Originally from Boulder Colorado, Gigi Boratgis was born into a family of musicians. Ms. Boratgis' early piano training began with her mother, then by age fifteen at the Chigiana Academy in Siena, Italy with Giulini Agosti. A few years later, renowned concert pianist, Maria Teresa Rodriguez (recently celebrated her 75th year on the concert stage) mentored Ms. Boratgis in Mexico City, introducing her to the professional world of piano performance. At the University of Colorado, Ms. Boratgis did her undergraduate and graduate studies in Piano Performance with Dr. Peter Amstutz, Doris Pridinoff Lehnert and Dr. Guy Duckworth. She taught piano classes on an assistantship while pursuing a M. M. degree in Piano Performance, Pedagogy and Literature: Process of Group Environments under the direction of Dr. Guy Duckworth. Ms. Boratgis has performed solo recitals internationally and has appeared as soloist with the Polytechnic Orchestra, Brico Symphony, Rocky Mountain Symphony, Centennial Philharmonic and the Korean Philharmonic. Currently, Ms. Boratgis and her husband, Sculptor, Yoshikawa, have a home in Los Angeles where she teaches privately, performs recitals and collaborates with selected soloists and groups.

Items of Interest:

• Winner of the 1986 National Conference on Piano Pedagogy in Ann Arbor Michigan chosen to perform and speak at the conference.
• Collaborative artist with voice students of Dr. Kathleen Roland (Fullbright Scholar, International performer and professor) since 2002.
• Equally active as performer, collaborative artist and teacher.
• Premiered compositions by Spanish composer, Juan J. Colomer including a piece dedicated to Ms. Boratgis.
• Over 20 years teaching experience.

Studio Information:

• My training encompasses creating a strong foundation of technique, theory, musicianship, improvisation, ear training and repertoire.
• The materials I mainly use are the Shaaks' Beginning Method Books, The New Pageants for Piano by Donald Waxman and Celebration Series: The Piano Odessy published by Frederick Harris. I choose pieces inside or outside of a method book that will nurture the individual student musically and technically. I do not follow one single method book.
• I generally accept children from age 5 and adults beginning through advanced.
• Studio recitals are held Winter and Spring of the academic year.