[1][2] An only child, Patrice Beverly Munsil (she later changed the spelling of her surname)[3] was born and raised until age 15 in Spokane, Washington.

[4][5][6] She attended Lewis and Clark High School before leaving at age fifteen, accompanied by her mother, to study in New York City,[3][7][8][9] coached by Giacomo Spadoni (1884–1960).

[11] She made her official Metropolitan debut on December 4, 1943, aged 18, singing Philine in Mignon, for which she won popular praise but poor critical reviews.

[10] Perhaps best known for the roles of Adele in Die Fledermaus and Despina in Così fan tutte, Munsel sang 225 times at the Metropolitan Opera.

[9][13] Her husband Robert C. Schuler conceived and produced the ABC-TV primetime variety series The Patrice Munsel Show, which starred his wife, and was broadcast in the 1957–1958 season.

[19] She appeared on stage as a guest during the 1966 Gala Farewell to the old opera house at Broadway and 39th Street, despite never performing at the new met location on Lincoln center.