Person of Interest

Hometown: Naples. A sixth-generation Floridian, his ancestors were north Florida pioneers.

Acting Up: This freckly, redheaded soprano performs with Opera Naples and has had parts in the opera Tosca. But it was his impressive range as Amahl in Amahl and the Night Visitors that launched him into serious limelight, withextensive press coverage and a television pilot role.

Playing Amahl: "He’s sort of a mischievous little crippled boy," he says of his character.

Schoolwork: Patrick’s home-schooling schedule allows time for homework as well as his artistic pursuits.

Favorite subject: Computer programming.

Other talents: Patrick is a concert violinist. "You have to make the violin sing," he says. "It’s a lot harder than singing; you have to practice. There’s no limit—if you practice more with your voice, you might not have it the next day."

A good read: Horrible Histories, a series of British history books. "I find them often funnier than American books."

Small-screen aspirations: Patrick is working on a pilot of The Pee and Wee Show, a children’s educational television program "to promote phonics and stuff," he says.

When I grow up, I want to be: "I have no idea, really. I like acting."