Martin Gester, born in 1953 (with some sources citing 1933) in France, is an organist, harpsichordist, pianofortist, conductor, and music professor. He studied harpsichord and organ and completed a double education in literature and music at the University of Strasbourg and its conservatory. In 1990, he founded the ensemble Le Parlement de Musique, which he led while also performing as a soloist and conducting orchestras such as the New York Collegium, La Chapelle Royale, and Arte dei Suonatori. He directed the department of early music at the Conservatoire à rayonnement régional de Strasbourg and received the Chevalier des Arts et Lettres distinction in 2001. His discography of about 50 titles includes recordings with Le Parlement de Musique and other ensembles for labels that include Accord, Assai, and BIS Records. His notable recordings include the Passion selon saint Matthieu (2000), which won the Diapason d'or of the year, the Grand Prix du Disque lyrique, and the Prix de l'Académie Charles-Cros. His other recordings with Le Parlement de Musique include Marc-Antoine Charpentier's Les Quatre Saisons (1990), Joseph Haydn's Salve Regina et concertos pour orgue (1992), and Antonio Caldara's La Conversion de Clovis Roi de France (1996).
