Rafael Araújo began his studies in piano, having studied with Manuela Moura, Eugénia Moura, Álvaro Teixeira Lopes, Luís Pipa and Rita Ivaskeviciute and composition with Rudesindo Soutelo. He has a degree in choral conducting and music theory from the University of Aveiro. He held a master in music education and choral education from the same University. He studied at the Hochschule fur Musik Karlsruhe choir conducting. He participated in orchestral masterclasses with Javier Castro, Jean-Sébastien Béreau, Lior Shambadal and Simon Halsey. In 2016, he won 1st prize in the 3rd Composition Competition for Children of the Portuguese Association of Music Education - APEM. In 2018 he won the 2nd prize at the Tarptautinis muzikos aranžuočių konkursas (International Music Arrangement Competition – APEX) in Lithuania and the 3rd prize (1st and 2nd not awarded) at the 5th Composition Competition for children of the Portuguese Association of Music Education – APEM. In 2019 he won 3rd prize in the FOLEFEST Composition Contest. His works have been premiered in Spain, Holland, Lithuania, among others. He is frequently invited to be an accompanying pianist in competitions, having the opportunity to play and direct in venues such as Casa da Música in Porto, Centro Cultural de Belém in Lisbon, L’Opera Bastille in Paris, Konzerthaus in Berlin, Palau de la Musica in Barcelona. In 2013 he founded the ABH/RSH CHOR (Karlsruhe) and in 2014 the Royal Voices Choir (Aveiro). He has developed works for children such as Requiem for a Cat, Dronophony, The Magic Hat and the children's opera The Secret Garden. He is attending a PhD in Cultural Sciences, in the Music field at the University of Minho, focusing on opera for children and the ethical dimension, critical thinking and creativity.