Patricia Kern, British mezzo-soprano and voice teacher, Died at 88

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Patricia Kern was born on July 14, 1927, and passed away on October 19, 2015.

Patricia was a British mezzo-soprano and voice teacher.

Patricia Kern was born in Swansea, Wales. From 1949 to 1952 she studied with Gwynn Parry Jones at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London. She began her career with Opera for All (1952–55).

In 1959 she joined Sadler’s Wells, making her début in Rusalka; for ten seasons she was a member of the company, her most notable achievement being her interpretations of La Cenerentola, Rosina (The Barber of Seville), Isolier (Le comte Ory) and Isabella (L’italiana in Algeri).

Her other roles included Iolanthe, Hänsel, Cherubino, Pippo, and Josephine in the premiere of Malcolm Williamson’s The Violins of Saint-Jacques (1966).

She made her Covent Garden debut in 1967 as Zerlina. Her American début was in Washington, DC, in 1969 and in 1987 she sang Marcellina in Chicago.

Patricia’s stage personality was described as engaging and sympathetic.

She made several recordings, including Massenet’s Manon (1990) and Monteverdi’s Madrigals (1998).

Patricia went on to teach Voice at the University of Toronto, where her pupils have included James Westman, Russell Braun, Brett Polegato, Jean Stilwell, and Kimberly Barber.

Patricia died on 19 October 2015 at the age of 88.