(Credit: Kyle Flubacker)

Harris Theater has confirmed the passing of Patricia Barretto on the night of March 3, 2020, following a battle with cancer.

Born in Mumbai in 1973, Barretto moved from India to Toronto after finishing a degree in English Literature. Starting in the box office of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and going on to become the company’s marketing department, Barretto would later serve on companies such as The Royal Conservatory and Canadian Stage;

From 2011 to 2015, Barretto was executive director of Opera Atelier, where she built relationships with the Salzburg Festival, La Scala, Versailles, and the Glimmerglass Festival. Barretto is described by company co-artistic directors Marshall Pynkoski and Jeannette Lajeunesse Zingg as “one of our greatest sources of support and inspiration – loving, protective and tireless in her support of us personally and professionally. It is impossible to imagine our world without her. It is one of the greatest personal losses of our lives.”

Joining Harris Theater as Vice President of sales and marketing in 2015, she was appointed CEO of the theater in 2017. According to the theater staff, “Patricia’s vision for the Harris was to be a home for music and dance, with all that entails. She believed that the arts transcend boundaries and are a powerful tool to foster empathy and connection, which is reflected in the culture she created within our team.”

Barretto is survived by her parents, husband, son, and brother. There will be a public memorial held on March 11, 10 a.m., at Old St. Patrick’s Church, 900 W. Adams St.