Kendall Campus Alumna Wins Emmy For Apple TV+ Series, The Studio

As Lorena Perez Batista stepped onto the stage at the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony in downtown Los Angeles in September, she was overwhelmed with emotion. 

“Going to the Emmys was a very exciting experience,” Perez said. “I feel grateful and lucky to have been a part of this.” 

The 38-year-old, a Kendall Campus alumna, and her music editing team won an Emmy in the Outstanding Sound Editing for a Comedy or Drama Series (Half-Hour) category for the episode The Golden Globes from The Studio—an Apple TV+ comedy series that explores the behind-the-scenes dynamic of the film industry. 

Perez served as music editor on the project in the postproduction process, helping bring each episode to life by weaving music into the motion picture, forming an immersive and resonant soundscape. 

The Studio—directed by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg—became the most awarded debut comedy series, with a record of 13 awards and 23 nominations. 

As Perez stood among Hollywood’s brightest stars, she found herself thinking, “How did I get here?” 

Born in Punto Fijo, a small town on the outskirts of Venezuela, Latin rhythms pulsated around her, laying the foundation for Perez’s identity as a musician. 

As a kid, she played instruments such as the cuatro—a four-stringed instrument similar to the ukulele—and danced flamenco, which sparked her love for percussion.

But the drums were what truly captivated her. 

She improvised a drum set at home, arranging household objects and using pencils as drumsticks. Rhythm became her language—a way to express what words couldn’t. 

Her family also played a vital role, providing unwavering support and nurturing her talent by taking her to music lessons.

“A core memory that comes to mind is when my sister and I used to go on very long car rides with our family,” said Lorena’s brother, Francisco Javier Perez Batista. “[She] always took the DJ role with the best taste in music… we’d end up singing and drumming the whole way.” 

After graduating high school in Venezuela, her family pushed her to move to the United States to learn English. 

She moved to Gainesville when she was 18 and began taking English classes, experiencing independence for the first time. Perez planned to move back to Caracas to study sound engineering but the political situation in Venezuela worsened. 

Eventually, she moved to South Florida and started attending Miami Dade College. By 2008, Perez had earned an associate degree in music business from Kendall Campus. 

“Lorena was a standout student from the start. She excelled in the production courses, she played drums in the ensembles, she was a real asset to the program,” said Stephen Quinzi, a senior associate professor at Kendall Campus.  “I always knew that she would succeed in the field. I am very proud of her.” 

In 2009, Perez transferred to the Berklee College of Music in Massachusetts to pursue a bachelor’s degree in music writing and production.

After graduating in 2011, Perez spent a few months in Venezuela before moving to Los Angeles to kickstart her career.

“I started assisting a lot of composers. My background allowed me to help composers in many different ways,” Perez said. “I could run a session, edit music, orchestrate, write, play drums on their underscore.” 

Her versatility, shaped by her college education and cultural influence, opened countless doors. She has worked on projects in film, animation, television, video games and live entertainment, including John Wick 3, Deadpool 2, The Punisher and Dora The Explorer.  

Perez’s breakthrough moment came in 2022 when Antonio Sánchez, a fellow Berklee graduate and  renowned drummer, invited her to audition for the music editing role on The Studio. 

“Everything I had worked on up to that point kind of prepared me for this job in a very magical way,” Perez said. “It was wonderful how everything came together. I know in a way it will open many opportunities, so I am very grateful.”

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