Musical omnivore Martin Fondse is a jazz and contemporary music pianist, composer and arranger. In his world, the customarily accepted boundaries between genres like classical music, jazz, Latin and world music simply do not exist. His creativity in composing and arranging is distinctive. It reveals a humorous and narrative style ranging from poetic, empathetic to delicate. As a composer/arranger Fondse has collaborated with artists such as Pat Metheny, Terry Bozzio, Lenine, Peter Erskine, Doudou N’Diaye Rose, Vernon Reid, George Duke, Christina Branco, Claudio Puntin, Eric Vloeimans, Ernst Reijseger, Mariza, Sezen Aksu, Nils Wogram, Basement Jaxx, and Matthew Herbert. Martin’s works have been commissioned by orchestras such as the Royal Concertgebouw (symphony and jazz orchestras), Holland Symfonia (National Ballet orchestra), Limburgs Symfonisch Orkest, hr-Bigband Frankfurt, the Meridian Arts Ensemble, and Metropole Orchestra. 

Fondse has been awarded many international prizes for his works, ranging from orchestral to film music. In 2017 he won Boy Edgar Prize, the most prestigious Dutch jazz award. In November 2021, he was appointed Composer of the Nation for two years and acted as the Dutch national figurehead in the contemporary music scene. For the percussion marathon, the composer wrote specially for Orkest De Ereprijs a new composition featuring percussionist Konstantyn Napolov as soloist. 

Selected works: Light Night Leeds, audio-video installation (2021), Kitchen Stories for percussion and large ensemble (2022), Stop de Tijd for voices, keyboards and symphony orchestra / string quartet (2022), Morningstar Cantata for voices, clarinets, church organ, violin and cello (2022), Diamonds (Card Games II) for six vocalists and ensemble (2022).