Originally from Holland, Michigan, Martin J. Van Klompenberg is a bassoonist and composer based in Lexington, Kentucky. From 2013 – 2022, he served as a member of the United States Army Band program, performing with the 101st Airborne Division “Air Assault” Band (Fort Campbell, KY), the 282nd Army Band (Fort Jackson, SC), the 323rd Army Band “Fort Sam’s Own” (Fort Sam Houston/San Antonio, TX) and the Air Force Band of the West (San Antonio, TX). Prior to joining the ranks of military musicians, he attended the University of Arizona, where he obtained the Doctorate of Musical Arts degree, studying with William Dietz. He also earned degrees from Arizona State University and Western Michigan University, studying with Albie Micklich and Wendy Rose, respectively. He has also studied composition with award-winning composer Jenni Brandon.
A proponent of new music, Martin is active in commissioning projects for new works for bassoon, working with composers such as Jamie Leigh Sampson, Dylan Findley, Rob McClure, Shao Fern Teo and Brian Bunker. In February 2023, he gave the premiere of a new bassoon sonata, Sunflower Sea Star, by Lisa Neher.
He has been fortunate to perform at conferences for the International Double Reed Society, the International Clarinet Association, the College Music Society, and the Texas Music Education Association, among others. He has also presented solo and chamber recitals throughout the United States.
As a composer, his works have been performed by artists such as the Heartland Marimba Ensemble, Scott Pool, Valerie Cowan, Nicaulis Ailiey and Joseph Rebman, at venues such as the Mid-Atlantic Flute Convention, Vox Novus and the Tutti New Music Festival. In 2023, he was chosen as a winner of the International Double Reed Society Commissioning Competition and will have a new work for solo bassoon performed at their 2023 Annual Conference in Thailand.
When not playing bassoon, Martin enjoys spending time with his wife, Abbie, an elementary music teacher, and his two rescue dogs, Sirius and Luna, visiting America’s zoos and supporting the Chicago Cubs.