Biography

    Dr. Patricia Kent has performed in the Midwest and on the East coast in repertoire from medieval mystery plays with alumnae of the New York Pro Musica, to vocal soloist concert work such as the Verdi Requiem with the Wooster (OH) Symphony, Beethoven's Ninth Symphony and Mahler's Second Symphony with the Duluth Superior Symphony and the Bach Christmas Oratorio with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra under Christopher Hogwood. She has also performed as soprano soloist with the SPCO under Joel Revzen, Hugh Wolff and John Harbison and the Minnesota Orchestra under Joseph Silverstein.  Ms. Kent has sung with many regional organizations, including the Lyra Concert, the Minnesota Center Chorale, the Rochester Symphony, the Macalester Festival Chorale, the Bach Society, the Oratorio Society of Minnesota and Ex Machina. In 1999, Ms. Kent made her European debut in the London performance of Mendelssohn's Elijah under conductor Benjamin Pope.

   Dr. Kent is an alumnus of the College of St. Benedict and received an MA from Queens College, where she studied with Sheila Schonbrun. She holds a DMA from the University of Minnesota, where she studied with Lawrence Weller and sang in master classes with Dalton Baldwin and Pierre Vallet. At the University, she won the coveted Schussler Prize for Vocal Performance in 2000. She has also studied with Martin Lies in New York and Elizabeth Mannion in St. Paul.

   She is equally expressive in more intimate forms, such as vocal chamber music, performing regularly with the CSB-SJU chamber music ensemble Pastiche, and art song.  Patricia is a featured artist on several recordings, including the Minnesota AIDS Quilt Songbook and a recording of the songs of Henry Bryan Hays, OSB with CSB-SJU colleagues Carolyn Finley and Edward Turley.  Patricia has also recorded a compact disc of the songs of Fanny and Felix Mendelssohn, with pianist Robert Koopmann entitled "All in the Family." Dr Kent has recently released a CD of French song, entitled La Vie Intérieure (the Interior Life) with Roderick Phipps-Kettlewell, including chansons by Duparc, Debussy, Poulenc and Roussel.  She has been a member of the voice faculty at CSB/SJU for twenty two years. In addition to extensive oratorio experience, Patricia is an accomplished opera singer. In 2002 she sang the role of the Mother in Amahl and the Night Visitors with the Minnesota Orchestra. Other recent roles include Lady Billows in Albert Herring, Rosamunde in Susa's Dangerous Liasons, Aminta in Il Re Pastore, and Ariade in Ariadne auf Naxos.