Patricia Shih was born in Vancouver, BC, and like her two sisters, was a natural prodigy. Her elder sister, Anne, is the Professor of Violin at the Mainz Hochshule. Her younger sister, Connie, who is based in Freiburg, Germany is an internationally acclaimed pianist. At the age of 5, Patricia performed the Bach Double Concerto in Bellingham, WA.

At age 14, Patricia became a pupil of the legendary Josef Gingold at Indiana University. He was both mentor and teacher. He described Patricia as "one of the greatest talents that I have ever taught. Her great technique, inborn musicianship, sense of style and virtuosity are unequalled." Patricia was to prove that these words were not said lightly by achieving a series of results that have hardly been matched since. She won the Grand Prize at the CIBC National Music Competition in Canada, and then the Seattle Young Artists Competition in the USA. Then she won the highest mark in the 4,000 person entrant Canadian Music Competition for 3 years running.

At age 15 Patricia then received the Special Prize at the International Wieniawski Competition in Poland, and in the same year she made a highly acclaimed debut at the Carnegie Hall playing the Wieniawski Concerto No 1. In 1992 Patricia was a laureate at the International Kreisler Competition in Vienna, and she was then awarded the International Sommerakademie Mozarteum prize in Salzburg. In Canada she had also been awarded the prestigious 1989 Sv Iva Gelber Foundation Award for the most outstanding Canadian musician under age 30.

Patricia was then given the opportunity to begin a significant concert career by one of the greatest of all chamber music players, Rostislav Dubinsky, the original leader of the Borodin Quartet [1946-1975], and the founder of the Borodin Trio. With his help she went on from her laureate successes to tour North America, Mexico, Europe and Asia in recital, and also perform as a soloist with such major symphony orchestras as the Royal Philharmonic; the Halle Orchestra; the Orchestre Bretagne; the Toronto Symphony; the State of Mexico Symphony Orchestra; the Singapore Symphony; and the Polish National Radio Orchestra. She also substituted for Midori to great success. Wherever Patricia went she received rave reviews, often comparing her to great violinists of the past.

In 1999 Patricia was injured in a car accident near Bellingham, and her solo and recording career was disrupted. With typical courage and flair Patricia then re-established herself, by becoming the much applauded leader of one of Canada's foremost String Quartet, the Borealis String Quartet.

In 2003 Patricia appeared in recital and chamber music at the famed Wigmore Hall in London, and she has also appeared in chamber music and recital with various major international artists. Patricia has recorded for Summit/Koch and Skylark. She has broadcast widely in Canada, and in the USA, and in Europe. Recently Patricia has begun again to play as a soloist, and in 2006 she expects to play more often as a soloist in both recitals and concerts. She will also continue to be the first violin and leader of the Borealis Quartet and it too expects to play at international venues as well as in North America.