Harris Theater Names New Executive Vice President, External Affairs

The Harris Theater for Music and Dance has appointed Patricia Barretto as the new Executive Vice President, External Affairs effective immediately. After joining the Harris Theater executive team as Vice President of Marketing & Communications in 2015, Ms. Barretto's role will expand to oversee both the Marketing and Development departments.

Under Ms. Barretto's leadership, the Harris Theater exceeded the ticket sales goal for the season by 105% serving an unprecedented number of patrons for the Theater's 12-year history. She has been instrumental in the success of the 2015-16 season as the Harris completed is building expansion and renovation, announced Brian Brooks as its first ever Choreographer in Residence, and launched the brand new MIX at SIX series.

"Patricia has been an incredible asset to the Harris Theater team. She has led us through a season of unprecedented ticket sales, and the marketing efforts she implemented have yielded such a huge response from our patrons," said Harris Theater President and Managing Director Michael Tiknis. "We have every confidence that this new role will only grant Patricia more opportunities to succeed and we look forward to this exciting new chapter in the Theater's future."

Ms. Barretto executed marketing strategy for a packed Harris Theater Presents season, from the world premiere of a brand new commission for Jessica Lang Dance with the first ever Chicago Architecture Biennial, to the launch of a Harris Theater produced series with world renowned soprano Renée Fleming in association with Lyric Unlimited, a second, expanded season of the acclaimed Beyond the Aria series and the launch of the adored happy hour series MIX at SIX, to the world premiere of My Lai commissioned by the Harris for Kronos Quartet, Rinde Eckert, and Vân-Ánh Vanessa Võ, composed by Jonathan Berger. The latter half of the season saw the only United States stop of the Hamburg Ballet this year with performances of Othello and Third Symphony of Gustav Mahler, the world premiere of a brand new Harris Theater commission from beloved Chicago-troupe Lucky Plush, the incredible Joshua Bell with Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, the dazzling Mark Morris Dance Group for two nights including a successful Gala performance, an evening with Javier Camarena and Angel Rodriguez, and the inimitable Miami City Ballet performing a new work by New York City Ballet resident choreographer, Justin Peck.

As the Executive Director of Toronto's Opera Atelier, Patricia has grown a baroque opera company into an internationally recognized arts organization. Under her leadership, the company presented on many international stages including the Salzburg Festival, The Glimmerglass Festival in upstate New York, Opera Columbus, the Royal House Opera at the Palace of Versailles, and most recently at Milan's famous La Scala opera house.

Drawing from more than 20 years of experience between the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Conservatory of Music, Canadian Stage, and Opera Atelier, Ms. Barretto is an expert in strategic brand development, successful marketing models, and innovative PR strategies.