Rex Martin (born in Burlington, Iowa) is one of the world's virtuoso tuba players, appearing on over 70 symphony orchestra recordings. He primarily studied under Edward Livingston and Arnold Jacobs, though he also took lessons with Edward Kleinhammer.
He was raised in Stronghurst, Illinois and graduated from high school in Chillicothe, Illinois. He married Margreth Trümpi of Ennenda, Switzerland in 1989.
Received a BM in Music performance from Illinois State University, 1982
Received an MM in music performance from Northwestern University, 1983
Professor at DePaul University (1983-1989)
Professor at Illinois State University (1983-1984)
Professor at the University of Notre Dame (1987-1991)
Instructor at Northwestern University in 1988
Assistant Professor at Northwestern University in 1989
Professor at University of Illinois at Chicago (1989-1995)
Associate Professor (tenure) at Northwestern University in 1994
Professor at the Oberlin Conservatory (1994-1996)
Since 1999, Martin has been a full Professor, Tuba and Euphonium at Northwestern University
Martin is on the faculty of Ticino Musica in Lugano, Switzerland
In 1979, Martin began his professional career by playing in the Circus Genoa band, under the direction of Charlie Stevenson.
In 1998 Martin began a twice yearly series of master classes in Castagneto Carducci, Italy. In these classes he has worked with some of the finest professional brass players in Italy.
In 1995, Martin was the host of the 1995 International Tuba Euphonium Conference, at Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois.
As a conductor and clinician, Martin has worked with the brass sections of symphony orchestras in Mexico City, Osaka, Malmö, Sweden, Stavanger, Norway, Rome, and Copenhagen, Aarhus, Odense, Sonderborg, and Alborg, Denmark.
Martin has presented recitals and master classes at the prestigious Blekinge International Brass Academy in Karlskrona, Sweden six times.
Martin has presented master classes and recitals at the Spanish Brass Festival in Valencia, Spain.
Has presented recitals and master classes in Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Germany, Switzerland, France, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Australia, Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Costa Rica, Mexico, and throughout the United States.
Chicago Philharmonic Orchestra
The Ravinia Festival Orchestra
The Ars Viva Orchestra
Fulcrum Point New Music Project
Chicago Brass Ensemble
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
St. Louis Symphony Orchestra
Lyric Opera of Chicago
New York Philharmonic
Contemporary Chamber Players
Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
Boston Symphony Orchestra
North Carolina Symphony Orchestra
OFUNAM Orchestra of Mexico City
Zurich Tonhalle Orchestra
Lucerne Festival Orchestra
He has recorded many CDs with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Sir Georg Solti, Claudio Abbado, Leonard Bernstein, Naeme Järvi, Michael Tilson Thomas, Leonard Slatkin, and Daniel Barenboim.
His playing can be heard on recordings by the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Sinfonietta, Symphony II, Chicago Philharmonic Orchestra, Chicago Pro Musica, and Mannheim Steamroller.
In 2008, his solo CD "Rex Martin Live in Japan" was released on the WAKO label. It is a solo tuba CD recorded live, unedited, from a single concert.
Tony Bennett
Dave Brubeck
Ray Charles
Wynton Marsalis
Luciano Pavarotti
Frank Sinatra
Mel Tormé
Sarah Vaughan
Martin has performed as a studio musician on over 3000 television and radio commercials.
1998 Martin received the "Young Alumni Award" from Illinois State University.
Outstanding Alumni Award Illinois State University
Martin's sister Becky (Martin) Kevoian is married to Bob Kevoian of the nationally syndicated Bob and Tom Show. Some of the tuba performance heard on this show was done by Rex Martin.
