Inquiries
Biography
Will Martin is an American playwright and concert pianist based in Chicago, Illinois.
After making his professional debut in 2015 with the National Symphony Orchestra at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, he has been regularly
featured in performances with symphony orchestras throughout the United States
and Canada. His solo performances have been broadcast on WFMT and
Wisconsin Public Radio.
Mr. Martin specializes in the music of George Gershwin. With the permission of the Gershwin Family Interests, he has studied the original manuscripts of Rhapsody in Blue in the archives of the Library of Congress. These manuscripts, as well as Gershwin’s own recorded history, inform Mr. Martin’s interpretation of Rhapsody as a whoop from the Jazz Age—more Tin Pan Alley than Tchaikovsky.
An ardent educator and champion of the arts, Mr. Martin collaborates with Classical Kids LIVE!, the world’s leading producer of theatrical-symphony concerts for family audiences, to introduce over 100,000 children annually to the lives and music of the great composers. Their newest production, Gershwin’s Magic Key, is licensed by the Gershwin Family Interests, supported by the National Endowment for the Arts, and performed around the globe. Mr. Martin co-wrote the script and music supervised the production, which has been nominated for the 2017 International Young Audience Music Awards as "Best Production."
A graduate of the Conservatory at Lawrence University, Mr. Martin studied under Emma Tahmizian and Michael Mizrahi. There, he took both the B.Mus piano performance and the B.A. English magna cum laude. He currently works with the world’s leading Gershwin archivist, Kevin Cole, and studies under Sheila Paige, who learned from Dorothy Taubman.
Booking History
January 22, 2022
Santa Rosa Symphony
Canceled due to COVID-19
April 23, 2020
Detroit Symphony Orchestra
Canceled due to COVID-19
May 26, 2019
Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra
Jack Singer Concert Hall | Calgary, Alberta
April 27, 2019
Quad City Symphony Orchestra
Davenport Central | Davenport, IA
November 9, 2018
Reno Philharmonic Orchestra
Pioneer Center | Reno, NV
March 24, 2018
Toronto Symphony Orchestra
Roy Thompson Hall | Toronto, ON
March 13, 2018
Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra
North Shore Center for the Performing Arts | Chicago, IL
February 23, 2018
Muncie Symphony Orchestra
Emens Auditorium | Muncie, IN
October 8, 2017
Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra
Chenery Auditorium | Kalamazoo, MI
July 12, 2017
National Repertory Orchestra @
Bravo! Vail Music Festival
Kensho Watanabe, conductor
Gerald R. Ford Ampitheater | Vail, CO
July 11, 2017
National Repertory Orchestra @
Breckenridge Music Festival
Kensho Watanabe, conductor
Riverwalk Center | Breckenridge, CO
April 22, 2017
Utah Symphony
Rei Hotoda, conductor
Abravanel Hall | Salt Lake City, UT
February 4, 2017
North Carolina Symphony
Grant Llewellyn, conductor
Meymandi Hall | Raleigh, NC
January 22, 2017
Peoria Symphony Orchestra
George Stelluto, conductor
Peoria Civic Center | Peoria, IL
December 7, 2016
Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra
Daniel Brier, conductor
Chenery Auditorium | Kalamazoo, MI
March 13, 2016
Santa Rosa Symphony
Richard Loheyde, conductor
Weill Hall | Green Music Center | Santa Rosa, CA
January 30, 2016
Wichita Symphony Orchestra
Daniel Hege, conductor
Century II Concert Hall | Wichita, KS
January 24, 2016
Kansas City Symphony
Christopher James Lees, conductor
Helzberg Hall | Kauffman Center | Kansas City, MO
January 10, 2016
Vancouver Symphony Orchestra
Gordon Gerrard, conductor
Orpheum Theatre | Vancouver, BC
November 4, 2015
York Symphony Orchestra
Stephen Czarkowski, conductor
Appell Center for the Performing Arts | York, PA
October 25, 2015
Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra
Arie Lipsky, conductor
Michigan Theatre | Ann Arbor, MI
April 26, 2015
National Symphony Orchestra
Benjamin Rous, conductor
The Concert Hall | The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts | Washington, DC