“with poise, precision, great facility and finesse, and a sterling tenor sound” (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

“purity of tone and ardent, youthful stage presence” (Opera News)

“tenor Patrick Bessenbacher was particularly impressive” (Aisle Seat Review)

“Patrick Bessenbacher electrifies the stage with rapid-fire, bullet-powered notes” (Theatre Eddy’s)

“singing with fiery brilliance” (Datebook)

Most recently, Patrick spent the summer of ‘24 in Vermont, performing the role of Tonio in Opera Company of Middlebury’s production of La fille du régiment and then at Marlboro Music Festival, performing various chamber music pieces.

Next, Patrick will be performing with Seven Hills Chamber Festival as Lewis Danyers in their concert production of In Venice, Paul Scherer and Germaine Shames newest opera about love and inspiration. Patrick will also be singing the role of Old Man in Menotti’s Labyrinth with Cambridge Chamber Society, as well as with Pacific Opera Project as Count Bandiera in Salieri’s La Scuola de’ Gelosi, and later Patrick returns to Milwaukee to sing Acis in Acis and Galatea with Florentine Opera.

Also recently, Patrick jumped in at West Bay Opera performing the role of Ministro in Corpus Evita, a Grammy nominated work by Carlos Franzetti with libretto by José Luis Moscovich, as well as singing with Opera Birmingham, originating the role of Peter Fagan in the world premier of Carla Lucero and Marianna Mott Newirth’s opera, Touch, portraying the life of Helen Keller. He also joined Opera San Jose performing the role of Count Almaviva in Il barbiere di Siviglia.

During the ‘22-’23 season, Patrick was a Baumgartner studio artist with The Florentine Opera where he performed the roles of Tybalt in Roméo et Juliette and Ferrando in Così fan tutte: Remix. He also covered and stepped on for the final dress rehearsal and both weekend performances of Il barbiere di Siviglia as Count Almaviva, singing “beautifully … with poise, precision, great facility and finesse, and a sterling tenor sound … giving a performance that never crossed the footlights as a last-minute casting change” (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel).

In the summer of ‘22, Patrick was a Gerdine Young Artist at Opera Theatre of St. Louis. He was a cover and stepped in on four performances as Remendado in Carmen, among other cover and comprimario roles.

Patrick has also gained valuable experience at Seagle Music Festival as well as Marlboro Music Festival, where he discovered his affinity for vocal chamber music.

At the University of Colorado, Patrick earned his B.M. in Vocal Performance and studied with tenor Matthew Chellis. He performed many roles on the Macky stage, including Bénédict in Béatrice et Bénédict, George Bailey in It’s a Wonderful Life, and Tony in West Side Story, among others. 

After CU, Patrick earned his M.M. in Vocal Arts from The Juilliard School. He studied with tenor William Burden and gained more invaluable performance experience, including Acis in Acis and Galatea, Tom Rakewell in The Rake’s Progress, and Fenton in Die Lustigen Weiber von Windsor, among others.

Patrick is managed by Kathy Olsen and Encompass Arts Management.

Patrick has been a hard worker from a young age. Through grade school and high school, he started and managed a lawn service venture while balancing sports and school. The work ethic and collaborative skills he learned at that age have propelled him into his music career.

When he’s not working, Patrick enjoys spending time with friends and family. He is always looking for an excuse to go back to Colorado and ski. He loves cooking, sports, running, picking the guitar, and telling or listening to a good story.

Upcoming

Nov 1-3 ‘24

Labyrinth

Old Man

Gian Carlo Menotti

Cambridge Chamber Ensemble, Boston

Details

December 7 ‘24

Mass | Chichester Psalms | BWV 63

Tenor Soloist

Leonard Bernstein & Johann Sebastian Bach

Cecilia Chorus of New York, NYC

Details

Jan 10-20 ‘25

La Scuola de’ Gelosi

Count Bandiera

Antonio Salieri

Pacific Opera Project, LA

Details

Feb 14 & 16 ‘25

Acis and Galatea

Acis

George Frideric Händel

The Florentine Opera, WI

Details

Contact Patrick