Martin Ellis (organist)

The Central Indiana Chapter of the American Theatre Organ Society (ATOS) was extremely supportive, engaging Martin in performances regionally throughout his college years.

He was active as a vocal coach to the voice department and assistant conductor for three opera/musical theatre productions produced by the DePauw School of Music.

[5] Ellis' initial exposure to the theatre organ occurred at the Paramount Music Palace in Indianapolis when he was 7 years old.

During his senior year, he served as the weekend artist at Milwaukee's Piper Music Palace, as an alternate organist at the Pipes and Pizza in Lansing, Illinois, and performed concerts in and around the Chicago area.

"With the 28 Yuletide Christmas shows coming up in December which will feature the Wurlitzer theatre pipe organ this year, this becomes a reality.

Those were just a few of the comments about the Yuletide Celebration concerts—27 in all, which saw the debut of the newly installed 3m/24r Wuritzer theatre pipe organ by house organist, Martin Ellis, and colleague, Donna Parker.

Opening the second half of the concert, the house lights dimmed as the Wurlitzer and organist were introduced to the audience while the symphony played the beginning strains of the well-loved holiday hit "Silver Bells".

With the organ console center stage surrounded by the symphony, the curtain rose, the organist quickly took his place on the bench, and both organ and orchestra joined for "Joy to the World", played in classic toccata fashion, before taking the instrument in a completely different direction with a rhythmic, energetic Brazilian "Sleigh Bells".

[9] For seven years, Martin has also served as Artistic Assistant/Pianist for the Pacific Rim Children's Choir Festival in Honolulu, Hawaii.

[11] With extraordinary sight-reading skills and the ability to musically adapt to a variety of situations,[2] Martin was invited to be the fourth member of Trio con Brio by Donna Parker, Jonas Nordwall and Tom Hazleton.

[12] Ellis, Parker and Nordwall worked for Rodgers Instrument Corporation, spearheading MIDI implementation with church music.

[18] Ellis selected and edited works for By Babylon's Streams, Organ Music of the English Romantic School.

Its contents include the Scherzoso of Walter Battison Haynes, the Nunc Dimittis of Charles Wood, the Fantasy on the Tune 'Babylon's Streams by William Harris, the Impromptu No.

He was a featured instructor at the ATOS Summer Youth Camp in Eastern Massachusetts in June 2011, which provided young enthusiasts the opportunity to study and learn the art of the theatre pipe organ through lectures, master classes, and private instruction.

[20] Ellis currently works with Gresham High School (Oregon)'s Theatre Arts Department, accompanying their musical performances and student's competition pieces.