Marya Martin

Who is Marya Martin?

Marya Martin is an American flautist with an active career as a soloist, recitalist, and chamber musician. Born Mary Martin in New Zealand, Martin studied at the University of Auckland, where she had lessons with Richard Giese, then principal flute in the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. After graduating in 1976, Marya was awarded a Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council grant to study at Yale University. In 1979, Marya graduated from Yale with a Masters degree in flute performance. She shortly thereafter won the 1979 Young Concert Artists International Auditions. She subsequently went on to win top prizes in the Naumburg Competition, the Munich International Competition, the Jean-Pierre Rampal International Competition, and the Concert Artists Guild—all within a two-year period. To date, Martin is the only flutist to take top prizes in all of these major competitions. In 1980, Martin made her New York concert debut. Following these successes, Martin decided to move to Paris to study with Jean-Pierre Rampal at the Nationale Superieur Conservatoire de Paris and then later with Sir James Galway in Lucerne, Switzerland.