Martin Gomes, Gospel Chorus

Martin Gomes (he/they) is an Afro/Latino, queer performer born & based in downtown Toronto who specializes in music & poetry. Martin found his love of performing in grade 3 when he first started attending St. Michael’s Choir School. As a Choir Boy, he’s had the privilege of singing all over Canada in places like Massey Hall, Roy Thompson Hall, Salle Bourgee, and others; the U.S. in places like Wrigley Field; and even the Vatican for Pope Francis. Since leaving St. Michael’s Choir School, he’s gone on to complete his Bachelors of Fine Arts specializing in jazz piano performance at York University. Though he didn’t pursue choral studies, he continues to be a Choir Boy at heart having sung in a myriad of churches all across Toronto as well as having been afforded the opportunity to sing with groups such as Aureas Voces, Orpheus Choir, Nathaniel Dett Chorale, Opus 8, St. James Cathedral, Concreamus, Opera Atelier, Choir 21, and even The Eagles. His latest choir escapade has been with volcano’s production of Treemonisha as a gospel chorus member.

Martin has not only grown as a Choir Boy, but also as an artist. With his band JuiceBox, he was able to compete and win the TIFF: Battle of the Scores competition in 2020, score the web series Sloppy Jones, and even perform for a VICE web series. As a poet, he’s performed for organizations like CBC, Sony, Soho House, The Harbourfront Centre, and a Nuit Blanche cabaret. He’s also had the privilege of exhibiting his work in spaces like Cliffside Village Bookstore, Withrow Commons, Regent Park Arts & Cultural Centre, TOLive, Kuumba, Toronto’s International Festival of Authors, and the Meridian Arts Centre.

You can find Martin running around the city as an artist educator & facilitator. He currently works with plenty of different non-profit organizations such as Unity Charity, JAYU, Lakeshore Arts, Shakespeare in Action, Thrive Youth, and VIBEarts teaching youth either spoken word poetry or beatboxing. His goal as an artist educator is to create spaces that encourage people to be their most authentic, genuine selves in a raw, real, “non-Disney” type of way. (He messes with Disney though, don’t get it twisted.) He hopes that his work and him as a person can inspire people to live by example and be what they wish to see in the world.