Robbie Padilla

Pianist-teacher Robbie Padilla is making strides throughout Central New York.

In 2025, Robbie had the privilege of performing his arrangement of Gershwin’s iconic Rhapsody in Blue with CNY’s own Silverwood Clarinet Choir under the direction of Ronald Caravan. Robbie regularly performs solo recitals including, most recently, a presentation of the complete 12 Moments Musicaux by Schubert and Rachmaninoff.

In addition to Robbie’s solo piano engagements, he regularly collaborates with professional and student musicians in Central New York. He has performed regularly on college campuses including Colgate University, Onondaga Community College, SUNY Oswego, and Syracuse University, to name a few. NYSSMA auditions with top-level high school students are also a regular part of Robbie’s collaborative piano adventures.

Recently, Robbie has begun serving at St. James’ in Skaneateles as organist, discovering the exciting sounds of the organ and the repertoire written for it.

Robbie takes pride in volunteering his time and expertise for local nonprofits promoting music education and performance. He served on the board of Central New York Association of Music Teachers (CNYAMT) and co-founded the brand-new Teacher Concert Series that launched in fall 2025.

Robbie also served on the board of Civic Morning Musicals (CMM) with many different hats including a two-year tenure as the president. In 2025, the organization awarded him the prestigious Ada Shinaman Crouse Award in recognition of “excellence in performance and a continued commitment to musical artistry”.

Robbie gets the greatest reward from his teaching. Currently, he maintains a flourishing private lesson studio ranging from beginner students to future professional musicians.

Robbie Padilla holds degrees from Syracuse University (piano performance, 2016) and SUNY Fredonia (music education, 2013). Major teachers have included Anne Kissel, Irina Lupines, and Ida Tili-Trebicka.