PATRICIA KOSTEK enjoys an international reputation, being well-known across North and South America, and Europe for her critically acclaimed performances, her adjudication of major competitions, her lectures and master classes. She has performed in noted international music festivals, including the Buenos Aires International Festival, the Music Festival of Florida, the Tanglewood Institute, and ClarinetFest International. Patricia has given recitals and master classes in major cultural centers of Sweden, Poland, Belgium, France, Germany, Canada, the USA, Brazil and Argentina, where she also adjudicated the 1996, 1997 and 1998 Buenos Aires International Competition. In March, 1999, she was invited to perform by the city of Morioka, Japan commemorating the 15th anniversary of the founding of the Victoria-Morioka Friendship Society. In September, 1999, she was the featured soloist in Rio de Janeiro at Encontro IV, the national conference of Brazilian orchestral clarinetists where she also adjudicated the Brazilian Young Artists Competition.
Patricia was a founding member of the Kansas City Chamber Orchestra before emigrating to Canada and has appeared as soloist with this orchestra, performing Copland's Concerto for Clarinet, Mozart's Clarinet Concerto in A major and the Krommer Concerto for Two Clarinets and Orchestra, and Mendelssohn's Concert Piece for Clarinet and Basset Horn with Larry Combs of the Chicago Symphony, among other works. A critically acclaimed contemporary music specialist, Kostek has been involved in the commissioning and the premiere performances of new music. She has performed with numerous orchestras including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and under the baton of such eminent conductors as Sir George Solti, James Levine, Edo de Waart, Kiril Kondrashin and Simon Rattle.
She is a frequent performer with Chamber Music San Juan, Trio Pacifica, Eine Kleine Summer Music and Concentus Corvinus, a critically acclaimed nonet. Her performances are frequently broadcast by CBC Radio and she has recorded for national Public Radio (U.S.) and Radio Katowice (Poland). She has recently completed her first solo CD, Songs of the Rubaiyat, and, in collaboration with other Canadian musicians has recorded the works of composer Murray Adaskin.
Patricia received her MM in clarinet performance from Michigan State University, followed by advanced studies in Europe and in Chicago. She has held teaching positions at the University of Kansas and the University of Missouri-Kansas City. She is past secretary of the International Clarinet Society and a Buffet Artist Clinician. Patricia is currently Associate Professor at the University of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, a position she has held since 1988.