Russell Martin Sena

Born

N.Y.C.(Queens Borough) November 6, 1940

Education

• Grades K-6, Florence Ave. Ele. Schl., Irvington, N.J.
• 7 Gd. Dania Ele. Schl., Dania, Fla.
• 8 Gd. Olsen Jr. H.S. Hollywood, Fla.
• South Broward H.S.
  1959, H.S.Diploma
• Troy State College
  1959/60: Scholarship
• Florida State University School of Music:
  1960/61, 61/62, 62/63: B.M.Ed '63

Professional Education

• Band Director: Effingham Co. H.S. (and related elementary schools), Springfield, Ga.
  1963-65
• Band Dir. Mercer Middle School, Chatham Co. Public Schools, Garden City, Ga.
  1966-93  Retired 1993 (30 yrs.)
• After retirement in 1993, Director of Music Education at Portman's Music Super Store, Savannah, Ga.  Coordinated and developed course study, hired faculty,developed curriculum and programming.  Established 'The Pro Kid Band', a student/Pro Jazz Lab Band that performed for local concerts, broadcasts, and TV programs.  The program was developed through a grant from the Savannah Federation of Musicians, AFM, Loc. 447-704.
  1993-94

Professional Musician

• Blue Ridge Civic Orchestra
  2004-2005
• Nouveau/Passe Orchestra
  2004-Current
• Land of the Sky Concert Band
  2004-Current
• Savannah Symphony Orchestra and Symphony Brass Quintet
  1963-1986 (23 yrs.)
• Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra
• Ron Ambrose Quintet
  1963-66
• Ken Palmer Orchestra
  1966-76
• Russ Martin Ensemble
  1976-Current
• President Savannah Federation of Musicians, AFM.
  Related duties: Booking Agent, Established the Scandal's Night Club Band, Engaged as freelance musician in area shows.
  
  Worked with, or became associated with the following celebrities & shows: Holiday On Ice, Disney On Ice, Disney On Parade, The Lippizzan Horse Show, The Harbor Town Golf Classic, Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus. Celebs: Dick Clark, Bob Hope, Red Skelton, Frieda Payne, Roger Williams, Clark Terry, Liberace, Chuck Mangione, Tony Bennett, Diane Schuur, Maureen McGovern, The Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Duke Ellington, Sarah Vaughn, Corbitt Monica, The Platters, Kate Smith, Kay Starr, Dick Shawn, Tina Turner, Frankie Avalon, Gordon McRae, Sheila McRae, Bobby & Sissy King, Soupy Sales, John 'Bo Duke' Schnieder, Ray Charles, Skitch Henderson, Dizzy Gillespie, Count Basie, Rita Moreno, Rose Mary Clooney, Baby Rose Marie, Margaret Whiting, Helen O'Connell, Sandler & Young, Frank Gorshin, Sergio Franke, Buddy Greco, Steve Rossi, Sam Levinson, Billy Taylor, Maynard Ferguson, Prof. Peter Schickele, (PDQ Bach) Mitch Miller, Anita Bryant, Dudley Moore, Jan Murray, The Supremes, Political Satirist: Mark Russell, Russ Wilson Swingtette, Uptown Jazz Quartet, The Legacy Ensemble, The Buddy K Big Band and 4 Girls 4 (Rosemary Clooney, Rose Marie, Helen O'Connell and Margaret Whiting), the Temptations, the Four Tops, Danny Gans.
  1970-90

Music Therapy

Music Therapist at Charter Mental Health Facility (5 yrs.)

Affiliations

The Russ Martin Ensemble has been affiliated with the following Hotel Chains and individual establishments: Marriott, Westin, Mark Hopkins, Adams Mark, Hilton, Holiday Inn, Cloister, Ramada, Raddison, Ritz Carlton, Sherridan, Ponte Vedra Club, Biltmore Estate Winery, Biltmore House, Inn on Biltmore Estate, Harrah's, Wild Cat Cliffs C.C. Sapphire Valley C.C., Mt. Air C.C., Lake Toxaway C.C., Highlands Falls C.C., Culla Saga C.C. Hilton Head Plantation, C.C., Port Roayal, C.C. Shelter Cove, C.C. Mica's, the Town Pump, The Grey Eagle, and Monte Vista, Cedar Creek Racket Club, Harrah's Casino, "The Jazz Club" (Florence, Italy), in addition to others.

Broadway Shows

• Hilton Head Little Theater House Band (10 yrs.)
• Asheville Community Theater
• Jubilee Community Orch.
• Hendersonville Little Theater

Church Activities

President of church council, Chairman of Worship & Music Committee, Lay Assistant and Choir Director & choir member at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Rincon, Ga.  Currently, a former choir member at The Lutheran Church of the Nativity and a member of the Nativity Brass Quintet.

Relocating

Since moving to Western N.C., Russ has re-established the 'Russ Martin Ensemble', Co-leader of the Blue Ridge Brass Quintet, was a regular member on The Incontinentals Blues Band, and the Community Jazz Band at UNCA.  Russ has been a member of the Asheville, Hendersonville, and Enka/Candler Community Bands and has performed as a soloist and directed in concert at the Hendersonville Community Band.  Russ has also been a member of the UNCA Baroque Brass Ensemble.  He has organized, and produced community concerts at the Hensonville library in Kaplin.Hall, featuring The Blue Ridge Brass Quintet (BRBQ).

Family

Russ is married to Suzanne Forsythe Sena, who is also an FSU School of Music Graduate.  Sue retired from the Buncombe County Department of Social Services in 2005 and is currently the Asst. to the Cantor at The Lutheran Church of the Nativity.  The Sena's have two boys.

Craig Martin, who is married with two children, Chloe Anne, and Cole Scott.   Craig resides in Findlay, Oh. and is employed as a National Trainer with Family Heritage Life.  His wife Teri is community active and is a graduate of Indiana State U.  Craig is a U.of Ga. Graduate.  Craig has been honored with numerous sales awards with his Company and has been the 5th. highest producer in a field of 500 sales representatives.

Scott Douglas is married with one daughter, Sophia Agima and has had a career with Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus as their chief keyboardist/sound effects tech./composer/arranger for ten years.  In addition to his other duties, he composes for Disney on Ice.  Scott pursues a degree in Music Theory and Composition from Ga. State University in Atlanta.  Scott has also been the Music Director of the Garden Bros. Circus in Toronto, Ca.  Scott is also a freelance musician and composer/arranger.  Scott's wife Gigi is the choreographer for the Garden Bros. Show.  She is classically trained in Ballet.  Scott has recently rejoined the Ringling Organization as their chief music arranger.  He also worked with the new Ringling Big Top Circus called 'Kalidescape' Scott currently writes and arranges for: Ringling, Big Apple Circus: NY, plays in an 80's Rock band, and is freelance composer/arranger for selected musical shows and individual backups.

Recordings

Russ has performed in the (made for tv film) 'Last of the Belles', co-starring Blythe Danner and Richard Chamberlain.

He has recorded the following CDs:

• The Incontinentals and The High and Dry Horns
• A Celebration of Jazz and Blues
• Blue Ridge Jazz: The Russ Martin Ensemble
• Jazz at the Winery: The Russ Martin Ensemble
• Russ Martin: The Ballads

Current

Russ was formerly employed by The Biltmore Estate Winery as wine trainer and tour guide from 1994 to 2005 (11 yrs.)