MM, SUNY Fredonia

Roland E. Martin is a member of the Music Faculty of the University at Buffalo where he teaches organ, harpsichord and piano. Since November of 1992 he has been Director of Music for St. Joseph's University Church in Buffalo.

He is also Assistant Musical Director and accompanist for the Chautauqua Chamber Singers, as well as founder and director of Speculum Musicae: an ensemble for early music.

Mr. Martin received his Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from the State University College at Fredonia New York where he studied organ with Dr. John Hofmann; earlier instruction was with Hans Vigeland. He became Staff Accompanist at Fredonia in 1979 and remained in that position until 1985.

Mr. Martin is a member of the Trumpet/Organ duo "Baroque Consort" with trumpeter Wade Weast. Together they have completed successful tours including one in Europe (England, Germany, Austria) in August 1987.

As accompanist, Mr. Martin has performed throughout the Eastern United States, Canada and Bermuda. He has, served as such for the Metropolitan Opera National Competition on several occasions.

As organist he has played recitals in the U.S. (including the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.) and Canada, Spain (1978), Germany/Austria (1982) and England (1994). In February 1986, Mr. Martin was honored to perform the New York Premier, and third American performance of the complete collection of J.S. Bach's recently discovered "Neumeister Chorales."

Mr. Martin has served as Associate Conductor for the premier of "The Beggars' Christmas" by Richard Proulx in Rockwell Hall.

An active composer and conductor, he is the recipient of two "Meet the Composer" grants. Mr. Martin was also honored with two Pennsylvania State Council of the Arts grants, and two Alcoa Arts Endowment awards for commissioned compositions. Recent works include the critically acclaimed "A Hymn for St. Cecilia", commissioned by the Cheektowaga Community Chorus, and "A Medieval Triptych" commissioned by The University of the South, Sewanee, Tennessee.

In addition to his concert experience, he has worked as a Church musician since 1976. He has served at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Fredonia, Trinity Episcopal Church, Hamburg, and since 1992, St. Joseph University Heights, Buffalo.