Leaving on a jet plane …
Music student Bethany Patterson is probably living the dream of more than a few college graduates. Just a few weeks after spring commencement, this 22-year-old mezzo-soprano is taking off for a year in Europe.
“I feel like it’s something I need to do before I start the next phase,” explains the well-spoken, laid-back blonde.
Bethany will first travel to Estonia to perform with the Portland State University Chamber Choir. After that, it’s off to Oslo, Norway, to live out a long-time dream: Staying with family for a year while soaking up the language, culture and surroundings of this northern European capital. She will also audition at the Norwegian Conservatory of Music, where she wants to study voice.
Though clearly excited about the move, it seems language will be the most immediate obstacle to overcome. She took a year of Norwegian at PSU a couple of years ago but says she didn’t retain much.
“I’m a little nervous,” she says. “My relatives are giving me three months and then cutting me off from English.”
But given her past experience, she will most likely be all right.
“I think she’ll do well because she’s sung in Norwegian before,” says Ruth Dobson, Bethany’s voice coach of four years and the head of the PSU opera program. “She gets around in the language very well.”
Bethany has spent her time at PSU honing her musical skills with the Opera Workshop Program, which focuses on perfecting scenes from operas under the supervision of a director. In addition to performing in these “mini operas,” she has been in PSU’s production of “The Magic Flute” and Bel Canto Northwest Vocal Institute’s production of “La Canterina.” She has also done solo work with Festival Chorale Oregon and was a winning soloist in the Young Artists Concerto Competition in 2001.
“She’s an exceptionally good musician,” Dobson says. “She has a beautiful voice, and she’s had a good tenure here at PSU.”
Bethany’s life outside music includes membership in the Phi Kappa Phi and Golden honor societies, and working as secretary to the dean of the College of Public and Urban Affairs. She likes to bike, hike and do tai kwan do in her spare time, and tries to watch “The Simpsons” whenever her busy schedule allows.
Bethany’s family – parents Chet and Chris, and older brother Aaron – have been supportive of her musical abilities from the start. Growing up in Keizer, Ore., she started singing at 3 and went on to play the piano, flute and violin. Later, following in the steps of her McNary High School voice teacher, she came to PSU, never doubting she would study music.
“That’s just always what I wanted to do,” she says.
In the future, Bethany hopes to settle down in the Northwest and raise a family – maybe do recital work and perform short religious-based choral works called oratorios. Anything that doesn’t involve the extensive touring of being in a full-fledged opera.
“I’d really like to get to a point,” she says a little hesitantly, “where people would like to buy my CDs.”
It’s an ambitious goal, but she seems up to the challenge. If she can master the Norwegian language, the rest will be a breeze.
