Martin Ellis (organist)

Content sourced from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Martin Ellis is an American organist who plays church, concert, and theatre pipe organs. He is the organist for Rose City Park Presbyterian Church in Portland, Oregon. Previously, he was principal organist and assistant music director at North United Methodist Church in Indianapolis and worked with the Indianapolis Children's Choir and Youth Chorale until 2014. He also serves as the resident piano accompanist for Gresham High School's Theatre Arts Department.

Ellis began organ studies in the sixth grade and studied with R. Gary Deavel at Manchester University. He earned a degree in keyboard performance and composition from DePauw University in 1990 and has been active in theatre organ performance through ATOS. He has held significant posts in Indianapolis and Portland, including assistant organist and choirmaster at Second Presbyterian Church and later music director/organist at St. James Lutheran Church in Portland. In 2009 he became the house organist at Hilbert Circle Theatre in Indianapolis, where he helped install a Wurlitzer organ—the first in the theatre in over seventy years.

An active theatre organist, Ellis has performed with Trio con Brio and released solo and group recordings. He has published organ and choral arrangements, contributed to MIDI work with Rodgers, and has performed around the world, including appearances at Westminster Abbey and St. Peter’s Basilica. He lives in Portland, Oregon, and cares for six parrots and historical reed organs.