It is with heavy hearts that we announce the untimely passing of Patrick Mack, our beloved friend, fellow singer, and former member of the Verdi Chorus board of directors. For ten years, Patrick’s beautiful voice lent volume and richness to the tenor section. After he retired from singing, his love of opera and extraordinary knowledge of the art form were unmistakable in the program notes he wrote for Verdi Chorus productions, greatly enhancing the understanding and enjoyment for all audience members.

In addition to his passion for opera, Patrick was enthusiastic about travel and touched many lives through his work as Senior Travel Advisor at All-Travel in West Los Angeles.

Patrick sang leading roles in the opera departments of Santa Monica College and UCLA, and sang with the Baltimore Symphony Chorus for three years. He had been wielding the critic’s pen since 2011 on parterre.com, and his informative reviews, replete with his delightfully unique wit, are available on their website.

Patrick’s memory will undoubtedly live on in every life he touched, every journey he inspired, and every note of music he so deeply loved. If you are inspired to make a gift to the Verdi Chorus honoring Patrick's legacy and love of opera, you may do so online here. Donations can also be mailed to the address provided on the page.

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We wish to acknowledge and thank those who have made memorial gifts in celebration of Patrick’s life.

The Verdi Chorus is a Southern California nonprofit organization dedicated to presenting opera choruses in concert and to providing career development opportunities for young professional singers. As the only choral group in Southern California that focuses primarily on the dramatic and diverse music of the opera chorus, The Verdi Chorus gives talented amateur singers the unique opportunity to sing side-by-side with professional singers in rehearsals leading up to performances held to the highest artistic standards.  Under the direction of its remarkable Artistic Director Anne Marie Ketchum, each rehearsal is like a vocal master class.

The Verdi Chorus was founded in 1983 at the Verdi Restaurant in Santa Monica.  When the restaurant closed in 1991, The Verdi Chorus continued.  In 1999, the chorus incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.  Under the continuous direction of Founding Artistic Director Anne Marie Ketchum, the Chorus presents four concerts each year as well as other collaborative events.  Its repertoire includes over 300 choruses from 81 operas in seven languages.