Robert Martin studied cello at the Curtis Institute of Music with Leonard Rose and Orlando Cole, and liberal arts at Haverford College. He made his New York recital debut, with pianist Richard Goode, in the Young Concert Artist Series. During his doctoral studies in philosophy at Yale University, he was principal cellist of the New Haven Symphony and cellist of the Group for Contemporary Music, then at Columbia University. After receiving his Ph.D., he pursued a dual career in music and in philosophy, holding joint appointments at SUNY/Buffalo, Rutgers University, and Bard College. He was cellist of the Sequoia String Quartet from 1975 to 1985, during which time the ensemble made many recordings and toured internationally. He was Assistant Dean of Humanities at UCLA, and founded and produced the Los Angeles chamber music series “Music for Mischa.”; He produced and performed in the series “Music for the Exhibitions: Musicians from the Bard Festival” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. He was cellist of the Bard Festival String Quartet and served from 1999 to 2004 as president of Chamber Music America. He is editor of and contributor to many books and articles on philosophy and music. At Bard College from 1994 until his retirement in 2021, Martin served at various times as Associate Dean of the College, Dean of Graduate Studies, Vice President for Academic Affairs, and Artistic Co-director of the Bard Music Festival. In 2005 he became founding director of the Bard College Conservatory of Music.