Jack Martens

Music Educator

Fall 1962 Graduate

        That music would be Jack's life was never in doubt. While at Lincoln, Jack played piano, trumpet, violin, string bass, baritone horn and tuba. Following Lincoln, he attended San Francisco State College receiving his BA in Music in 1967. He began teaching at Ben Franklin Junior (now Middle) school in February 1968. He was first the string teacher, then vocal and general music teacher. In the fall of that year he took over the band program as well. An inspiring teacher, Ben Franklin now enrolls 40% of its students in Jack's music programs, almost none of whom had prior musical training. Jack's dedication has created extremely talented and fine musicians, that continue to astonish audiences. His 75 member advanced band,"The Band from Ben," performs over 30 concerts a year.

        Jack's band enjoyed a seven year run starting in 1980 as "The Mayor's Band" performing for Queen Elizabeth II on her 1983 visit to San Francisco, Mayor Dianne Feinstein's Inaugural in 1984 and the 50th Year Celebration for the golden Gate Bridge in 1987. The band has also participated for 13 consecutive years in the "Deck the Halls" fundraiser the San Francisco Symphony. Jack's inspiring teaching of thousands of students has led to numerous awards. In 1983, Mayor Diane Feinstein awarded Jack the "Award of Merit in Recognition of Outstanding Public Service." In 1994 the San Francisco State School of education Alumni Association named him "Outstanding Secondary Teacher of the Year." In 1994, the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences presented Jack with "The Mr. Holland Award" in conjunction with the premier of "Mr. Holland's Opus." In 1996, the San Francisco foundation and KRON-TV awarded him the "Golden Apple Award" for his outstanding accomplishments as a teacher. But no award could say as much about Jack as musical great Wynton Marsalis who has called Jack an outstanding teacher, director, and musician. After Jack played bass behind him, Marsalis said "He played some great bass lines with me - he was soulful - he really communicates the music."

        In recognition of his many accomplishments, Jack was inducted into the Abraham Lincoln High School Wall of Fame in May 1997.