Lessons With Ria

Hi! I’m Ria Patel, a vocalist, educator, and lifelong lover of the arts. I work with students of all ages and backgrounds, and I absolutely love helping each person find their voice and grow their confidence through music.

I sing and teach a wide variety of styles including opera, jazz, pop, musical theater, and Indian classical. I recently earned my degree in Vocal Performance with a minor in Spanish from the University of the Pacific’s Conservatory of Music, where I had the privilege of studying under incredible mentors like Dr. Heidi Moss Erickson, Daniel Ebbers, and Virginia Kelsey.

During my time at Pacific, I performed in productions such as Carousel (as Carrie) and Into the Woods (as Rapunzel), and sang in vocal jazz, choir, and chamber ensembles. Today, I continue performing with groups like Choral Audacity, the Livermore Valley Opera Chorus, and the San Francisco Symphony Chorus, and I collaborate with community-driven nonprofits like Stockton Soul.

I’m also a music director at the Firehouse Arts Center, where I’ve vocal directed youth productions like Hadestown: Teen Edition and Dinosaurs Before Dark: Kids, experiences that remind me how powerful and transformative music can be for young people.