Opera Pro Cantanti Bios

Patricia Dahlquist

Patricia’s formal training includes many years of voice, dance and violin. After two years of training to be a teacher, Patricia transferred to the Theatre Department at UBC to follow her first love. She studied there for 4 years before committing to a professional career. In between theatre gigs, Patricia filmed over 200 national television commercials and Movies of the Week (MOWs), sang in clubs in Vancouver and Toronto, recorded 6 albums, one for CBS which resulted in a Juno Award, sang in most of the major concert halls across the country, performed in Hagood Hardy’s show group (first gig at the New York Playboy Club and notably, opened for Carmen McCrae at the National Arts Centre), appeared on the Tommy Hunter show for a season and appeared twice on the Ian Tyson and Ronnie Prophet shows. Upon returning to BC, Patricia appeared in shows at Theatre Under the Stars and then performed in Angry Housewives during a three-year stint for the Arts Club. She then travelled to the Yukon to appear as Diamond Tooth Gertie during a 3-year contract. Patricia’s last theatre show was Menopositive! The Musical which ran intermittently for 4 years in BC and Alberta. Her latest film was The Hamster Cage written and directed by Larry Kent. Patricia acted in most of Larry’s work in Vancouver during the 1960s.

Most recently Patricia has been teaching Voice and Musical Theatre in BC’s Lower Mainland. In 2005 she founded the Young Peoples Opera Society of BC. During the past 12 years the Society has produced workshops of new works, mounted 8 full-length operas and put on 14 concerts. Having worked with hundreds of participants and thousands of volunteers, the Society is looking forward to a bright future. Patricia is not only the Founding Director of the Society but also is a Director on the Board of the Arts Council of Surrey. In 2013 Patricia was awarded the prestigious Civic Treasures Award for distinguished contribution to the Arts in Surrey by the City of Surrey and the Surrey Chamber of Commerce.

Patricia loves being a member of Opera Pro Cantanti, working on the magnificent repertoire and studying opera vocal technique. This feels like a whole new incarnation, one her late mother, Barbara, an accomplished coloratura, would have loved.

Patricia has been singing with Opera Pro Cantanti since 2008.

Patricia sings in the chorus and comprimario roles in OPC's productions of:

"La Traviata" by Verdi

"Lucia di Lammoore" by Donizetti

"Nabucco" by Verdi

& upcoming new performances of:

"Macbeth" by Verdi

"Norma" by Bellini