Trumpet player Luis Martelo has scooped a top accolade at a major international awards ceremony. Luís Martelo has this week won a bronze medal at the Global Music Awards in the United States, equivalent to the Grammys for independent musicians.
Luís was nominated for his solo show Chorando Saudade in two categories in the worldwide contest - best Latin jazz soloist and best instrumentalist, receiving bronze in the latter.
He has carved out a successful career in Portugal, where he was a band player in the army, and in bands and orchestras in the United Kingdom.
He has recorded for several well-known artists in studio sessions and a number of soundtracks for Hollywood films such as Uber Time.
He has performed internationally as a soloist, was nominated for the best theatre musician 2020 by the Cinderella Awards and has been invited to play and teach in masterclasses and international festivals including the VGBRASS festival in Croatia in June this year.
About Martelo
Award-nominated Trumpeter Luís Martelo studied trumpet at the Conservatoire of Music in Coimbra, The Trinity College of Music - London, and at the University of Évora (Classical Music) with the Teacher Pedro Monteiro.
A former Army trumpet player in Portugal, Martelo has played in the Symphonic Army Band and The Military Band of Évora.
Nominated for the Best Theatre Musicians 2019/2020 by the Cinderella Awards, Martelo has played in bands and orchestras all around Portugal, from north to south; from big bands to classical orchestras and concert bands; as principal Trumpet, soloist and guest artist, including:
Banda Filármonica Lyra Barcoucense
Banda de Mourão
Banda de S.João da Madeira
Banda de Portel
Banda de Nsa Sra de Machede
Big Band da Vidigueira
Banda dos Bombeiros Voluntários de Alvito
The Magic Jazz Band (Co-founder)
Banda da Pampilhosa do Botão
Orquestra clássica da Universidade de Évora
and many more.
Alongside his busy performance schedule, Martelo has completed a number of masterclasses and courses, such as:
The 1st and 2nd Brass Masterclass in Taveiro (Portugal)
The 1st Chamber Music course in Fermentelos (Portugal)
The Advanced Wind Band Masterclass of John Packer in Taunton
The Advanced Wind Band Masterclass 2019 and 2020 in Wellington
And in 2019, completed a year-long Online Course with the Brazilian Trumpeter and international Soloist Flávio Gabriel.
During his extensive musical education & career, Martelo has also been taught by a multitude of illustrious brass musicians, notably: Fernando Vidal (Trumpet, Ex Portuguese Army principal trumpeter and conductor), Pedro Monteiro (Trumpet, Gulbenkian Orchestra and Portuguese Symphony Orchestra, Hot Club Portugal-Big Band), Sergei Nakariakov (One of the best trumpet players ever, Russia/Israel), Lechner (Trumpet, international Soloist), Louis Dowdeswel (Yamaha Artist, Lead Player), and Paulo Viveiro (Latin Grammy Winner 2 times, international trumpet soloist, Seu Jorge trumpeter, Brazil).
Now based in England, Martelo is the Principal/Soloist Trumpet of the Taunton Concert Band, Lead Trumpet of the Deane Big Band, Lead trumpet of the Bertie's Big Band, Solo Trumpet of the Postmodern Jukebox UK, Trumpet and Founder of "Lady and the Tramps" and one of the most sought after freelance trumpeters for studio sessions.
Martelo has recorded for many Band’s tracks and albums, and made horn section arrangements.
Recently, he has recorded with Postmodern Jukebox UK, recorded the new single from the band Nederveen called Father, and the new single from the Irish Singer Marie Therese, from Dublin.
Alongside these achievements, Martelo has also recorded for many other projects and live virtual shows as a guest as the Gignify.tv Classical music virtual Festival 2020 and was invited by Philip Schartz, the principal Trumpet of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, to join the orchestra as a freelance from now on!
Whilst in England, Martelo has already played Lead Trumpet with Groove-a-Licious (funk/soul band), 1st trumpet/soloist with the Wednesday Classical Orchestra,Lead trumpet/soloist with the Tone Big Band, 1st Trumpet with the Somerset County Orchestra, Trumpet with the Big Noise Street Band, freelance with The Motown Gold Band from Earcandy (Award-winning Band), the Regal Theatre pit orchestra, has played two times live at the BBC Radio, played as a guest the Rite of Spring from Stravinsky with the Brunel Symphony orchestra, and The Golden Coast Big Band from North Devon
Notably, Martelo was declared the winner of the PTrumpet HyTech, offered by Warwick Music UK - 2019.
Finally, Martelo teaches Trumpet and works in his music studio where he produces, composes and records. Recently Luis brought to the market his first trumpet method and is finishing his new Trumpet album called "Latin Soul" with the British producer Martin Selwood.
Carlos Alves de Sousa
