About the Trust
Martin Schellenberg Biography
Martin grew up and was educated in Birmingham. He started playing the organ at his local parish church in Kings Norton at the age of 7 and went on to become assistant organist and choirmaster there at 13. Whilst at Lordswood Grammar School he studied the cello and played with the Birmingham Symphony Youth Orchestra. Martin went on to study the organ at the Birmingham Conservatoire and whilst there was organist at St Augustine’s Church, Edgbaston. After graduating he continued his organ studies with the celebrated blind organist Jean Langlais in Paris.
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From 1980 until 1995 Martin held posts at Bristol Cathedral and then Christchurch Priory. At that time he also tutored and accompanied courses and workshops for the Royal School of Church Music and several organist associations.
From 1995 Martin enjoyed a freelance career for several years, concentrating on his work as a conductor, consultant, soloist and teacher, continuing to give recitals and conducting concerts to critical acclaim throughout Europe and the USA, also at that time working as an organ tutor at Oxford University.
For 16 years from 2002, Martin was Director of Music at Abberley Hall running an extremely successful music school.
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His Chapel Choir of around 50 children had an annual trip to Worcester Cathedral to sing Evensong and also sang at Hereford Cathedral and many other local churches. For a few years Martin regularly took up to 15 children to rehearse and perform with the CBSO Children’s Choir.
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Martin had a unique gift in that he had a natural affinity with children and a talent to make learning music fun and memorable. As the many tributes to Martin will confirm, he inspired many people young and old, with his enthusiasm, care and extraordinary talent to share and teach his great love of music.
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In 2018 Martin, his wife Alex and boxer dog Harry ‘retired’ to Somerset where Martin became Organist & Choirmaster at St. Mary’s Church, Beaminster and accompanist to South Somerset Choral Society, leaving SSCS to become Director of the Cantamus Choir in Bridport.
Kind Words
Mr Schellenberg was one of a kind, his unique way of igniting passion for music within children and adults was incredible” (Abberley Hall pupil 2003-2012 recently graduated from the Birmingham Conservatoire with a First Class Honours degree)
Martin was larger than life and lived life to the full and his talents as teacher, choir trainer, organist and human being have touched and inspired all who came into contact with him
..the choir voices would soar and you wondered how children of 13 and younger could produce such such sounds.. but then they had Martin guiding them every step of the way..