Maria Martinez
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Maria Martinez Paya is a multifaceted artist from Banyeres de Mariola, Spain. There she started at the local music school as a percussionist and during her high school years she started her studies at "Conservatorio Professional J. Melcior Gomis" in Ontinyent, after which she decided at the age of eighteen to broaden her musical future at "Conservatorio Superior de Música Oscar Esplà" in Alicante.
During her studies, Maria went on to play in several local orchestras and ensembles such as Orquestra de Vents Philharmonia, Dolçaines i tabals and Agrupació Musical La Nova.
Her musical interests were boundless and therefore in 2013 she decided to continue her master's and bachelor's studies as a classical percussionist in Rotterdam with teachers such as Hans Leenders, Ramon Lormans and Chris Leenders. Here she came into contact with styles such as African, Latin and Jazz percussion.
During her studies in the Netherlands, she was part of various projects and groups such as the NJO, Youth Percussion Pool and "Snow in June" with dance company LeineRoebana. She also enjoys playing with Brass Band Rijnmond and the Fanfare Collective.
Her first own project was a collaboration with Laura Trompetter; "Lip Stick Percussion Duo". She reached the finals of "The Big Chamber Music Competition" in the Netherlands and played many major performances at the Grachten Festival, Concertzaal de Doelen, Festival Classique and World Forum The Hague. They also played on television at Talpa productions, NPO 1, het Klokhuis and accompanied the singers in the final of The Voice of Holland in 2015. Lip Stick was invited to Podium Witteman where they performed Maria's arrangement of the 'Scarlatti Sonata in A major'.
