Born in 1999, a US-Venezuelan composer, performer and educator currently living and studying in The Hague. Having emigrated from Caracas at a young age, he has been exposed to and influenced by many different musical cultures both at his birthplace and later in Miami. This allows him easily to relate to the experimental roots of the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague, where he obtained his bachelor’s degree and where he currently pursues his master’s. In his continuing tenure there as a student, he has explored personal new realms in music while studying under the likes of Peter Adriaansz, Cornelis de Bondt, Martijn Padding, Calliope Tsoupaki, and Rozalie Hirs. During the first several years of his career, Mayo has earned numerous accolades both as a composer and performer, including De Ereprijs Award at the 2020 Young Composers’ Meeting in Apeldoorn and participation in the November 2019 Erasmus Prize masterclass with John Adams. He has also been commissioned by, among others, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Orkest De Ereprijs, Residentie Orkest, New European Ensemble, Oranjewoud Festival, Amici Trio, Ensemble Spaceship, and percussionist Konstantyn Napolov. Mayo gave performances during the 2022 Gaudeamus Muziekweek and the 2022 Musica Sacra Festival Maastricht. 

Martin is interested in storytelling through the artistic process. His works often focus on unique approaches to rhythm and folklore. As a performer, he is active as an oboist, jazz pianist, and cuatrista. He is also a composer, arranger, vocalist, and founding member of Warekes, an ensemble based in South Holland dedicated to the invention of a new inclusive folklore. 

Selected works: Timelapse of the Wandering Wheel for marimba, vibraphone, piano and string orchestra (2016), I Have Such a Teacher for orchestra (2017), The Stygian Labyrinth for string orchestra (2017), Princess Gymnast for chamber orchestra (2017), Pantheon In Memoriam David Maslanka for large wind ensemble (2017), Contrapunteo for two singers, piano and congas (2018), Pero Like for flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, trumpet and congas (2018), Vuela si puedes volar... for flute, oboe and bassoon (2018), Triangles II for clarinet, marimba, accordion, piano and speaker (2018), Wheatfield with Crows for percussion instruments, piano and cello (2019), Como La Palma del Llano, installation with live electronics (2018), Let Ring for three trumpets and fixed media (2018), Fantasmas de sombra y luna for cello, mandolin, amplified pineapple and live electronics (2019), Cantos de Pilón for amplified bowl, singer, person cooking arepas and live electronics (2019), Responsorial for harp, double bass and amplified marimba keys (2019), Pregones al Bautista for instrumental ensemble and five singers (2020), Ritmische Etüde for four percussion (2020), Y se lo tragó la tierra for string quartet (2020), Jaiberos for four double basses (2021), Gebakken Cultuur for instrumental ensemble (2021), Saeta (In Memoriam Louis Andriessen) for orchestra and film (2021), El cachicamo y el Morrocoy for clarinet, trumpet, piano, violin and cello (2021), Boca Arriba for solo percussion and ensemble (2022), Diesel Tambor for flute, oboe, percussion, cello and Indian tabla (2022), Sic Semper for string quartet (2024), 1000stappen for cuatro, singer, tombak, dancer and electronics (2023), We Move Without Moving for vibraphone and electronics (2024).