Colin Martin shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi Colin, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What is a normal day like for you right now?
I’m in the final year of my doctoral degree in Music Theory and Composition at the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami. My dissertation composition is a Cello Concerto for renowned Romanian cellist Andrei Ioniță, a winner of the Tchaikovsky Competition. I’m also a graduate teaching assistant, teaching sophomore music theory and undergraduate composition on top of my dissertation work, and I’m in the process of applying for full-time university positions for after I graduate. Life is hectic, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m a composer and pianist originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico. As a composer, I believe strongly in writing music that is accessible for all audiences, across all boundaries. I believe music is something that has the rare ability to unite people across political, racial, gender, religious, socioeconomic, and other boundaries, and that unitary power is something that I believe the world desperately needs in this time. I seek to provide that for audiences.
Additionally, I am a music educator who is currently applying for teaching jobs in higher education. I believe strongly in music education and am passionate about helping develop the next generation of young artists.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
I like to think that I still don’t conform to what the world has demanded that I be. I feel like much of what I do, I do for myself. I don’t conform to a lot of the standards of the “new music” industry, for example. Any music I write, I write for myself and create the music that I want more of in the world, without thinking about what’s currently “in” at all. I also generally try to be an independent thinker, always, and think for myself deeply before coming to any sort of opinion on anything. Several of my friends have told me that I “march to the beat of my own drum”, and honestly, if that’s true, it’s one of the things that I’m the most proud of about myself.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
I almost left the music industry entirely in early 2023. I had been applying to doctoral programs for nearly five years, with zero success. I was so fed up with everything in the new music industry and the way I perceived it was heading, and was facing grim financial realities that I would eventually have to probably go do something else with my life just to survive. However, I finally got an acceptance from Frost, which enabled me to keep the dream alive for at least a little while longer. Since then, I’ve gotten two major opportunities between my recent ballet, “The Great Gatsby”, and the Cello Concerto with Andrei, that have given me some new life. Additionally, I was fortunate enough to be given 2nd place in The American Prize for Orchestral Music, Professional Division, for my composition “Songs from ‘By Heart'”. So for now, the dream lives on.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Is the public version of you the real you?
For the most part, yes. I’ve heard that I come across as a bit intimidating to people who don’t know me, but my friends would say that once you get to know me, the looser, more humorous side comes out. I’ve slowly been working on making that side of me more public, especially in things like pre-concert talks.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
My aspiration is to be a truly capital-G Great composer. Part of what attracted me to this field to begin with was a chance to leave a legacy. I believed that I could do that in a much more unique and authentic way as a composer than I ever could as only a pianist. I honestly believe that every composer’s aspiration should be to write music that long outlives them, and I certainly hope that’s the case for me. It’s harder to do these days than ever, and I don’t have any real expectation that that will happen, but I intend to keep grinding and working to hopefully compose at least a few pieces in my life that live on well beyond my death.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.colinmartinmusic.com
- Instagram: @colinmartinmusic
- Facebook: Colin Martin, Composer
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@cmartinmusic23
Image Credits
The American Prize
