Patricia Masri-Fletcher joined the DSO as Principal Harp in 1988. A graduate of the Juilliard School, she studied with Susanne McDonald (Artistic Director of the World Harp Congress). Prior to her DSO appointment, Masri-Fletcher was Principal Harp with the National Grand Opera in New York, as well as with the Monterey and Santa Cruz County symphony orchestras in California. She has also performed with the New York City Opera and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.
Masri-Fletcher has appeared with over thirty ensembles. Her performances include the Spoleto “Festival of Two Worlds,” the American Institute of Musical Studies Orchestra (Austria), the San Jose Ballet Orchestra, and the Carmel Bach Festival Orchestra. She is also active as a solo recitalist.
Masri-Fletcher has received a number of awards and honors, including first place in the Ruth Lorraine Close Fellowship for Harp, and was a soloist on the Young Artists Roster of the American Harp Society (AHS). At AHS conferences, she has served as lecturer and guest performer, including participation in the world premiere of Fusion for Four, by Dr. Sarah Voynow in 1986. During the 1993-94 season, Masri-Fletcher appeared as soloist with the DSO performing Mozart’s Concerto for Flute and Harp with Principal Flute Ervin Monroe. Masri-Fletcher and Monroe have released a compact disc entitled "After A Dream...," which features works for flute and harp arranged by the two artists. During the 1996-97 season, Masri-Fletcher appeared as soloist with the DSO performing Ravel’s Introduction and Allegro for harp, with string quartet, flute and clarinet, Neeme Järvi conducting.
In July of 2006, Patricia performed at the American Harp Society’s Conference in San Francisco. She premiered her own arrangement of “Spanish Dance #5” from La Vida Breve, for two harps and castanets.
Masri-Fletcher is the Professor of Harp at Madonna University, teaches privately in the Detroit area, and has given harp master classes at Interlochen Center for the Arts, Michigan State University, and at the University of Michigan’s School of Music. In her free time, she enjoys canoeing, mountain biking, bird watching and growing tulips.