Patricia Ruggles
mezzo-soprano
mezzo-soprano
Patricia Ruggles
Patricia Ruggles
about the artist
Patricia Ruggles, mezzo-soprano, began her journey in singing as an alto in the choir stalls at Grace Church in Madison, NJ. She continues to uplift her voice as a cantor at Corpus Christi Church in Chatham Township, NJ. The years in between have been filled with performances in opera, oratorio, and recitals. Her teachers, Elizabeth Mannion and David Garvey, at the University of Texas in Austin where she received her Master of Music degree, instilled the importance of striving to obtain a high artistic standard.
Artist Statement
I am very fortunate that I have sung in various oratorios as the alto soloist with fine instrumentalists, choirs, soloists, and conductors. Bach and the works of the Baroque era ring true in my voice. Zeigler and contemporary art songs stimulate emotions in my heart, and thoughts of our times in my intellect. Much of my joy in singing has blossomed forth in the art of the song recital. I love creating programs with themes, with meaning, involving ideas of love, peace, spirit. It is through the vessel of the solo vocal recital that I have strived to reach my goal of providing beauty, spirit, truth, knowledge, and deep emotion. I am deeply grateful to ALL of my fellow artists with whom I have collaborated and who have joined me on this artistic journey.
"So heavenly yet so earth!"
- Seth Hiler, Brooklyn Music Times
Curriculum Vitae
ORATORIO SOLOIST Ars Musica, Harmonium, Morris Choral Society, others
Bach, J.S. St. Matthew Passion, St. John Passion, Christmas Oratorio,
Easter Oratorio, Mass in B Minor, Cantata BWV 70
Beethoven Mass in C, Choral Fantasy opus 80
Britten Ceremony of Carols
Copland In the Beginning
Galbraith St. Matthew Passion
Handel Messiah, Dixit Dominus
Haydn Paukenmasse
Mendelssohn Elijah
Mozart Requiem
Schubert Mass in G, Mass in A flat
Schütz St. John Passion
Walters Requiem in D Minor
Vivaldi Gloria, Magnificat
SOLO VOCAL RECITALS
Pleasures of Purcell St. Bartholomew’s Concert Series
Voice of Aaron Copland Park Avenue Christian Church Series
Portrait of Virginia Woolf Hartford Cultural Center
Paul Zeigler’s Original Works St. Peter’s Church at Lexington Avenue
A Concert of Original Music by Paul Zeigler Tenri Cultural Center, NYC
Fauré’s Chanson d’Eve Toronto Based Dance Company
EarthSongs and EarthScapes Meadowlands Music Salon Series
American Songs for an Angel College of St. Elizabeth
Patricia Ruggles in Recital Centenary College
Afternoon Voice and Piano Recital Rutgers University
EastWest SpiritSongs; Voyage a France; France, Spain, Distant Lands…
Back to Bach; Bach Cantatas BWV 82, 170; Vivaldi Stabat Mater
Grace Community Music Series
Peace; Gratias Vobis Ago; Dawn; Bouquet of Beautiful Songs
Corpus Christi Music Series
Celebration in Song; Songs of Spain Morristown Methodist Church
Robert and Clara Schumann: A Musical Love Story First Unitarian Society of Plainfield
CDs
Bouquet of Beautiful Songs
Sacred Baroque Alto Arias
Portrait of Virginia Woolf
France, Spain, Distant Lands…
Love, Light, Peace (includes original award- winning song cycles by Paul Zeigler)
REVIEWS
“Ruggles had a clear, penetrating mezzo-soprano and her flexibility and phrasing made for top-rate Bach.” - Star Ledger.
“Her luscious mezzo, with its warm and even timbre was evenly produced through all registers and her secure technique allowed her to focus fully on the text. Her singing alone carried the emotion with accurate intonation and superb diction.”
- John Hammel, reviewer for Classical NJ