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Bob Martin Orchestras

Some time later, Bob played for the Stratford Shakespearean Festival Theatre in Stratford, Ontario. His other theatre experiences included Theatre London, (Berthold Carriere conductor) as well as the Kitchener Regional Theatre playing Broadway shows. It was at the Stratford Festival Theatre that Bob became the recipient of the Tony Guthrie award. It was an award given to actors, musicians or craftsmen in recognition of their contribution to "theatre." Bob Comber, another London native, was the very first musician to receive this award at Stratford and Martin was the second such recipient. Bob Comber later went on to become principal percussionist with the National Ballet of Canada Orchestra.

In 1972 Canadian Music Associates was established with fellow musician Gary Morton. (see Musician's page Bob Martin) The Music School offered private instruction on various instruments and courses in Big Band interpretation and performance. Scholarships were available to students who wished to attend Berklee School of Music in Boston, Mass. (hear sound file under Audio Section below of the C. M. A. Student band with Bob Martin soloing on trumpet).

For many years there was a wide variety of professional engagements available to London musicians e.g. London's Western Fair Grandstand, backing performers of every description including the Lee Castle Circus and the Garden Brother's Circus. Bob was not only a player for these shows but also contracted the musicians. In addition he conducted the orchestra when the occasion demanded.

Ice Capades was another professional opportunity for Bob and local musicians. These shows were yearly events that lasted over 15 years. The London Western Fair Grandstand shows and Ice Capades were challenging and interesting presentations for London musicians. Bob also had the opportunity to play the Ice Capades in Kitchener and Toronto during these years.

Playing on Cruise Ships was an interesting era for Bob, which took him through the Panama Canal some 20 times, seeing several countries in Central America, also circling South America about a dozen times (including the Falkland Islands) sailing to Hawaii and stopping off at numerous exotic islands in the beautiful south Pacific. One of his favourite trips was sailing up and down the coast of Alaska.

Bob's first published book was "Jazz Duets for Trumpet" which was distributed by Berklee Press, Berklee School of Music.(Boston, Mass) Other publications (text books) include "Dynamic Polarity" aka "Strato Chops for Trumpet - Brass" (Development Concepts In Building Professional “Chops” For Trumpet - Brass) distributed by Warburton Music Products, Oviedo Florida.

Bob Martin's extensive professional career encompassed many venues in Canada and the United States. As it turned out his career presented a wide variety of stylistic requirements from classical to the Jazz-Pop idiom. Bob is still an active participant in the music scene of London and Toronto.