Patrick Summers

Patrick Summers (b. Washington, Indiana, August 14, 1963 - ) -- Conductor. Raised in Loogoote, Indiana, Summers graduated from Indiana University in 1986 and then worked as a vocal coach and opera conductor in San Francisco. From 1986 to 1989, he conducted San Francisco Opera's Western Opera Theater. He them became the director of the San Francisco Opera Center, a training program for young vocalists. Starting in 1999, Summers moved up to the Associate Conductor of the San Francisco Opera, a post he held until 2016. He has also been the music director of the Houston Grand Opera since 1998 and its artistic director since 2011. Over the years, he has been guest conductor for major opera companies and orchestras, especially when a singer is featured. Summers has conducted the Metropolitan Opera on multiple occasions, including a tour of Japan in 2006. Lastly, he is known for premiering works by contemporary composers, among them Jake Heggie, Michael Daugherty, Carlisle Floyd, Ricky Ian Gordon, André Previn, Lee Hoiby, Tod Machover, Rachel Portman, Mark Adamo, R. Murray Schafer, Daniel Catán, and Christopher Theofanidis, and Paul Moravec.