Staff Sergeant Abigail Martin is a member of the United States Air Force Band of Mid-America, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. She currently serves as the horn section leader in the Concert Band, Drum Major for the Ceremonial Band, and is the Non-Commissioned Officer-in-Charge of Airlifter Brass.
SSgt Martin is a native of Johnsburg, Illinois. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater (Summa Cum Laude), a Master of Music degree in Horn Performance from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM), and a Doctor of Musical Arts Degree from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. Her primary teachers include Randy Gardner, Elizabeth Freimuth, Tom Sherwood, and Linda Kimball, with additional instruction from Myron Bloom, Jesse McCormick, Kendall Betts, Lowell Greer, Michael Hatfield, and Ted Thayer. During her studies at CCM, SSgt Martin served as the Performance Management Graduate Assistant, and the horn studio Graduate Teaching Assistant. She was also a National Finalist in the Music Teacher's National Association (MTNA) Chamber Music Competition, and the 2017 CCM Horn Studio Concerto Competition Winner. SSgt Martin won her position with the Air Force Bands in April 2017, and began her Air Force career in October 2017 with the United States Air Force Academy Band in Colorado Springs, Colorado following Basic Military Training where she was named an honor graduate. While stationed at USAFA, SSgt Martin performed in the Concert Band, Ceremonial Band, and was the Music Director of Stellar Brass. She was selected for early promotion to Senior Airman via the Senior Airman Below-the-Zone program for her outstanding leadership within the band, her position as the director of the USAFA Cadet Orchestra, and for her extensive volunteer work with Special Olympics Colorado. She was also selected as the 2019 Colonel Finley R. Hamilton Outstanding Military Musician by the National Band Association and the John Philip Sousa Foundation. She promoted to Staff Sergeant in 2020 and was designated as a Distinguished Graduate during Airman Leadership School.
Prior to winning her position in the Air Force Bands, SSgt Martin served as Assistant Principal Horn in the Richmond Symphony Orchestra in Richmond, Indiana, and Principal Horn in the Cincinnati Chamber Opera. She has also performed with the Colorado Springs Philharmonic, the National Music Festival, the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra, and the Lake Geneva Symphony Orchestra. In addition to her performance experience, SSgt Martin served on the staff of the Kendall Betts Horn Camp from 2014-2016. A former NCAA tennis player, SSgt Martin still competes in USTA team tennis in St. Louis, coaches high school varsity tennis in southern Illinois, and was a long-time coach and Unified Partner with Special Olympics Colorado.
EDUCATION:
2012 Bachelor of Music, Music Education, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, Whitewater, WI, Summa Cum Laude
2014 Master of Music, Horn Performance, College-Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH
2017 Doctor of Musical Arts, Horn, College - Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH
2020 Airman Leadership School, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado, Distinguished Graduate
ASSIGNMENTS
October 2017 - June 2022, United States Air Force Academy Band, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado.
June 2022 - present, United States Air Force Band of Mid-America, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Air and Space Commendation Medal
AF Good Conduct Medal with 1 oak leaf cluster
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Air and Space Longevity Service Award
USAF NCO PME Graduate Ribbon
Basic Military Training Honor Graduate Ribbon
Air and Space Training Ribbon
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2018 Airman of the First Quarter, Air Force Academy Band
2018 Musician of the Fourth Quarter, Air Force Academy Band
2019 Colonel Finley R. Hamilton Outstanding Military Musician Award
2020 Airman of the Fourth Quarter, Air Force Academy Band
2021 Outstanding Enlisted Nominee NCO, Colorado Springs Regional Business Alliance Military Affairs Council
2021 Distinguished Graduate, Airman Leadership School, Peterson Air Force Base
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Airman First Class October 2017
Senior Airman June 2019
Staff Sergeant June 2021
(Current as of June 2024)