The Sterling College Department of Music will host its 2nd Annual Composer Festival on Monday, October 3, 2011. This year’s festival will feature guest artist Joseph Martin, who is well-known throughout the United States for his choral compositions. There will be three free events open to the public.

At 9:00 a.m. Martin will give a lecture on composing, arranging, and song writing. A second lecture at 4:10 p.m. will focus on the music industry and publishing. Finally, the Sterling College Choral, Sterling College Concert Choir, and Highland Singers will be presenting a concert of Martin’s music at the Sterling United Presbyterian Church at 7:30 p.m. Martin will conduct the choirs and present a short piano recital.

Martin is the Director of Sacred Publications at Shawnee Press and directs editorial and creative issues for their religious products while providing additional production-side support for printed and recorded resources. Personally, Martin has written and printed over 1200 compositions, of which some have been played in churches across the US and Canada, and cathedrals in Germany, Austria, England, Ireland, Scotland, and Austria. His works have also been performed in Carnegie Hall in New York City, and the Lawrence Welk Theatre in Branson, Mo.

Martin performed with the Guadalajara Symphony Orchestra upon winning the Nina Plant Wideman Competition, and has performed both solo and with symphony orchestras across the US and Mexico. Currently, Martin spends the majority of his time playing for churches or church music conferences.

Martin lives with his wife Sue and two children, Jonathan and Aubrey, in Austin, Texas. He earned his bachelor of music degree in piano performance at Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina. During his time at Furman University, Martin was inspired to begin composing by Milburn Price, choral director and composer whom he accompanied. He continued his education at the University of Texas, Austin, where he earned a master of music degree in piano performance.

For more information, contact Brad Nix, Sterling College associate professor of music, at (620) 278-4382 or bnix@sterling.edu.