Robert Fleitz

Co-artistic director

Pianist and composer Robert Fleitz performs, commissions, and writes music to curate evocative, surprising, and often multi-disciplinary experiences for audiences. To this end, he has personally commissioned 120 solo, chamber and performance art pieces, and has given the world premiere to hundreds more, notably including composers Tan Dun, Paola Prestini, and Liisa Hirsch. Robert is the winner of the 2021 Pro Musicis International Award; as well as the André Boucourechliev Prize in the 2020 International Piano Competition of Orléans. Active in performing both classical and new music, his career includes appearances in 24 US states and 13 countries across North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. Praised for “mesmerizing” and “commanding” playing (The New York Times), and for musicality with “a delightful ease and lightness” (I Care If You Listen) and “groovy tendencies”. Areas of performative focus include a particular interest in the contemporary music of the Baltic nations, American modernism, piano as theatrical tool, and unusual perspectives on Classical and Romantic repertoire.

As composer, Robert’s oeurve has been recently performed or commissioned by a diverse array of artists, including the Metropolis Ensemble (NYC), Jumblies Theatre Company (Toronto), Orkest de Ereprijs (Netherlands), the Druskomanija Festival (Lithuania), Festival Osmose (Belgium), and Hilary Easton Dance Company (NYC). He is the founder of the Swan City Piano Festival in Lakeland, Florida, his hometown. He completed BM and MM degrees at The Juilliard School and is based in Helsinki, Finland.

Patrick Fleitz

Co-artistic Director

Patrick Fleitz holds a Master’s Degree in Piano Performance from USF as well as undergraduate degrees in both music (FSC, '91) and theatre (St. Leo, '88). He has taught at FSC for over 25 years. He recently was hired as Head of Piano Studies at the Harrison School for the Arts. He is former Director of Music at St. Joseph’s Church in downtown Lakeland, where he was the founder and artistic director of “Midday Meditations”--Lakeland’s only midday classical concert series. He also has been teaching piano and voice privately for over 27 years. He has served as Musical Director for numerous Lakeland Community Theatre productions over the past 20+ years. Some of his LCT theatre credits include West Side Story, Godspell, Into the Woods, Fiddler on the Roof (’94), The King and I, Ain’t Misbehavin’, Grease, Anything Goes, Legally Blonde, Hello Dolly!, Oklahoma, Chicago, Grease, Young Frankenstein, The Addams Family, Rock of Ages, Sweeney Todd, Mary Poppins, Bridges of Madison County, Assassins, The Who's Tommy, Matilda and currently, Mamma Mia. Also, he has served as musical director for Theatre Winter Haven’s productions of Jesus Christ Superstar, Sondheim On Sondheim and Jacques Brel. He also created a tribute to Johnny Cash, which performed several sell-out shows at The Polk Theatre. Patrick is married to the very talented Teresa, and they have four children: Robert, who is a professional musician and holds his Master’s in piano from Juilliard, Claire, a recent graduate in theatre from FSU, and Carl and Dennis, who both study at UCF.

Teresa Fleitz

administrative director

Teresa Fleitz is a graduate of Florida Southern College and worked in the cost accounting department of Publix Supermarkets (1991-1993) and Ewell Industries(1993-1995).  She has also taught Math and Music at St. Joseph Academy, where she enjoyed directing many Broadway, jr. shows.  Some of her most memorable theatrical roles have been: Gift of the Magi (Della), The Sound of Music (Maria), A Grand Night for Singing, and most recently Assassins.

Advisory Board

Andrew Brown
Lesley Chambers
Dretha Fennell
Ingrid MacDonald
Tammy Serebrin
Robin Sussingham