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PATRICK O'BRIEN Obituary

O'BRIEN--Patrick. The Juilliard School mourns the loss of Patrick O'Brien, lute and theorbo professor in the Historical Performance Program since 2012. Pat was one of the most important and influential teachers of historical plucked instruments in America, and was revered as a generous and thoughtful mentor to an entire generation of performers working today. He will be sorely missed. Our condolences go out to his wife, Mary Lou, and his daughter, Elanor. Joseph W. Polisi, President Ara Guzelimian, Provost and Dean Robert Mealy, Director, Juilliard Historical Performance Benjamin Sosland, Administrative Director, Juilliard Historical Performance

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Published by New York Times on Jul. 18, 2014.

Memories and Condolences
for PATRICK O'BRIEN

18 Entries

Bob McCarthy

July 12, 2025

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/nytimes/name/patrick-o-brien-obituary?id=22992425&condolenceId=179183970&utm_source=copiedlink&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=obitshare

Nancy Grilikhes

July 12, 2023

Every time I sit down to practice, I hear, for just a moment, Pat's voice, reminding and coaching;
he is still teaching.

Nancy Grilikhes

Bob McCarthy

July 12, 2022

We were kids together in North Merrick LI. Pat played bass in our bluegrass band in high school. I was with him when he bought his first Lute. RIP Pat. In the photo: The Back Alley Boys ~ Bob McCarthy, Ray Harvey, Patrick O'Brien, and Dennis Ferrigno, 1964,
N. Merrick, NY

Claire Pentecost

April 28, 2021

Around 1985 -86, Pat took me on as a beginning guitar student. How incredibly generous and kind he was to do that when he was in such demand from professional musicians. The archive of blues and country musicians in his mind was fantastical! I treasure the memory of the afternoons we spent together as well as the dinners with Mary Lou and sometimes Eleanor and my late ex-husband David Smith who was studying lute with him. I'm so sad to learn just now that he transitioned out of this life at such a young age.

Nancy Grilikhes

August 15, 2014

The most remarkable combination of regular ol' guy and Zeus (or better, perhaps, Apollo), Pat was my lute teacher for many years. His exquisite sensibility, wit, and encyclopedic knowledge are never to be forgotten. What a loss.

Rex Benincasa

August 8, 2014

Besides being a consummate musician, scholar, mentor to thousands, and a fantastic player; Pat was the guy I always liked running into on the sidewalk. He is missed.

Mark Rimple

August 7, 2014

Pat was a master teacher - the kind who you visit with a query and leave with a brand new insight into how you play the instrument. In my very few lessons I gained more technique than several years would yield elsewhere. He personally transformed modern lute playing.

Christina Pluhar

August 7, 2014

I met Pat O'Brian for the first time in 1985 in a workshop in Utrecht (Holland) and later in Basel. He has helped me find my technique both on the renaissance-lute as well as on the baroque harp. His intelligent, inspiring idea about healthy, relaxed technique on plucked instruments has made me to the musician I am today. I will never forget his mots inspiring teaching and his kindness and will remain most grateful. Thank you for all you, Pat and R.I.P. Christina Pluhar

Sarah Pillow

August 7, 2014

Patrick was one of the first 'early music' people I met in New York City in 1991. A wonderful man and musician who will be sorely missed.

Ellen Hargis

August 6, 2014

Pat was beloved by so many. He was one of the kindest, smartest, funniest, most generous people I have ever known. There's a big hole in my heart that I will try to fill by sharing memories and condolences with my colleagues. Pat will not be soon forgotten.

Timothy Burris

August 6, 2014

As he did for so many other plucked-string players, Pat was instrumental in helping me recover from a serious hand injury. It happened 30 years ago, but I can still remember not just the physiological information he imparted, but the humor, patience, and generosity he brought to every session. You were one of a kind, Pat, and we all miss you.

Benjamin Bagby

August 6, 2014

Pat's big, generous soul will never be forgotten.
Ben Bagby / Sequentia

Jeffrey Haddow

August 2, 2014

I knew him long ago in high school, and he was an original even then. Warmest regards to his family.

L-R: Bob McCarthy, Ray Harvey, Pat O'Brien and Denis Ferrigno (The Back Alley Boys)

Bob McCarthy

August 2, 2014

I knew Pat O'Brien since high school in Merrick LI NY. We played in a bluegrass band together. He played stand-up bass and I played guitar. We were just kids. I remember when he bought his first lute from Bellmore Music around the same time. He will be deeply missed. The photo I am attaching was taken when we were all in high school.

August 2, 2014

Mary Lou;

You do not know me; I was pert of Pat's life prior to college. My name is Dennis Ferrigno; Pat and I were childhood friends. Our mothers were very close.

Pat and I played in a bluegrass band called the "Back Alley Boys" he played bass; I played fiddle and mandolin; Ray Harvey (deceased) played banjo and Bob McCarthy played guitar.

All of the three (Pat, Ray and Bob) went into professional music and performance, I became an engineer and have been a frustrated musician all my life.

I remember when Pat first took up the Lute; he worked and worked and had a natural talent; I am so proud that he became part of the faculty of Julliard; what an accomplishment.

My mind is flashing back as I write this note to all the times we had together- what a blast. I will leave you with one picture. We used to perform and I owned a Volkswagen Beatle as a car. We would put the bass; the fiddle, mandolin, guitar and banjo as well as the four of us and travel into the city to do a gig from the island.

Deepest condolences; but if I know Pat, you have 50 years of fun memories and special times to recall and celebrate.

D Ferrigno
[email protected]

Caroline Usher

July 21, 2014

Pat was a central figure in the lute world and gave many years of service to the Lute Society of America. He was the finest teacher I have ever known in any subject. So many of us owe him a debt of gratitude.

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