Patricia Bonelli, a well known musician has died

Patricia was born in Malta during the Second World War to Ann Byrne and Walter Dunkerley, a British army officer serving in Malta. Her identical twin, Anita, also lived in the Bournemouth area.

She studied flute and piano in her native Dublin, and the twins regularly participated in duo and family music competitions from an early age, becoming renowned young musicians. After studying flute at the Royal Academy of Music, Patricia performed in recitals, radio and TV broadcasts and toured the USA as a soloist in 67 concerts.

She later taught in the Royal Irish Academy of Music and played in the Radio Eireann Symphony Orchestra. Specialising in contemporary music, she studied in the Santa Cecilia Conservatorio in Rome and the Accademia Chigiana in Siena, on an Italian government scholarship. Patricia played regularly with the Angelicum Orchestra in Milan, and occasionally with I Solisti Veneti and the orchestra of the Arena di Verona.

She met her husband, the late oboist Alessandro Bonelli, a Venetian, while they were playing in the orchestra of the Autunno Musicale in Como. They swiftly learned each other's language and settled in Italy, marrying in Dublin in 1972. Their children Taddeo was born in 1979, and Elisabeth in 1982.

Patricia and Alessandro played in the orchestra of the Teatro Verdi di Trieste, where Patricia was principal flute for 18 years. Throughout her life she also taught flute and piano, including at the Conservatorio di Verona, and was on the jury of the International Flute Competition in Trieste.

Patricia and the family moved to Bournemouth in 1994 and since then her contribution to music in Dorset has been exemplary.

She was organist at the Church of Our Lady Immaculate in Westbourne for 20 years. This was an important and fulfilling part of her life, and one for which she received recognition in the shape of a Papal blessing, shortly before her passing.

Patricia supported the South Coast Opera as their regular pianist and played the flute in the orchestra for their concerts and productions, in particular for Aida and Boris Godunov at the Winter Gardens where her daughter played the violin and son played the cello.

She also played the flute for operas on Brownsea Island, an annual event over several summers, as well as performing in The Magic Flute at Beaulieu Abbey.

In 2001 she was appointed musical director and repetiteur for South Wessex Opera Company where her ability and contribution was greatly valued. She taught from scratch operas such as Die Fledermaus, Merry England, Orpheus in the Underworld, Gianni Schicchi Eugene Onegin, Cavalleria Rusticana and for many concerts.

"Patricia will be greatly missed. She was extremely generous with her time, ability, knowledge and acumen, always aiming to get the best from everyone," said a representative from the South Wessex Opera.

Patricia died on September 22 after suffering from a terminal illness. A special concert in her memory will be arranged next year.