Brandon Martell is a well-rounded musician who is skilled in the arts of music education, music composition, music arranging, and music performance.
As a music educator, he has had a diverse career. During the 2012-2013 school year, Brandon was on faculty at the Eastman Community Music School teaching a course called “Theory In Motion,” which develops aural skills, music literacy, and musicianship skills for children grades K-6. He has also been employed as a music instructor by The Salvation Army, and as adjunct music faculty at Clearwater Christian College. Currently, Brandon is serving in his tenth year on faculty at Calvary Christian High School in Clearwater, Florida as their Choral Director. Under his direction, the Calvary Choir has performed five consecutive years in the Candlelight Processional at EPCOT, and received straight Superior ratings at the Florida Vocal Association State Music Performance Assessment. The Calvary Choir has also received Superior ratings numerous times at the District level. Calvary’s elite vocal ensemble, the Warrior Voices, has performed the national anthem for the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field in March 2019 and May 2022. Beyond Calvary Choir and the Warrior Voices, he teaches Beginning Choir, Music Theory Honors, and assists in the Warrior Band class. Additionally, he is the Music Director of the school’s annual spring musical. In 2017, Brandon was nominated for “Outstanding Music Director” for Calvary’s production of Oklahoma!, and the pit orchestra received the “Outstanding Orchestra” award in the Broadway Stars of the Future Competition hosted by Patel Conservatory at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts.
As a composer, Brandon’s work is published by Excelcia Music Publishing; with Excelcia, he has published “The Moon and Sun,” an original composition, and “How Can I Keep From Singing,” an arrangement of the beloved hymn. As an arranger, Brandon’s work has been performed at such institutions as the University of South Florida, the Eastman School of Music, and the Dickens Carolers. In 2018, 2019, and 2021, the field show he composed and arranged for the Warrior Marching Band earned 1st place in the 1A Division at the Florida Marching Band Championships.
As a performer, Brandon is a former member of The Dickens Carolers, a vocal quartet for holiday occasions servicing the greater Tampa and Orlando areas of Florida. As a trombonist, Brandon has performed with The Florida Orchestra, the Eastman Wind Ensemble, the Helios Jazz Orchestra, and with the funk/reggae/rock band Ājëvā. Brandon has received many honors and awards for his trombone performance, including being named the winner of the American Trombone Workshop’s Tenor Trombone National Solo Competition for ages 18 and under in 2008, and being a member of the winning trombone choir, the Eastman Trombone Choir, for the International Trombone Association’s Trombone Choir Competition in 2011. Brandon also recorded tenor and bass trombone for “The Essentials,” an independent film which received numerous awards at the 2012 Hollywood & Vine Film Festival. As an electric bassist, he served as a member of the BridgePoint Band at BridgePoint Church from 2016 to 2017, and regularly lead worship at their Tyrone and Downtown St. Petersburg campuses.
Brandon graduated with Distinction from the Eastman School of Music in 2013, having been a Rogers Scholar. He received Bachelor of Music Degrees in Music Education and Applied Music, and a Performer’s Certificate. He lives in St. Petersburg, Florida with his wife Shaye, their daughter, Raina, and their dog, Claude.
