Marko Martin

b. August 20, 1975, Tallinn
Member of the Association of Estonian Professional Musicians since 2003
Member of the International Eduard Tubin Society since 2005

Martin began his piano studies at the age of 8. In 1993 he graduated from the Tallinn Music High School’s piano class as a student of Lembit Orgse. In 1993-96 he studied piano at the Estonian Academy of Music with Peep Lassmann and in 1996-2000 at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London with Professor Joan Havill receiving both bachelors and master’s degree. He has participated in the master classes of Eric Heidsieck, Dominique Merlet, Sequeira Costa, Leon Fleisher, Dmitri Bashkirov and Murray Perahia. In 2000-2001 he worked at the Guildhall School by Performance Fellowship, since 2002 Martin is teaching piano at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre.

Marko Martin has received acknowledgements at more than 20 competitions for pianists. He won several prizes at international contests already during his school years (1990 in Czechoslovakia, 1992 in Kharkov and 1993 in Riga). Laureate of the 2000 Honens International Piano Competition and prize winner at the 1998 Gina Bachauer International Piano Competition, Martin is gaining a reputation for his inspired balance between energy and lyricism, especially in the works of Brahms, Liszt and Schubert. He is equally admired for his interpretation of music of the 20th century.

Since his concert debut in Tallinn 1992, Martin has held recitals as well as performed with orchestra in both Europe and North America. Among others he has performed with the Li?paja National Symphony Orchestra, Bergslagens Kammarsymfoniker, Norfolk Symphony Orchestra, Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, National Arts Centre Orchestra, Midland Symphony Orchestra, Tallinn Chamber Orchestra, and Estonian National Symphony Orchestra. He has given concerts at several international music festivals. He is also an active ensemble member, playing duos with his wife, violinist Sigrid Kuulmann, oboist Kalev Kuljus, trumpet player Indrek Vau and many other Estonian as well as foreign musicians, including Daedalus Quartet (USA) and Jacques Thibaud Trio (Germany).

Marko Martins favorite composers are Johannes Brahms and Franz Liszt, his wide-ranging repertoire includes about 20 instrumental concertos and incorporates next to classics also Estonian authors like Eduard Tubin, Rudolf Tobias, Heino Eller and Arvo Pärt.

Martin has recorded performances at BBC, CBC, Estonian Radio and 2 CD albums with the works of Franz Schubert (Abbas Records, 1998) and Ferenc Liszt (Arktos, 2002).

In 2005, Marko Martin was given the Neeme Järvi Young Musician Award.

 

Marko Martin is a pianist with vivid personality and creative talent. He seems to have an extraordinary artistic toolbox combining opposite qualities: strong, rational self examination and artistic spontaneity.
Evi Arujärv. Beauty and perfection of musical x-ray photographs. – Postimees. Kultuur, July 25, 1998.

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