created the Michael Kemp Fund for new music to honor the founder and only other conductor of the organization. Through this fund, MCCO will commission composers, focusing on women, and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color), and other under-represented composers, to write pieces for choir and orchestra every two years.

David is an honors graduate of both Westminster Choir College and The University of Arizona. He studied conducting with Dr. Bruce Chamberlain, Dr. Joseph Flummerfelt, Dr. James Jordan, Sun Min Lee, Dr. Andrew Megill and Dr. Elizabeth Schauer. He also holds a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Drexel University.