Michael Martin

A native of Marietta, Georgia, Michael Martin joined the trumpet section of the Boston Symphony and the Boston Pops as fourth/utility trumpet in October 2010. Martin attended Northwestern University where he received both his bachelor's and master's degrees in trumpet performance studying with Barbara Butler and Charles Geyer. Martin was a Fellow at the Tanglewood Music Center in 2006 and 2008, and received the Roger Voisin Trumpet Award both summers. He has performed with orchestras across the country and around the world including the Atlanta, Baltimore, and Chicago Symphonies, and at the Pacific Music Festival in Sapporo, Japan and the Grand Teton Music Festival in Jackson, Wyoming. He has performed as guest principal trumpet with the Honolulu Symphony and the Seoul Philharmonic and with the Malaysian Philharmonic of Kuala Lumpur. From 2006 to 2009, Martin was a regular member with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, the training orchestra of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. A champion of new music, Martin has performed with acclaimed contemporary music groups Eighth Blackbird and the Pacifica Quartet and has also performed with members of the CSO as part of their "MusicNow" series at the Harris Theater. An award-winning composer, Martin also studied composition at Northwestern University and orchestration at University of Chicago with renowned composer, orchestrator, and conductor Cliff Colnot; he has received commissions from members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Chicago Chamber Musicians.

In addition to being the first brass player in 25 years to win the Northwestern University Concerto Competition, in 2006 Martin was also the winner of the National Trumpet Competition in Washington, D.C. and was subsequently invited to perform at the Kennedy Center representing Northwestern University as part of "The Conservatory Project," an initiative aimed at highlighting the nation's most distinguished collegiate musicians. A devoted teacher, Martin has taught students ranging from ages 10 to 24 in middle and high school concert and marching band programs around the country. Martin is also a brass instructor with the Drum Corps International World Champion Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps of Rockford, Illinois. He currently consults with the Arizona Academy of the Performing Arts of Tucson. Prior to joining the Boston Symphony, Martin enjoyed a dynamic freelance career with a diverse group of ensembles and performing artists including Sufjan Stevens, the Burning River Brass, and the Still Swingin' Big Band of Atlanta, Georgia. He has been a finalist for positions in the President's Own United States Marine Band, the Cleveland Orchestra and the New York Philharmonic as well as the symphonies of Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, and San Francisco. Martin is also co-artistic director of the National Brass Symposium.