Patricia A. Richards, chair of the Utah Symphony|Utah Opera board of trustees, is one of four recipients of the 2013 National Opera Trustee Recognition Award. The award is presented by Opera America and sponsored by Bank of America. Now in its sixth year the award honors outstanding trustees of opera companies in the United States for “exemplary leadership, generosity and audience-building efforts in behalf of their respective opera companies,” according to the news release issued by Opera America.

Richards was appointed vice chair of the Utah Symphony|Utah Opera board of trustees in 2004, two years after the two organizations merged. She is now board chair. During her time on the board, Richards was instrumental in selecting a new CEO in 2007 and a new music director in 2009. She is an active fundraiser for US|UO and a government advocacy representative in the Utah State Legislature.

The other recipients are: Lisa Erdberg, San Francisco Opera; Cherie Shreck, Des Moines Metro Opera; and Timothy J. Wagg, Opera North (Lebanon, NH).

The four will be honored at a dinner and reception in New York City on Feb. 22.