Patricia Zarate

Alberto Vilar Global Fellow in the Performing Arts

Born and raised in Santiago, Chile, Patricia Zarate started playing tenor saxophone at age 14. She began her musical studies under the tutelage of some of the best musicians in Chile. After finishing high school, she worked with three television stations providing musical support for Latin American pop stars.

In 1995 she decided to move to the United States to pursue a career in professional jazz performance. She was admitted to Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA, switching from the tenor to the alto saxophone, and graduated with honors in 1999 with a BA in music and music therapy.

Under the guidance of Panamanian pianist Danilo Perez, Patricia was able to participate in the professional music scene of Boston and gain experience in different projects related to the music industry including session work in film scoring, composing, and CD releases for major record labels. She studied privately with saxophone players from the area including Jerry Bergonzi and Jackie McLean, and worked as a freelance musician with different bands including salsa, blues, funk, and jazz bands.

Patricia moved to Washington, D.C. in 2000 and started studying under the tutelage of jazz saxophonist Greg Osby. During her first year in D.C., Patricia played with notable bands such as the Senegalese-born griot, kora virtuoso Baba Djimo Kouyate, and the Howard University Jazz Ensemble. Her own trio has performed in some of the best clubs in the Washington area, and has been a guest for several television programs that expose Latin American jazz to a wider public. The following year, she recorded with the Howard University Jazz Ensemble, played at the East Coast Jazz Festival, and performed regularly in Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.