Emmanuel Fratianni is an internationally recognized conductor, composer and pianist whose artistic career encompasses the symphonic and classical repertoire, jazz, contemporary music, film and the performing arts. Over more than two decades, he has conducted over 60 symphony orchestras in the United States and Canada including the San Francisco Symphony, Boston Pops, National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center, as well as leading ensembles worldwide, including the Spanish National Symphony Orchestra, Royal Scottish National Orchestra and Czech National Symphony Orchestra. 

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​Known for his musicality, versatility and engaging presence on the podium, Fratianni brings a distinctive perspective to the orchestra, shaped by a deep foundation in the classical tradition and an equally extensive background as a jazz pianist, composer, orchestrator and music director. His approach to conducting is grounded in musical integrity, clarity of communication and a strong connection between musicians, repertoire and audience.

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Fratianni is the founding conductor of the Santa Barbara Chamber Players, a chamber ensemble established in his hometown in 2023. The orchestra 's inaugural season featured major works by Dvořák, Copland, Elgar and Ravel, alongside Lalo Schifrin's Tuba Concerto performed with Gene Pokorny, principal tuba of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Through the ensemble, Fratianni continues to develop his vision for ambitious, accessible and artistically focused orchestral programming in conceiving and curating original orchestral programs including Tour Italia!, Bonjour La France!, Great American Songbook Reimagined, September Suite. These projects reflect his interest in creating distinctive concert experiences while maintaining the artistic standards and musical character of the symphonic tradition.

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His international artistic collaborations include Stars on the Lake, a large-scale orchestral work created in 2023 with Swiss pianist and composer Thierry Lang. Combining jazz and orchestral traditions, the work was premiered to a sold-out audience with the Orchestre de Chambre de Fribourg in Switzerland and subsequently released internationally by Universal Music Group.

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Fratianni's artistic work has also extended to major cultural and civic productions. In 2013, he served as Music Director for the opening gala of the Tom Bradley International Terminal at Los Angeles International Airport, creating Portale, a Gateway to the World, an original work for orchestra, children's choir and international guest artists that was performed live inside the terminal.

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His musical identity was formed at the intersection of European classical traditions and American jazz. Raised in a Swiss-Italian family on the shores of Lake Geneva, Fratianni began his classical studies at the age of seven and developed an early passion for jazz, particularly the music of Oscar Peterson, Bill Evans and Miles Davis. At fourteen, he formed his own jazz quartet and subsequently performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival. In 1995, his September Suite was commissioned by the City of Montreux and premiered at the Stravinsky Auditorium for jazz quartet and large orchestra.

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Fratianni's work as a composer, orchestrator and music director has taken him deeply into the world of film, television and large-scale entertainment productions. After moving to Los Angeles in the late 1990s, he worked as an orchestrator and additional music composer for five seasons of the CBS/Paramount television series JAG, and later as an on-set music arranger for NCIS. His work has also been associated with major productions including Avatar, The Amazing Spider-Man, Troy and Star Trek. He has been part of the music teams for five Academy Awards ceremonies and an Emmy Awards broadcast.

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His experience in film and media has further developed his understanding of orchestral color, musical storytelling and large-scale production. His work in interactive music has been performed by major orchestras including the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl and in 2023 he conducted the Boston Pops in its first ever video game music concert. Fratianni's music is featured on the London Philharmonic Orchestra recording The Greatest Video Game Music, Vol. 1 and in 2008 Video Games Live, Vol. 1, released by EMI Classics, reached the Billboard Top Ten, while his work in interactive media has received industry recognition including a G.A.N.G. Award and multiple nominations.

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A dedicated educator, Fratianni has taught composition for film and interactive media at the École des Musiques Actuelles in Geneva since 2016 and regularly gives lectures and masterclasses in the United States and Europe.

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Today, Fratianni continues to develop his work as a symphonic conductor, artistic collaborator and creator of original orchestral programs, with engagements and collaborations spanning North America and Europe. His experience across classical music, jazz, composition, film and the performing arts gives him a distinctive musical voice and an unusually broad understanding of the orchestra as both a musical ensemble and a vehicle for artistic expression.

Fratianni lives in Santa Barbara by the Pacific Ocean with his family and maintains a second home in Southern Italy. He holds dual U.S. and Italian citizenship and is fluent in English, French and Italian.​ 

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