She has worked and studied in the music industry jazz studies, music therapy and ethnomusicology; has taught private saxophone Instruction as a Teaching Assistant at Howard University in Washington DC, and Ethnomusicology at University of Maryland. Has published music therapy articles in the Journal of Medicine of Chile, Journal of Pediatrics of Chile, Medical Journal of Panama, worked as music therapy intern at the New Hampshire Psychiatric Hospital, and in January of 2013 founded the 1st Latin American Music Therapy Symposium in Panama City. Has performed as a professional saxophonist with a variety of bands in diverse settings at the Habana Jazz Festival, Panama Jazz Festival, Brookline Light Festival (MA), Lincoln Center, Kimmel Center, Conservatory of Paris, among others. She studied saxophone with Jackie McLean, Jerry Bergonzi, George Garzone, among others and currently works as Outreach Coordinator (and is part of the Advisory Board) for the Berklee Global Jazz Institute (at Berklee College of Music). Zarate has studied at Berklee College of Music, New York University, University of Maryland, Howard University, and Harvard Extension School.

She currently lives in Quincy, MA with her husband (Unesco Artist For Peace Danilo Perez) and her 3 homeschooled children.