Martin Monson was born and raised in Carmichael. His first interest in music was sparked by The Beatles. He asked for a guitar so he could not only sing, but play along, where he ended up spending the majority of his time. Then he asked for a bass, and then a drum set.

It wasn’t until 6th grade that Martin’s band career started, when he chose to play Bb clarinet in his middle school band. He continued with Bb clarinet into his sophomore year at Del Campo High School, where he picked up oboe on his own to fill the hole in the band, and at the beginning of his junior year he began playing the Eb clarinet in the DCHS pep band.

Aside from a small handful of snare drum lessons, Martin has never had any formal musical instruction or training and has taught himself every instrument he plays, which includes guitar, drums, bass, Bb and Eb clarinet, oboe, flute, and alto saxophone. He is currently working on learning violin and trumpet.

Martin holds first chair oboe and student conducts with the DCHS concert band. In the Sacramento Symphonic Winds, he plays second oboe and holds a position on the board of directors. He is currently a senior at Del Campo with plans to attend American River College and to later transfer to a four year university to study fields involving physics and mathematics.