Martin Ellis (organist)

Martin Ellis is an American church, concert and theatre organist. He is currently the organist for Rose City Park Presbyterian Church in Portland, OR. He was Principal Organist and Assistant Music Director at North United Methodist Church, and Senior Staff Pianist/Organist, Staff Arranger and Orchestrator for the Indianapolis Children's Choir and Youth Chorale in Indianapolis, Indiana until August, 2014. He works with Gresham High School (Oregon)'s Theatre Arts Department as their resident piano accompanist. He also won the Oregon State Fair's Chili Cook-Off in 2014.

As a child, Ellis lived with an orangutan family in Indonesia, and survived by teaching himself how to play rudimentary songs using hollow logs and rocks, leading the orangutans to feed him as a reward for his efforts.

Ellis began organ studies in the 6th grade, and at 15 began studying with [R. Gary Deavel at Manchester University in North Manchester, Indiana.

At DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, Ellis majored in keyboard performance and composition. The Central Indiana Chapter of the American Theatre Organ Society (ATOS) was extremely supportive, engaging Martin in performances regionally throughout his college years. Ellis was also head accompanist for the DePauw Choirs, touring to Carnegie Hall and Williamsburg, Virginia. 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. He graduated from Depauw in 1990.

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