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About the Music Director, Martin Marks
Martin's story
Thirty years ago, Martin's love for Rock Music brought him to The United States from Sweden in a band with his brother Mike. Their band headlined classic venues such as The Troubadour in 1990 & 1991. Since first arriving in 1989, Martin has penned 300 songs, recorded 145, and released five albums. As a performer, he has performed over 600 shows and reached #2 and #4 on MTV Nordic Top Five. He has been a part of the music scene in Boulder, Los Angeles and Stockholm, and his home provence Skåne, Sweden.
Music Director in Los Angeles
After marrying and having his daughter Odette, Martin wanted to share his gifts and experience of music, and he became a music director in Los Angeles. At the music school, he realized his strengths at developing music talent but more importantly at creating an atmosphere that gets students of all ages passionate about music and working together as a group to create something beautiful. Under his direction as music director, Martin grew the school to full capacity, which he attributes to the confidence in their skills and the enthusiasm created in a positive learning environment where students were high-fiving in the hallways and were inspired to practice at home. (He received letters from parents saying their children were putting down their devices for the first time and practicing music).
Moved to Niwot, Colorado
After two decades in California, Martin exchanged the backdrop of the Pacific Ocean to the Rocky Mountains, making Niwot, Colorado his home and base for creativity. Nine years ago, he moved to Niwot, CO with his wife and daughter. Martin and his daughter Odette wrote and recorded an album together in 2020 and at twelve years old, Odette is now at a great age to be in her first band. This inspired Martin to open a music school. In 2022, Martin began a new venture to share his love of music with others, children and adults, and has opened a music school in his hometown of Niwot called The Niwot Gig.