Laurie San Martin

Laurie San Martin is a Professor of Music at the University of California, Davis, serving as department chair and undergraduate advisor for music majors with last names N-Z. She holds a PhD in Theory and Composition from Brandeis University and a B.A. in Music from UC Davis (1991). Her primary roles include teaching composition, music theory, and recital preparation, while maintaining active involvement in compositional research and performance activities.

Research & Creative Work: San Martin specializes in contemporary concert music for chamber ensembles, orchestra, and chorus. Her compositions explore intersections of texture and line, often incorporating experimental techniques and cross-cultural influences. Notable works include Witches (2018), a chamber-choral piece with lyrics by Lucy Corin; Night Owls (2024), a Barlow Endowment-commissioned work for Ensemble Ari; and Elective Affinities (2013), blending Korean gayageum with string quartet. She frequently collaborates with ensembles like Earplay, Left Coast Chamber Ensemble, and Volti.

• Performed internationally in Europe, South America, and Asia
• Recipient of prestigious awards including the Guggenheim Fellowship (2016), Andrew Imbrie Award (2018), and Barlow Endowment commissions

Teaching & Mentorship: As an advisor, she supports music majors while mentoring emerging composers through programs like the Pacific Chamber Orchestra's Dream American workshop. Her pedagogical focus includes fostering creativity and technical mastery in composition students.

Recent Activities: In 2023, she served as guest faculty at the Cortona Sessions in Italy, where her works Octurnal, Miniatures, and Conveyer Belt Dreaming were performed. Ongoing projects include a 2025 residency at the São Paulo Contemporary Composers Festival and a new work for the Empyrean Ensemble.

Awards & Recognition: Her accolades reflect her impact on contemporary music, including the League of Composers-ISCM Fellowship and ASCAP Morton Gould Young Composer Awards. She has held residencies at prestigious institutions like the MacDowell Colony and Yaddo.