Martyn Underdown

Born in the fifties in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, Martyn Underdown grew up listening to the Black Dyke Mills Band, being lucky enough to work with the likes of Jim Sheppard and Graham Walker as a schoolboy at Granby Park. He was advised to switch to playing the French horn, from the tenor horn, to pursue a professional musical career. Martyn attended Huddersfield school of music at the age of 16 and then, following a brief spell in London, turned his back on his professional playing career to take an alternative career in business.

During the ensuing years, whilst having achieved several directorships and CEO positions, Martyn never lost interest in music and continued to compose for both solo piano, jazz groups and full orchestra.

Having reached his 60th birthday, Martyn made a more committed return to music, completing a solo piano album (Life Through a Stained Glass Window) and working with a number of contemporary musicians and producers.

He has continued to compose works for orchestra, solo piano and voices in a variety of styles and genres and has returned to banding after some 50 years, with the publication of his work Voyage for Brass (Devilish Publishing).

Martyn is currently working on further brass band compositions and a musical for schools.