Robert Martin

Violinist Robert Martin is Concertmaster of the United States Army Orchestra of the United States Army Band "Pershing's Own" in Washington, DC, and Concertmaster of the Maryland Symphony Orchestra. He previously held the post of Principal 2nd Violin of the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia.

A native of the Philadelphia area, Mr. Martin began studies at age three with Rochelle Walton, a former teaching assistant to famed pedagogue Ivan Galamian. He later studied with Julian Meyer and Sylvia Ahramjian at Temple University's Center for Gifted Young Musicians. At age 13 Mr. Martin made his solo debut with the Philadelphia Orchestra as winner of the Albert M. Greenfield competition. He went on to study with Zvi Zeitlin at the Eastman School of Music where he served as Concertmaster of the Eastman Philharmonia and performed regularly with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. He has been a resident artist at the Bravo! Vail Valley, Skaneateles, and Vermont Mozart festivals, and studied at the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara, CA.

Mr. Martin's extensive experience also includes performances with the Opera Company of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Ballet, Peter Nero and the Philly Pops, Orchestra 2001, and the Baltimore, Richmond, Haddonfield (now Symphony in C), Lancaster, Princeton and Delaware Symphonies. At the major concert venues of Philadelphia and in the showrooms of Atlantic City, Mr. Martin has performed with a long list of touring artists including Julie Andrews, Frank Sinatra, Jr., Bernadette Peters, Barry Manilow, Elvis Costello, Patti LaBelle, Ian Anderson, Manhattan Transfer, Josh Groban, Denyce Graves, Luciano Pavarotti, K.D. Lang, The Decemberists, and Ben Folds. An active studio musician, he has recorded for Warner Bros. Pictures, NFL Films, and the Sony, Atlantic, RCA, Island/Def Jam, Jive, Fo Yo Soul, and Geffen record labels. His playing can be heard on albums of recording artists such as Pharrel, Ne-Yo, John Legend, R. Kelly, Rick Ross, Kirk Franklin, Kid Cudi, Wicked Wisdom, and Katherine McPhee. Mr. Martin currently resides in Laurel, MD with his wife, Mu Na, also a violinist.