Ben Fitzpatrick Quartett

In the organizer's words:

Ben Fitzpatrick (May 9, 1998) is a saxophonist, composer, and educator who has already created a name for himself in the international Jazz scene. Ben was born in Dublin and moved to the United States at age 9. At age 15, Ben had the opportunity to play baritone saxophone in the Jazz at Lincoln Youth Orchestra. Mentored by the great saxophonists Joe Temperley and Ted Nash, Ben was a great success, being a featured soloist on two occasions at Carnegie Hall. The New York Times referred to Ben by name, praising his performance. Ben went on to play at the 2016 Grammy’s with the Grammy Awards Big Band and occasionally subbed for Ted Nash in the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis. 

Ben was performing professionally in the USA before he decided to move to Amsterdam to pursue a BA in Jazz Performance from the Conservatorium van Amsterdam, which he completed in 2020. He believes that he learned the most on the stage with some of the greatest musicians in the world. He is proud to have worked with and learned from such artists as Jimmy Heath, Jimmy Greene, and Wynton Marsalis, who inspired him to be the best musician he could be. Ben at age 24 is now the first chair tenor saxophonist, and the youngest musician to hold a permanent position in the WDR Big Band.