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"The things I'm busy with are things I love to do."
Debut and Life In Chile: 1993 - 2003
Patricio began his life in the mountainous town of Los Andes in Chile. Born to a native Chilean father and a Syrian mother, his family blended languages and cultures. His intense focus and premature skill on the piano led a Chilean network to debut his talents on national television at the age of three. Dubbed "Little Mozart", he immediately began studies at the University of Chile on a full scholarship. It was to be the beginning of many years of concertizing and competing, winning several Gold medals, and earning international accolades.
At the invitation of King Abdullah of Jordan, Patricio toured in several countries in the Middle East and in Germany. His fame in Chile and abroad also led him to encounter the great Pavarotti at eight years old, joining him on a performing tour of Chile.
Opportunity in the United States
Patricio's life would forever be changed after a visit to the United States at the age of thirteen. A series of fortuitous meetings led him first to audition for the Newark School of the Arts, where he became a Carollo Scholar, and then for the Manhattan School of Music Pre-College. He was awarded a full scholarship to study with Dr. Marc Silverman and settled in Paterson, New Jersey.
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Despite the success and opportunity he found in his new home, this time in Patricio's life was not without difficulty. Living with only his mother at first as new immigrants, neither of them speaking English, the family struggled for many years to make ends meet. It would be two years before his family would be fully reunited.
"[At 13] His musical instincts were absolutely extraordinary. You cannot teach talent, you cannot teach intelligence, you cannot teach dedication. He had all three in profusion. All the teachable things, he learned with extraordinary speed.”
-Dr. Marc Silverman
Piano Department Chair
Manhattan School of Music
Patricio continued his studies at Manhattan School of Music, eventually entering the school as an undergraduate in 2008 and then a graduate student, all on full scholarship. His reputation as a performer continued to grow in New York and New Jersey. Over the next several years he was featured on PBS's From the Top television program, WQXR, and in several publications. His performances included appearances at Carnegie Hall and pre-performance features at NJPAC. He was a winner in the 2008 International New York Piano Competition.
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When the 2010 earthquake devastated Chile, Patricio held multiple fundraising concerts and raised $20,000 in total for the country of his birth.
It was also during this time that Patricio began to develop his talents as a composer. Patricio's compositions embrace a variety of types of works, notably a fully orchestrated three-act opera La Sargento de la Concepción based on Chilean historical events.
He has premiered his compositions on stages such as Carnegie Hall, the New York Athletic Club, Instituto Cervantes NYC, The Newark School of the Arts, and NJPAC.
Pursuing a Double Doctorate
Patricio graduated from the Manhattan School of Music with a Masters Degree in Piano Performance at the top of his class in 2014, earning the prestigious Harold Bauer Award for Most Outstanding Graduating Pianist. Soon after, Patricio announced his intention to pursue two doctoral degrees at Rutgers University, which is the first in the history of Rutgers. He completed his DMA in Piano Performance in 2019 under the guidance of Dr. Min Kwon. Patricio completed his PhD and the second of the two doctorates under the guidance of Dr. Robert Aldridge in 2020.
2016 Interview with Linda Baquero
NBC NYC, Channel 4
Present: Composing, Teaching, and Outreach
Patricio's driving purpose is to make people's lives better through music. He engages in a broad range of projects and teaching opportunities, all with the goal of bringing people together through music so that they may be uplifted.​ He wishes to make music accessible, so that people can understand it.
COMPOSING
Patricio has continued to compose and concertize, developing
his skill in a variety of platforms. The New Jersey Youth Symphony and White Snake Projects are among many institutions who have recognized his talents with commissions.
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His body of work embraces a wide variety of instrumentation including pieces for solo voice and piano, chamber orchestra, brass ensemble, piano trio, opera, and ballet.
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Inspirations for his compositions include his Chilean-Syrian heritage, mythology, and literature, as well as his experience as an immigrant from the age of thirteen.
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Patricio is a Yamaha Artist.
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TEACHING, WORKSHOPS, AND LECTURES
Patricio is in demand as a lecturer on a wide variety of topics including: composition, Arabic music theory and performance, youth engagement in the arts, piano performance, and teaching composition for performers.
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At the Newark School of the Arts, Patricio leads the Kathy and Mark Grier Conservatory where he teaches various courses and has a private piano studio. Patricio is committed to creating opportunities for the young people that enter the school. In addition, Patricio is especially dedicated to young people who are struggling with adversity in New Jersey cities, as he once did as a new immigrant. Patricio also teaches courses in music at Passaic County Community College. Read more about his work at NSA and with New Jersey youth here.
MUSIC MINISTRY
Patricio has served as Director of Music for religious communities across New Jersey. In addition to playing organ and piano for weekend masses, funerals, and weddings, Patricio has started concert series, put on concerts, organized special events, held fundraisers, started a choir where there was none, and most recently, created virtual choirs and performances with church members. Patricio writes new music for children and adult choirs and has premiered some of his works with his church choirs.
NOTES FOR GROWTH
In 2018, Patricio co-founded Notes for Growth. This foundation seeks to bring donated musical instruments to institutions that serve children in need in the United States, Chile, and worldwide. As President, Patricio has worked with the team members to hold successful fundraising events notably at Opera America NYC. In 2020, the first shipment of donated pianos arrived in Chile, where they were distributed to several different schools in need.