Upper school students and students involved in Archer’s music program learned from Gabi Martinez, a guitarist, composer and producer from Zaragoza, Spain, who visited campus March 4 to share his journey within the music industry. He offered students a range of advice on creating their own music by sharing his own creative process and how to engage with the Los Angeles music scene.
Renowned for his fusion of jazz, modern and other styles of latin music, Martinez toured globally, released albums and earned recognition as a musician and educator. During his presentation, students asked him questions about his production journey. They later described his visit as insightful and inspiring.
Junior Darian Weiss has played viola since sixth grade and became a member of the Orchestra Leadership Team in ninth grade. Although she does not plan to pursue a music career, Weiss said Martinez helped to her reflect on her dedication to music.
“Archer providing opportunities like this is super amazing. I think that, especially as choir and orchestra students, we are so immersed and interested in music. And even if we’re not particularly interested in arranging and working on songs, I think that we all have a deep love and appreciation for it,” Weiss said. “It’s really inspirational to see that this is where my passion has taken me. This is a way to look at my future.”
As a member of upper school choir and a cappella and the assistant choir director of the Music Leadership Team, Emerson Cohen (‘26) hopes to continue with a career in the music industry. She reflected on Martinez’s advice.
“One thing that stood out to me was how there’s no single way into the music business,” Cohen said. “There’s so much pressure — especially when looking at music schools and auditions — to pick one specific path, like performance or the industry side. But Martinez shared how he started as a session musician and a touring guitarist, eventually exploring different spaces in songwriting and production by following his passions and staying true to himself.”
Archer’s music community has had a profound impact on Cohen’s experience at Archer. It has provided a space for self-expression and creating meaningful connections, she said.
“I feel like [Archer’s music program] has provided me with an incredible community. Being able to find like-minded people, make friends and create music together was amazing,” Cohen said. “Especially when I was younger, it was comforting to know there were others like me, and that sense of belonging really helped me grow.”
During his visit to campus, Martinez also discussed the importance of building relationships for the right reasons, a lesson that resonated deeply with choir member Dakota Tooley (’26).
“He talked about how important it is to be friends with people for the right reasons — not just for personal gain,” Tooley said. “That’s something I think every student should reflect on, not just in music but in all aspects of life. It’s about being genuine and staying true to your morals.”
