Patricia Brown
How did you get involved in music? What was your inspiration?
My inspiration to sing was my mother. I got involved with music at a very early age; my mother was choir director for our church in Long Island, New York. At my mother’s knee, I listened and tried to sing along, later becoming a member of the choir. My mother was an Opera Singer, having studied at Boston University for classical voice. She received numerous awards and sang up and down the east coast, often bringing a new genre of music to those who had never heard classical music before.
Who has been an African American musical influence in your life?
I have been inspired by many wonderful Opera singers: my mother, Joan Harris Wilson, Leontine Price, Denise Graves, Kathleen Battle, Jessie Norman, and our own, Angela Brown. I remember sitting behind stage when Angie sang with IO during the 2000 production of Porgy and Bess, she was phenomenal.
What has been your favorite production you have participated in and why?
I have three favorite Opera productions that I have performed in. Aida, with the Syracuse Opera. The entire cast was amazing, the set was fabulous and there were easily 100 singers involved. In 1991 and again in 2000 I performed in Porgy and Bess. I remember rehearsals at the State fairgrounds Horse Pavilion; we got to sing and see the occasional horse trot by! IO recently put on L’Elisir d’amore, this was a fun performance and I truly enjoyed the comedy, music and performing with my cast mates.
Do you have a piece of music you would like to share with the Indianapolis Opera community?
I don't have a recording of myself, but I would like to submit a recording of Ava singing a Negro spirituals, Give Me Jesus. My daughter Ava is an Opera Singer. She is currently attending Oberlin Conservatory studying classical voice. She sang in the Choir Concert in 2019 for an internship. Ava recently began learning Negro Spirituals and long forgotten works by black composers; I look forward to hearing her sing these gems.
How did you get involved in music? What was your inspiration?
My inspiration to sing was my mother. I got involved with music at a very early age; my mother was choir director for our church in Long Island, New York. At my mother’s knee, I listened and tried to sing along, later becoming a member of the choir. My mother was an Opera Singer, having studied at Boston University for classical voice. She received numerous awards and sang up and down the east coast, often bringing a new genre of music to those who had never heard classical music before.
Who has been an African American musical influence in your life?
I have been inspired by many wonderful Opera singers: my mother, Joan Harris Wilson, Leontine Price, Denise Graves, Kathleen Battle, Jessie Norman, and our own, Angela Brown. I remember sitting behind stage when Angie sang with IO during the 2000 production of Porgy and Bess, she was phenomenal.
What has been your favorite production you have participated in and why?
I have three favorite Opera productions that I have performed in. Aida, with the Syracuse Opera. The entire cast was amazing, the set was fabulous and there were easily 100 singers involved. In 1991 and again in 2000 I performed in Porgy and Bess. I remember rehearsals at the State fairgrounds Horse Pavilion; we got to sing and see the occasional horse trot by! IO recently put on L’Elisir d’amore, this was a fun performance and I truly enjoyed the comedy, music and performing with my cast mates.
Do you have a piece of music you would like to share with the Indianapolis Opera community?
I don't have a recording of myself, but I would like to submit a recording of Ava singing a Negro spirituals, Give Me Jesus. My daughter Ava is an Opera Singer. She is currently attending Oberlin Conservatory studying classical voice. She sang in the Choir Concert in 2019 for an internship. Ava recently began learning Negro Spirituals and long forgotten works by black composers; I look forward to hearing her sing these gems.
