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Photo: Adam Williams

Martin graduated from the Elder Conservatorium at the University of Adelaide with a PhD in Composition (2023) and First Class Honours in the Bachelor of Music Education (Most Outstanding Graduate, 2009). He was selected for the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra's 2023 Cybec 21st Century Australian Composers' Program under the mentorship of Mary Finsterer. This collaboration culminated in the World Premiere of Martin's first piece for symphony orchestra, 'Penchant', on January 30th, 2024.

Martin co-founded the Adelaide Wind Orchestra (AWO) in 2012 which has attracted high-profile guest artists including internationally renowned conductor Dr John Lynch. Martin's new clarinet concerto, 'like the very heaven for clearness', was commissioned by AWO to be premiered at the 20th World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles (WASBE) conference in South Korea in July 2024, featuring the Elder Conservatorium Head of Woodwind and Arcadia Winds' Lloyd Van't Hoff as soloist. AWO has performed and recorded a number of Martin's pieces, including their World Premiere of 'Tangent: symphony for wind orchestra' in 2021 (which is now available via all good music streaming services).

In 2022, Martin was one of the mentor composers for the ReClassified festival presented by Recitals Australia, under the direction of esteemed Australian composer Anne Cawrse. Martin composed his first film score in 2023 for 'Within The Pines' (dir. Paul Evans Thomas), which is yet to be released. He is also represented in Australia by Matt Klohs and internationally by Murphy Music Press, LLC.

Outside the world of composing, Martin is a music theatre lecturer, repetiteur, music director and pit orchestra pianist with experience in over 50 professional, amateur and educational productions. As a pianist, he has performed with Il Divo, John Bucchino, Marina Prior and John Foreman, as well as playing keyboard for the Australian productions of 'Chicago', 'Miss Saigon', 'Mary Poppins', '9 to 5', 'Chess', 'Aladdin', 'Mamma Mia!' and 'The Wizard of Oz'. After 11 years working as a secondary school music teacher, he was presented with an AHOMINGS 'Significant Contribution to the Profession' Award. Martin is a published Arts writer and critic who writes for his own website, Sharp Four Reviews, and has by-lines at the Australian online magazines CutCommon and FilmInk. Martin currently lectures in the Bachelor of Music Theatre at the University of Adelaide and also dabbles in latte art as an amateur barista - he pours a pretty decent fern leaf.

Biography provided by the composer — current to July 2024