Garrett F. Martin

Mr. Garrett F. Martin holds a Performer's Certificate in Organ from Vanderbilt University's Blair School of Music as well as a Sacred Music and Organ Performance Degree from Carson-Newman College in Jefferson City, TN. His major teachers include Peter Fyfe and Carl Smith of Vanderbilt, and J. Ryan Garber of Carson-Newman. He has done further organ, accompanying, and vocal coaching study in Germany and Austria with Michael Gailit of the Vienna Conservatory and Kristen Orkerlund of the Vienna State Opera. He most recently finished his Master of Music degree in Organ Performance and Sacred Music at the University of Texas at Austin, studying with Gerre and Judith Hancock.

With performances and improvisations described as "Masterful...Rhythmic...Transcendent," Mr. Martin is in demand as both a church musician and recitalist as part of "the new generation of organ virtuosi." Garrett was selected as the 2009 American Guild of Organists Performance winner and in 2007, the National Keyboard Performer's Contest winner. Well versed in classical music, choral music, popular and contemporary styles, he enjoys exploring new facets for which the organ can be used, although his greatest calling and strength is sacred music.

Garrett has served churches in Tennessee, Alabama, Florida, and Texas. He has appeared in service, recital, and concert settings throughout the Eastern, Southern, and Central United States as well as Austria, Brazil, England, Germany, Israel, Jamaica, Jordan, Mexico, South Africa, and Thailand.

From 2009 to 2010, he held an appointment as Senior Organist/Associate Director of Music at Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Fort Lauderdale, Florida: the youngest person to ever hold the post and the youngest successor to organist Diane Bish. He can still be heard on their broadcasts weekly. Garrett serves as Organist and Director of Worship Arts at Highland Park Baptist Church (an ecumenical church in the Baptist tradition) in Austin, TX.

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