Mr. John Martin

John B. Martin became Director of Music at Ascension on October 1, 2014; he is a part-time employee and a long-time member of the congregation. John was born and raised in central Pennsylvania. He received a Bachelor of Music degree in Church Music from Westminster College in New Wilmington, Pa. He went on to graduate school at the University of Oklahoma, where he received a Master of Music in Organ Performance. Subsequent study was at the University of Kansas in musicology and organ. He also has a Master of Science in Library and Information Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. His first career was in music, teaching at Ottawa University in Kansas and as a teaching assistant at the University of Kansas. Then he was a professional librarian at Auburn University in Montgomery, Alabama, and then at Kentucky State University. Career number three was in university administration at Kentucky State University where John was the registrar. And finally, he has come full circle and is back to his music. He is currently an adjunct instructor in music and honors at KSU.

Throughout John's various careers, music has always been at the center of his world. He has served churches throughout most of his adult life. One of the highlights of his music career was playing an organ recital at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City following receipt of his MM degree. Ascension is indeed fortunate and excited to welcome our long-time member into this role.