Les Martin
Adjunct Instructor of Organ/Piano/Harpsichord
Email: lmartin@spu.edu
Education: M Mus, University of Oregon,1978; M Mus, University of Oregon, 1979
A native of the Pacific Northwest, Leslie Martin teaches organ, harpsichord, and piano at Seattle Pacific University. He is also a faculty member at Music Center of the Northwest, where he teaches Suzuki piano; and at the Academy of Music Northwest, where he is co-leader of the Academy Baroque Soloists. He serves as the director of music at Sand Point United Methodist Church in Seattle.
Mr. Martin has performed organ recitals in numerous European cities — including Geneva, Uppsala, Monopoli, Martignano, Sirolo, and Rome — and has appeared as a featured artist at European music festivals such as the Stagione Concertistica Internazionale d'Organo (Associazione ARS ORGANI “Girolamo Frescobaldi”) in Lecce (2001 and 2009); the Accademia Organistica Elpidiense in Sant’ Elpidio a Mare; and the prestigious Festival International de l’Orgue Ancien, in Sion, Switzerland (1995 and 2007), performing there on the world’s oldest playable organ, dating from 1435.
He holds master's degrees in both organ performance and choral conducting from the University of Oregon, where he graduated as a Pi Kappa Lambda scholar. He has appeared as guest conductor, organist, and harpsichordist with many Seattle-based orchestras, including Philharmonia Northwest, Thalia Symphony Orchestra, and the Seattle Philharmonic Orchestra. Mr. Martin was principal harpsichordist with Seattle’s Northwest Chamber Orchestra under the direction of the renowned violinist Joseph Silverstein, and continues to be in demand as a keyboard artist with musical organizations such as Seattle Opera and the Seattle Symphony Orchestra.
During his career, he has been organist and choirmaster for Episcopal churches in Washington, Texas, and Connecticut, and has also served on the keyboard faculty of the University of Washington.
Mr. Martin enjoys balancing his musical activities with fly-fishing, hiking, and canoeing with his wife, a violin and viola teacher and performer.
Personal Links
Les Martin's website