Patrícia Rio Gonçalves was born in Lisbon, Portugal. She began her vocal studies in 1996 at the Escola de Música in Lisbon with voice teacher Joana Levy, where she received her diploma in 2002. That same year, Patrícia sang the role of A Graduated Girl in Kurt Weill’s Street Scene at the São Carlos Opera House in Lisbon. From 1998 to 2002 she was a member of the Lisbon Chamber Choir, and from 2000 to 2002 she sang with the Gulbenkian Choir in Lisbon.
Before moving to the Netherlands, Patrícia completed a degree in Biotechnology at Lusófona University in Lisbon.
She continued her studies at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam with Claron McFadden and Pierre Mak, graduating in 2008. She took part in the Basic Opera Programme of the Dutch National Opera Academy (DNOA) and participated in Udo Reinemann’s Master Lied Class at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam. She has worked with teachers such as Rudolf Jansen, David Selig, Valérie Guillorit, Hein Meens, Clare Vangelisti and João Lourenço.
As a soloist, Patrícia performs in Portugal, the Netherlands, France and Germany. She is regularly heard in works such as Mozart’s Requiem, Handel’s Messiah, Vivaldi’s Gloria, Bach’s St Matthew Passion and his cantatas. She has sung opera roles including Belinda (Purcell), Susanna and Contessa (Mozart), Fiordiligi (Mozart) and Hänsel (Humperdinck). She frequently gives concerts and recitals with harpist Victoria Davies, as well as with various other musical ensembles.
As a soloist and choir singer, she has worked with conductors such as Frans Brüggen, Sam ten Velden, Hein Meens, Gijs Leenaars and Jos Vermunt.
Patrícia teaches singing to a group of motivated and talented students in her Amsterdam studio and is also a voice teacher at the Muziekpakhuis in Amsterdam. She regularly provides workshops and group lessons for various choirs.