Monica Martin earned a Bachelor of Music - Performance Degree in Violin in 2002 from the University of Alberta, Canada. She studied classical voice as a second practical subject, performed two solo recitals at Convocation Hall, and attended master classes by world-renowned violinists Andrew Dawes and Pinkas Zuckerman.
Monica held various teaching and performing positions in Edmonton, Canada before moving to Townsville in 2008.
In addition to performing, Monica was a violin instructor at the Alberta College Conservatory of Music in which she taught intermediate to advanced students and gave master classes during summer workshops. She also taught after-school group violin classes through the Edmonton Public School Board.
Monica’s first professional orchestral experience was with Opera NUOVA; an intensive opera training workshop which celebrates Canadian operatic vocalists and chamber musicians. Soon after, Monica became a casual member of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra and served as first and second violin of the Symphony of The Kootenays and Canadian Chamber Music Orchestra. As a casual member of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, Monica performed symphonic music of all genres, and performed with Alberta Ballet and Edmonton Opera. World famous conductor Grzegorz Nowak, who is the former artistic director of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, conducted the Canadian Chamber Music Orchestra. Monica also sang one of the lead roles in Edmonton Opera's "Noah's Flood" by Benjamin Britten.
In addition to her experience as an orchestral player, Monica has given solo recitals and chamber music performances at many of Edmonton’s best acoustic venues such as the Winspear Centre, Convocation Hall and Muttart Hall.
Other musical highlights have included performing with K.D Lang, Il Divo, Michael W. Smith, Band of Dawn, and many other popular artists.
Upon moving to Townsville, Monica won third place in the chamber music section at the 2008 Australian Concerto & Vocal Competition. She became employed through Education Queensland from 2009 to 2012 as an Instrumental Strings Instructor. Monica's role was teaching group violin, viola, cello and double bass classes, as well as conducted string orchestras at numerous schools around Townsville. She coached beginners to advanced string students at the Mulkadee Youth Arts Festival and AUSTA Celebration of Strings.
Monica’s passion for performing and teaching inspired her to create her own studio in 2012. Her violin studio was featured in the March 2012 edition of the DUO Magazine. Many of her students have won awards at the AUSTA Strings Festival, Townsville Eisteddfod and passed their Trinity Violin Examination with distinction.
Monica has performed with the local Barrier Reef Orchestra and the Townsville Jazz Club, which have made a strong contribution to the arts and music scene. Monica has also performed classical and other genres of music in the Harbourside Duo with guitarist David Roberts. The Harbourside Duo have performed for numerous functions including performing for the former governor of Queensland Ms. Penelope Anne Wensley, and given recitals at the Townsville Civic Theatre and Burdekin Theatre. Monica and David have also performed for community events such as the Palmer Street Jazz Festival and Stable On The Strand.
Monica currently performs many styles of music as a soloist and in a duo with John Garland, Reg Braun and Jeremy Hawker. She also performs in TSV's hottest swing band, the Hot Club Quartet. The band was featured in the July 2017 edition of the DUO Magazine and has performed at The Carlton Theatre, Mercure Townsville, Perc Tucker Regional Gallery, Townsville Cultural Festival, The Old Courthouse Theatre, Townsville Jazz Club, Rydges Southbank, The Basement Bar and The Ville Resort. The band also performed at the 2018 Great Tropical Jazz Party on Magnetic Island which featured John Hoffman, one of Australia's finest jazz musicians. In 2019, they performed their new shows "Some Like It Hot" at The Ville Resort and "Back to the 50's & 60's at The Carlton Theatre. They also performed as a saxophone quintet at the SwingVille Ball featuring 45 RPM and the Sydney Swing Katz.
Monica has organised many events in town including a Mother’s Day high tea at JAM, Christmas Masquerade Ball at Rydges Southbank and Party Like Gatsby events at The Old Courthouse Theatre with Bettina Naughton and Quito Washington from Swing Dancing Townsville.
Monica has released an album "Swingin' Violin" which is a fusion of gypsy and jazz music.
