Laurie Robinson & Emmanuel Fratianni, co-founders
Laurie Robinson graduated Cum Laude with a B.M. in Music Theory/Composition at the University of Arizona. A student of renowned American neo-classical composer Robert Muczynski, and renowned Liszt scholar and pedagogue, pianist Ozan Marsh, Mr. Robinson was mentored by scoring icons in the entertainment industry, composers Alf Clausen (The Simpsons) Jay Chattaway (Star Trek franchise) having been chosen as the first woman from the ranks of the Society of Composers and Lyricist for their fellowship program.
An educator and clinician, Laurie Robinson is co-founder of the Southern California Piano Academy (2003), a neighborhood music conservatory and learning center for the study of piano, composition and music pedagogy. A music teacher for 30 years, she co-founded the Santa Barbara SummerFest Music Camps program in 2019 (mission below.) Ms. Robinson’s educational scores for children and young ensembles are published by Alfred Music Publishing, North America. (Symphony, choir, wind ensemble and band scores for video games.)
Ms. Robinson holds the unique distinction of being one of the few living American women composers to perform as a soloist, her own creations with the major orchestras of the world, including the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl, the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center, Pittsburg Symphony, London Philharmonic at Abby Road studios and Royal Albert Hall, among many others. Her recorded music has been released by labels EMI Classics, Nile Rodgers’ Sum’thing Else Records and Curb Records.
Her awards and credits as a record producer, composer and orchestrator include two separate debuts on the American Billboard Top10, Classical/Crossover Charts, “Soundtrack of the Year” from Play Magazine for the score to Advent Rising, a GANG Award and numerous GANG and NAViGaTR Nominations, and a “platinum album” arranger for a UK teen pop sensation.
Her guest lectures in education, music pedagogy and media composing include Women in Film, WorldCon and the Burbank Parent Education Council among others.
As a grant writer, she has secured over $300,000 in funding for her original symphonic commissions, orchestral performances and recordings, the school’s and camp’s educational outreach to low income and underrepresented students and instruments scholarships. She is currently in the process of publishing her curriculum in modern piano pedagogy. She is a proud member in good standing of the American Federation of Musicians, Local 47 and Music Teachers National Association.
The mission of her Santa Barbara SummerFest Music Camps is “provide high quality ‘symphonic immersion’ and authentic ‘fingers-on’ music education to Santa Barbara’s school-age children ages K-12. Designed as a “feeder” to support local school music programs during summer break, with inspiring, social and advanced education, the program works to secure scholarships for limited access students, pay a healthy professional wage to Santa Barbara musicians, integrate professional-grade teacher training for college musicians and support the economy and culture of the entire South Coast community.”
Emmanuel Fratianni is a pianist, composer, conductor and in-demand music educator. He is adjunct professor at the Ecole des Musiques Actuelles (EMA) in Geneva, Switzerland where he teaches music composition for visual media and is a former tenured professor of jazz piano at the Montreux Music Conservatory, Switzerland.
He lectures regularly in music institutions such as Eastman School of Music, Irvine Music Festival, International Conducting Guild and Montreux Jazz Festival.
Emmanuel has taught hundreds of students over the last 30 years in both Europe and American music institutions. He is an expert in Jazz education for the piano and has developed a “to the point” piano method for students of all levels and background.
As a conductor and composer he has delighted and engaged sold-out audiences of American and International orchestras since 2009. Leading over eighty world-wide symphonies to date he is embraced by musicians and audiences alike, as a versatile conductor of classical, multimedia, and pops programs. Emmanuel has led major ensembles including the San Francisco Symphony, Boston Pops, Baltimore, Dallas and Detroit Symphonies, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra.
Emmanuel Fratianni’s concert work has been performed or recorded so far by renowned American orchestras such as the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra and the Houston Symphony Orchestra.
Mr. Fratianni’s musical career has expanded to include composing and conducting for film, TV and video games. He has worked for five seasons as an orchestrator and additional music composer on the courtroom drama series “JAG” and has recorded on all the major scoring stages in Los Angeles. He is an active member of the League of American Orchestra, Television Academy and International Conductors Guild.
For Information on Emmanuel Fratianni: http://EmmanuelFratianni.com
Adea Badivuku
Adea Badivuku is a distinguished Kosovan pianist and a prizewinner of several international piano competitions. She has performed extensively throughout Europe, the Balkans, and the United States, including at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall. Dr. Badivuku holds the distinction of being the first pianist from Kosovo to earn a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from an R1 institution in the United States.
Dr. Badivuku earned her Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Prishtina in Kosovo, her Master of Music degree from Central Michigan University, and her Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Nevada, Reno. Throughout her studies, she collaborated with renowned artists including Alfred Brendel, Giovanni Bellucci, Derek Han, David Rosenboom, and Jon Nakamatsu.
A passionate advocate for contemporary music, Dr. Badivuku is the co-founder and director of the Shadows Contemporary Art Festival in Kosovo and Reno, as well as of the ADEDUO ensemble. As President of the UNR Collegiate Chapter of the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA), she led numerous initiatives that strengthened music education and community engagement.
In recognition of her dedication to teaching and artistry, Dr. Badivuku became an MTNA Nationally Certified Teacher of Music in Piano in 2024 and received the Steinway & Sons Top Teacher Award for her outstanding contributions to music education. She is also the recipient of numerous awards, including First Prize at the 2021 New York International Piano Competition, as well as top honors in the Ars Kosova International Piano Competition (2014) and Pianisti i Ri (2013). Her achievements have been supported by prestigious scholarships such as the Loretta Beckman-Carr Piano Scholarship, Barringere Music Scholarship, Shirley & G.B. Avansino Scholarship, Margaret Ryan Sampson Endowed Award, and the James Tenney Memorial Music Scholarship, along with full-tuition graduate fellowships.
Currently, Dr. Badivuku serves on the piano faculty at Santa Barbara City College and Allan Hancock College in California. She continues to champion both performance and education, earning recognition as one of the leading pianists and cultural ambassadors of her generation.
Nathaniel Fratianni
Nathaniel Fratianni is a pianist, multi-instrumentalist, and educator with a diverse musical background. He earned his Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance, Summa Cum Laude, from La Sierra University, where he studied piano with Dr. Kimo Smith and later with Dr. Elvin Rodríguez, focusing on both performance and piano pedagogy. A versatile musician, Mr. Fratianni also continued his trumpet studies under renowned session musician Dr. Rob Schaer, performing with the La Sierra University Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, Big Band, and Jazz Combo.
With the Wind Ensemble, Mr. Fratianni performed on a summer tour through Europe and appeared at Carnegie Hall in New York. Since graduating in 2020, he has been active as a private instructor and freelance performer, sharing his passion for music with students and audiences alike.
Mr. Fratianni’s rich musical upbringing fostered a wide range of influences — from the classic and progressive rock introduced by his mother, to his father’s love of French and Italian pop, and his early experiences attending the San Francisco Symphony with his grandparents. These formative experiences continue to inspire his musicianship and dedication to music education.
George Ramirez
Pianist, composer and conductor George Ramirez studied English literature at the University of San Diego and film scoring at UCLA where he studied composition with Bruce Reich and conducting with Jeff Schindler. Mr. Ramirez was a first prize winner in the Bradshaw & Buono International Piano Competition in New York and performed at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall. He studied piano with Konstantin Sirounian and has been playing piano since the age of 9.
In addition to his numerous chamber music and solo performances in the Los Angeles area and throughout Southern California, Mr. Ramirez has worked for Emmy Award television composer Steve Bramson on the hit prime time television series JAG, and has composed for multiple television and film projects for cable and primetime networks.
Mr. Ramirez enjoys going to concerts, loves the Los Angeles Philharmonic and is a supporter of new music. When not publicly performing, George has become a veteran educator, having taught music and enriching the lives of children and adults for over 25 years.