Artist description 19-year-old Martin Spitznagel is an award-winning pianist and composer, nationally recognized as one of the foremost young talents. At age 14, he won a Yamaha Disklavier piano for his arrangement of "Slap Happy Rag" in Calliope Media's "Make Your Own Rag" competition. In 1999, in Sedalia, MO at the prestigious Scott Joplin Ragtime Festival's centennial celebration of Scott Joplin's "Maple Leaf Rag," Martin was the featured youth performer, garnering acclaim for his quirky compositions and fast fingers. "It's serious fun," quips Spitznagel, "fun to play and fun to hear. This is not trashy or cheap music. It's roots music, primal in its rhythms and figures, as inherently human and American as piano music can get. More people need to hear it and feel it. I'm on a mission. Martin currently studies with Professor Tony Caramia, Director of Piano Pedagogy at the renowned Eastman School of Music, and is preparing to earn a Bachelor'a Degree in "something music-ish" as soon as he figures out how to make money playing ragtime piano.

Music Style Ragtime, stride piano, blues, Gershwin, anything syncopated....

Musical Influences Eubie Blake, Chopin, John Williams, Scott Joplin, Billy Mayerl, Tony Caramia

Similar Artists Tony Caramia, Dick Hyman, Butch Thompson, Eubie Blake, James P. Johnson

Artist History Martin Spitznagel is a 19-year-old pianist and composer in Pittsburgh, PA. One of the few young people in the world who specialize in syncopated music, Martin has been nationally recognized as one of the foremost young talents. He's currently working dutifully at Trombino Piano Gallerie in downtown Pittsburgh, and plans to continue his musical education at the Berklee School of Music in Boston, MA.

Instruments Piano

Albums All Keyed Up (with William McNally)

Press Reviews About his appearance at the Scott Joplin Ragtime Festival in 1999: "Martin Spitznagel was there astonishing everybody with his stride ability - many of the kids you hear and you say they're good for their age. Martin you just say he's good. Period."

Location Pittsburgh, PA - USA

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