A native of Michigan, Mr. Clifford began his violin studies at age six.  Many of his formative years were spent studying at the University of Michigan School of Music with Robert Culver.   His summer studies include Interlochen International Music Camp, Meadowmount School, and Encore School for Strings.   He received his Bachelor of Music degree in violin performance from the Cleveland Institute of Music, and his Master of Music degree in violin performance from the University of Miami.  His teachers include Daniel Majeske, Stephen Majeske, David Cerone, David Updegraff and Glenn Basham .  Patrick was principal second violin in the National Chamber Players, and has performed with the North Carolina Symphony, the Knoxville Symphony, the Florida Grand Opera Orchestra, Miami City Ballet Orchestra and the Naples Philharmonic.  He has performed as a soloist throughout South and Central America and continues to perform solo and chamber music recitals here in south Florida.  He is currently professor of violin and viola at Palm Beach Atlantic University, where his position includes being first violinist in Quartetto Stringendo, the Quartet-in-Residence at the University, the director of the Preparatory Department, and the concertmaster of the Palm Beach Atlantic Symphony.  As a pedagogue, Mr. Clifford has been teaching privately for twenty years and teaching full time at the university level since 2000.  In 2000 he founded the Stringendo School For Strings, a school of music that seeks to develop exceptional string players from ages 3 through 18.  Mr. Clifford is the author of the Stringendo School For Strings Method, a method which emphasizes knowing all aspects of string playing for the purpose of mastering the chosen instrument.  His students are frequent competition winners and many hold leadership positions in their respective orchestras.  Mr. Clifford is a frequent clinician at conferences, judge for competitions, and is often invited to give master-classes and string sectionals throughout the state of Florida.  Mr. Clifford was previously the secretary for the Florida chapter of the American string Teachers Association.  In 2003 he initiated and instituted the American String Teachers Association Certificate Program in the state of Florida.  As a born again believer in the salvation of Jesus as God’s Messiah, it is Mr. Clifford’s strong belief that God has called each of us in a specific way, to carry out his Great Commission as His light in this world.  He considers it a great privilege and joy to be able do this through the gift of music.