Martin I. Gaines: Conductor - Music Educator - Clinician

Dr. Martin I. Gaines currently serves as the Director of Bands and Orchestra, Assistant Professor of Music at the University of Wisconsin - 

La Crosse where he conducts the UWL Wind Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra, and Concert Band as well as teaching courses in Conducting, Repertoire, Clarinet, and Music Education. Prior to this appointment, he served as the Director of Instrumental Studies at Morningside University (IA) and the Associate Director of Bands at McNeese State University (LA). He holds degrees in conducting and music education from the University of Arizona (DMA), Middle Tennessee State University (MM) and the historic VanderCook College of Music (BMEd). 

Recently, Gaines won second place in The American Prize in 2024 for his conducting in the University Band Division. He is also an American Prize Finalist in Wind Ensemble Performance in the University Division. His primary conducting mentors include Dr. Chad Nicholson, 

Dr. Reed Thomas, Dr. Gordon Brock, Dr. Charles T. Menghini, Dr. Peter Jermihov, and Dr. John M. Long. 

As an active conductor, clinician, and music producer, Gaines’ most recent recording project David Maslanka: Music for Wind Ensemble was released in January 2021 on the Toccata Classics Label. He has also served as producer for an album featuring the wind orchestra music of Nigel Clarke. Prior to his academic appointments, he also served as the principal conductor for the Arts Express Orchestra in Tucson, Arizona and as the founding conductor of the UArizona chamber ensemble Solar Winds.

Prior to pursuing graduate studies, Gaines taught middle and high school bands and orchestras for fifteen years in Illinois, Alabama, Georgia, and most recently in Florida. His bands have consistently received top marks from adjudicators and were often featured in clinic performance, e.g. the Southeastern Band Clinic at Troy University (2010) and the University of North Florida Invitational Festival (2010, 2014). He was also named Teacher of the Year in 2015 for Oakleaf High School (FL). Gaines holds professional memberships in CBDNA, College Music Society, College Orchestra Directors Association, International Conductor’s Guild, NAfME, National Band Association, Tau Beta Sigma, WASBE, and is a Life Member of Kappa Kappa Psi. He and his wife, Alyssa, live in Viroqua, Wisconsin with their children.