An elite music academy in the heart of Westwood Village
By Keldine Hull
For nearly ten years, Angeles Academy of Music has provided thousands of students with a uniquely tailored curriculum built on a genuine passion for music. Located in Westwood Village, in a historic 17,000-square foot cathedral next door to UCLA, students are offered a variety in lessons that range from piano and voice to violin, guitar and cello. With the necessary skill set in tow to further pursue their passion for music, many students have moved on to Yale, USC and the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra.
According to the academy’s founder, Emmy Award-winning composer Nathan Pangrazio, “We focus on delivering high-quality music education through the music that the students love. The instruction methods vary greatly based on the needs of each student. Our philosophy of Passion First uses whatever teaching methods are most effective with each individual to get results.”
High caliber instructors make up the backbone of the Angeles Academy of Music. They represent some of the finest musicians in Los Angeles, creating a culture catered to helping students achieve their goals in a fun atmosphere. Pangrazio explained, “A great school is just a great group of teachers. We take pride in having a very selective process to bring new teachers on our team. Our instructors are mostly classically trained, with master’s degrees from the world’s finest music schools, including Juilliard, Royal Academy of Music London, USC, and Indiana University.” Pangrazio added, “Despite their classical backgrounds, our instructors are familiar with all styles and can help a 5- year-old learn Ed Sheeran or teach a 90- year old to sing Frank Sinatra!”
Born into an artistic household, Nathan Pangrazio’s father, Michael Pangrazio, is a renowned art director known for his work on 2005’s King Kong film, “Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow”, and “The Day After Tomorrow”. By the age of 20, Nathan Pangrazio was commissioned to write music for the Carmel Bach Festival, received a gold medal for Outstanding Musicianship at the Monterey Bay Blues Festival and placed 4th in California’s statewide piano competition.
Pangrazio went on to produce numerous scores for both feature-length and short films as well as commercials and documentaries for some of Hollywood’s elite including “Forrest Gump” producer Steve Tisch. In 2016, Pangrazio won an Emmy Award for his soundtrack to the PBS Civil War feature documentary, “Lew Wallace.” One year later, he collaborated with actress and director Mina Chow to score the critically acclaimed “Face of a Nation,” which was most recently screened at the National Museum in Washington D.C.
With his background as a classically trained composer, pianist, choral conductor and singer, sharing his extensive knowledge and experience as a music educator was a natural next step. Pangrazio opened the Angeles Academy of Music in 2011, and within a few years, the academy was filled to capacity with eager, young students. Pangrazio explained, “Our philosophy is that music has to be fun, and we have to focus on meeting kids and adults where they are, and with music they love.” Pangrazio continued, “It’s our job to figure out how to make the music they love achievable in the right size steps and to integrate valuable music education lessons along the way. The culture of our school is friendly, organized and eager to help students achieve their goals in music.”
For more information about Angeles Academy of Music visit AngelesAcademyOfMusic.com, call (310) 907-7928 or follow on Facebook @angelesacademyofmusic
