Martin Saunders is Director of Jazz Studies and Professor of Trumpet at Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. He currently holds three degrees in music; a Bachelor of Music Education from Winthrop University, a Master of Music from Wright State University, and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Oklahoma. Prior to teaching a Marshall University, Martin spent seven years in the Air Force Band program at Offutt AFB in Omaha, Nebraska. There he performed primarily as the Lead Trumpeter, and later became Musical Director, for the Noteables Jazz Ensemble. He was also a member of the Concert Band.

Dr. Saunders is an active jazz performer, adjudicator, and clinician for a number of universities and jazz competitions across the United States. He is a trumpeter and a featured soloist with Bluetrane, the Marshall University Faculty Jazz Ensemble, and with the MU Faculty Brass Quintet. Dr. Saunders is also a lead trumpeter and featured soloist with the Landau Murphy, Jr. Big Band, the Lippz Big Band, and performs with River Jam in Charleston, West Virginia. Martin has been an Artist Faculty member of the National Trumpet Competition since 2002, and has chaired the jazz division competition numerous times. He has performed with a number of highly regarded entertainers such as Arturo Sandoval, LeAnn Rimes, Byron Stripling, Rich Little, the Cab Calloway Orchestra, The Temptations, and Frank Sinatra, Jr. Dr. Saunders is a Conn/Selmer Bach Artist.