Pat was born in Scarborough, Ontario, right on top of the bluffs! Having grown up in a very musical household, Pat’s own love for music came naturally. Her dad played Big Band, jazz and Dixieland piano; her mom was a singer; her brothers played trombone, piano and clarinet; her sister played the flute. Pat first took piano lessons, followed by violin lessons at the age of ten. In high school and university she also dabbled in bassoon and French horn. Pat studied at The Conservatory of Toronto, has played in several symphony orchestras and has sung in choirs in and outside of school. She received her BA in English and her Ontario Teacher’s Certificate from The University of  Toronto.

Pat moved to Peterborough 31 years ago with her husband Jim to begin her career as an elementary school classroom teacher. Her teaching career also included periods of time as a Resource Teacher, Early Literacy Teacher and Literacy Coach both in Peterborough and for a short time, in Cobourg.

Pat was encouraged to join the PSO during her first year of teaching and she hasn’t looked back! As well as being a player in the orchestra, Pat has served on several committees as well as on the Board of Directors. She is proud to have helped support and sustain the orchestra through both good times as well as the more challenging times.

Pat and Jim have two boys: Mike who is now studying computer networking systems at Durham College and Rob, who is in engineering at Queen’s University.

Pat sometimes wonders if it’s her left-handedness or just her personality that keeps telling her that she should spend more time playing a woodwind instrument like two of her favourites: the oboe or the English Horn. Now that she and her husband have recently retired she is considering learning one or both of those instruments!

She also hopes to resume horseback riding and to do some volunteer work. Together she and Jim will spend more time enjoying their hobbies: cottaging, camping, canoeing, kayaking, seadooing, skiing, skidooing, the PSO for Pat, photography and art for Jim. They also are developing travel plans.