Oboist, composer, and conductor from Venezuela, born in Carora, in the state of Lara.
He began his music studies with his father, Juan Martinez Herrera, at the Cultural House in his hometown. In 1975, he started playing the oboe with Mr. Hernan Jerez in the Children’s Orchestra of Carora, a precursor to “El Sistema.” In 1977, he became a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Venezuela and won the solo oboe competition of the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra the following year, while continuing his studies with Mr. Lido Guarnieri.
In 1981, he was accepted into the National Conservatory of Music in Paris in Mr. Pierre Pierlot’s oboe class and Mr. Maurice Bourgue’s chamber music class, studying oboe in his private chair. In 1985, he won a second prize for oboe at the Conservatory, accredited by the Kingdom of Spain in 1995.
In 1987, he returned to Venezuela, where he became the founding principal oboe of the National Philharmonic Orchestra of Venezuela, an oboist in the Latin American Wind Quintet, a member of the group “Onkora,” and part of the “Nova Música” Ensemble. He also taught oboe and chamber music at the José Ángel Lamas Higher School of Music and the Simón Bolívar Conservatory in Caracas. Jaime Martinez was a pioneer in introducing the oboe into Venezuelan popular music and contributed to its development in contemporary Latin American music—his contributions are represented in several recordings.
In 1996, he won the principal oboe position with the Bilbao Symphony Orchestra in Spain.
In July 1998, Jaime Martinez returned to Venezuela and became the principal oboe of the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra again.
In 1999, he won the position of oboe professor in the Master’s program at Simón Bolívar University through a competitive process. In 2000, he became part of the Gurrufio Ensemble, with which he created the Camerata Créole and directed the inaugural concerts.
In 2001, he was appointed artistic director of Virtuosi de Caracas, a chamber orchestra specializing in historical baroque and classical interpretations, conducting fourteen seasons until 2015.
In 2004, he won the second prize at the Aldemaro Romero Soloists Competition with the Oboe Concerto dedicated to him by the maestro in 2003. In November of that same year, he was appointed National Director of Music at the Ministry of Culture of Venezuela.
In 2005, he was appointed president of the National Philharmonic Orchestra Foundation of his country. In 2006, he completed the design of the project for the creation of the National Music Company Foundation. In 2007, he created, co-produced, and served on the jury for the First National Interpretation Competition for Bandola and Oboe organized in his hometown.
In 2008, he was appointed first oboe of the Academic Wind Octet of Caracas.
In 2011, he founded “Carora en Concierto” with prominent musicians from his hometown, dedicated to Venezuelan popular music, particularly that of his region, and became the principal oboist and artistic director.
Since August 2015, he has held the position of principal oboe with the Medellin Philharmonic Orchestra.
Jaime Martinez plays on a Lorée ROYAL oboe, conservatory model, with gold-plated keys.