Dan Fitzgerald

Dan Fitzgerald was born and raised in Troy, New York. He began guitar lesson at age 10 and studied for six years with the same teacher. In the early 60s, he began playing in bands and continued with many groups through college. After completing his degree, his first career was as a mathematics instructor, although he continued playing the guitar on weekends in upstate New York.

Dan and his wife taught in different schools for one year before deciding to pursue graduate studies at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma in 1972. Dan completed his studies in 1977 and joined the faculty for two years. He and his family then moved to Wichita, Kansas where he taught mathematics for 22 years at Newman University.

In 1983, Dan met the Wichita Banjo Band and in his own words, �...fell in love with the 4-string banjo.� He has since learned to play the five-string banjo and mandolin.

In the spring of 2001, he retired from university teaching and now devotes his full time to music. He gives lessons on four-string banjo, five-string banjo, guitar and mandolin and also plays in five different groups ranging from folk to Dixieland.