PATRICIA RACETTE’s illustrious career spans more than three decades. An internationally acclaimed soprano and gifted stage actor, she frequented the major stages of the world, ranging from long standing relationships with the Metropolitan Opera and San Francisco Opera to multiple appearances at Covent Garden, Bayerische Staatsoper, and The Paris Opera. She made her mark in the iconic leading lady roles of Puccini, Janácek, and Verdi as well as championing 20th and 21st Century composers, including Tobias Picker, Carlisle Floyd, and John Corigliano. She earned a Grammy for her portrayal of Marie Antoinette in Corigliano’s Ghosts of Versailles.

In December of 2022, Patricia and collaborative pianist Craig Terry unveiled a new one-woman show “Patricia Sings Piaf” at Chicago’s Harris Theater. She and Craig recorded a previous album, Diva on Detour, in 2012 and have since performed it over 50 times in the U.S. and abroad. Singing cabaret lies at the heart of Patricia’s passion and gives outlet to the versatility of her voice.

Patricia currently splits her performance time with her other newer roles: stage director, master teacher, and Director of the Gerdine Young Artist Programs at Opera Theatre of St. Louis. She is dedicated to fostering the next generation of artists. In addition to running OTSL’s young artist programs this summer, she will also direct a new production of Floyd’s Susannah.

San Francisco holds special meaning for Patricia. She began her career at San Francisco Opera in the Merola and Adler Programs and went on to sing over 32 leading lady roles with the company. And it was SFCM that launched her intensive teaching program, “Integrative Artistry,” a workshop that she has offered here multiple times as well as for The Washington Opera, The Juilliard School, and New England Conservatory. She received a Bachelor’s degree from The University of North Texas and is proud to have been awarded an honorary doctorate here at SFCM!

MICHELE PATZAKIS, DMA is a Teaching Artist with the Los Angeles Opera and Voice Faculty at Azusa Pacific University. She received critical acclaim as a lyric soprano with companies including the New York City Opera, the Thèâtre de la Monnaie, and Spoleto Festivals. She most recently created the roles of Maria/Church Lady in the world premiere opera Polymnia by Theodosia Roussos.

Ms. Patzakis received her Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) at the USC Thornton School of Music where she was honored with the Vocal Arts Departmental Award at Honors Convocation and was inducted into the Pi Kappa Lambda National Honor Society. Michele served as a Head Teaching Assistant for two years and was a student instructor and TA for 7 semesters, teaching both Voice Class and Individual Instruction. Her research in the areas of Vocal Arts Medicine and Music Teaching and Learning has been presented at the CASMEC (California All-State Music Education Conference) and ASHA’s (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association) Fall Voice conferences.

She received a B.M. from the University Of Southern California School of Music and an M.M. with Distinction in Performance from the New England Conservatory. Her training included fellowships with the Tanglewood Music Center, and apprenticeships with the Opera Pacific Overture Company and Central City Opera. She was a National Winner of the Loren L. Zachary Awards, a Regional winner of the Metropolitan Opera Auditions, and winner of The Young Artist of Future Vocal Competition and the Victor Fuchs Memorial Awards.

Ms. Patzakis currently serves on the board of the NATS-LA (National Association of Teachers of Singing), is a member of the Voice Foundation, the College Music Society, the American Guild of Musical Artists and is Vice President-Secretary of the Loren L. Zachary Society for the Performing Arts.

In demand as a presenter and adjudicator, she has been a semi-final and finals judge of the Loren L. Zachary National Vocal Competition since 2005 as well as serving as the Artistic Director for their annual fundraising Viennese Operetta Program. She served as a guest artist and Master Teacher for the Vermont International Opera Festival in addition to giving masterclasses and vocal health courses for choral programs in churches and high schools. Michele continues to concertize and direct programs throughout the region.

2023 MASTER CLASS TEACHERS