Martin began his musical life playing the cornet in his local brass band in Scotland. He led the National Youth Brass Band of Scotland and was a member of the Brighouse and Rastrick Band. He switched to trumpet whilst at the Huddersfield School of Music before Postgraduate studies followed at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester and the National Centre for Orchestral Studies based at Goldsmiths College in London.
Prior to joining WNO, Martin enjoyed a hectic six-week career as a freelancer. Martin’s personal highlights with WNO so far have been: 'meeting my wife, a former chorister, and the complete performances of Wagner’s Ring Cycle. (In that order...)'
Away from WNO, Martin has been a life-long aficionado of the plays of Shakespeare and needs only to see four more plays live on stage to complete the canon.
Martin has for several years conducted the City of Cardiff Symphony Orchestra, a talented group of amateur performers and is continually grateful for instrumental and vocal colleagues from the WNO family appearing as soloists.