Mollie Petrie : 1921 - 2016

We were sad to hear of the death of one of our patrons, Mollie Petrie. Members of Duchy Opera will remember her advanced singers’ workshop weekends in Cornwall. She was a very lovely inspiring lady, full of energy, warmth and sense of fun.

Mollie Petrie was Head of Singing at Junior Guildhall from 1984 to 2006. She taught, by invitation, at the Banff Centre for the Arts, Canada, in the winter of 1985. More recently, she was invited to work regularly with members of the Welsh National Opera in Cardiff. She conducted classes in Ireland, the United States, Belgium, France and New Zealand and lectured at the International Congress of Voice Teachers, Helsinki, in 2001.

As a performer, Mollie sang for 40 years in oratorio, recital and opera, especially as a regular soloist with the BBC West of England in recital, and as a founder member of the BBC West of England Singers. She taught at Dartington College of Arts for several years and helped to found the Bristol Intimate Opera and a group, Hit for 6, for which she wrote a great deal of comic material which led to her one-woman show, With a Frog in my Throat. Her private teaching practice catered for many well-known professionals as well as amateurs of all ages.