Lyric Violist Patrick Brennan Retires

by Melissa Trier Kirk

Pat with General Director John Mangum

Pat was born in Chicago and raised in Oak Park. Six of the seven Brennan children played instruments growing up, and Pat began studying violin at age 9. He also studied Irish music with Chicagoan and Irish fiddle legend Liz Carroll. At age 17, he won the honor of Chicago Teenage Fiddle Champion.Pat went on to study violin at Northern Illinois University with Pierre Menard of the Vermeer String Quartet and later with Erick Friedman, a protege of Jascha Heifitz, at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. Right out of school, Pat auditioned twice to join Lyric on violin and didn’t make it. It was studying with Lyric’s former Principal Violist Rami Solomonov that helped him make the transition to viola. As Pat says, “I never looked back.”

Pat began his life as a violist in the New American Chamber Orchestra, a conductor-less, 11-member group based in Detroit that travelled throughout Europe as part of its 13-week season. He spent two years as Assistant Principal Viola of the Charlotte Symphony before returning to Chicago to win a spot in the Lyric viola section. In 1995, he joined the Grant Park Music Festival viola section, later serving as Assistant Principal. 

I asked Pat to share some favorite moments of his career. Top of his list was playing The Ring Cycle with Zubin Mehta from 1993 to 1996. “He brought the orchestra to a different level. It was truly magical.” Another was the thrill of accompanying Frank Sinatra when he performed at the Opera House in 1993.

Our orchestra and especially our viola section will miss Pat’s elegant playing and wonderful sense of humor. All best for your next act!