Applauded as an innovative artist, Tomás Martín is one of the most captivating and prominent castanets soloists of the moment. His virtuosity and new approach to the castanets have sparked the interest of contemporary composers in creating works for this instrument.

 

After four decades since the last composition for castanets and orchestra, Flores Chaviano has dedicated the work “Four Scenes from the Spanish Suite for Castanets and Orchestra: Seville, Córdoba, Asturias, and Castile" to him. This piece was commissioned and premiered at the 34th Festival de Música Española de León, along with the Castilla y León Symphony Orchestra.

 

He is the director and founder of CAMerata IberyCAS, which combines the classic string chamber orchestra with the castanets as the solo instrument. Its primary goal is to promote the Spanish chamber repertoire. In the 2020/2024 seasons, he has premiered works dedicated to him by composers Flores Chaviano, Israel López Estelche, María José Cordero, José Zárate, and Joaquín Gericó. His performances have been broadcast on Radio Clásica, Televisión Española, and AllegroHD Channel, which specializes in classical music for Latin America. He has recorded the album “Esencias” dedicated to Spanish music along with the Camerata Clásica de Ponferrada.

 

He has collaborated with maestros such as Alejandro Posada, Roberto González-Monjas, Johanna Sierralta, and Miguel Ortega. In August 2022, he toured concerts in Antioquia (Colombia) with the Iberacademy Symphony Orchestra (Medellín). In the upcoming season, he will collaborate with the Stat Sibiu Philharmonic and the Pitești Philharmonic (Romania), Mendoza Philharmonic Orchestra (Argentina), National Orchestra of Colombia, Cali Philharmonic Orchestra, Vigo 430 Orchestra, Cantabrian Symphony Orchestra, 35th Ponferrada International Guitar Festival, 33rd Medina del Campo International Music Week, and the Iberia Marimba Ensemble.

 

Born in Madrid (1970), he is currently the Assistant Solo Timpanist of the Castilla y León Symphony Orchestra and a Professor of Percussion at the High Conservatory of Castilla y León (1995-2023). Additionally, he is certified in Articular Osteopathy and therapeutic massage, specializing in the treatment and recovery of musicians affected by musculoskeletal injuries. He holds a doctorate from the University of Valladolid. He plays with Jale granadillo negro castanets, sizes 5-8.