Born 1953 and educated in Stockholm, Martin Engstroem obtained his degree in Music History at Stockholm University.

He worked closely for many years with Herbert von Karajan.

In 1987 he moved to Switzerland and in 1991 put together what would become the Verbier Festival and Academy of which he still is Artistic and Executive Director. In 2000 he developed the UBS Verbier Festival Orchestra, with James Levine as its Music Director, followed by Charles Dutoit in 2009.

From 1999 - 2003 Martin Engstroem was Vice President of Artists & Repertoire at Deutsche Grammophon and from 2003-2005 Senior Executive Producer and Artists Development. He was responsible for the recording projects of Anne-Sophie Mutter, Pierre Boulez, Claudio Abbado and Maurizio Pollini and he signed Anna Netrebko, Lang Lang, Yundi Li, Helene Grimaud, Ilya Gringolts, Hilary Hahn and Esa-Pekka Salonen.

Martin Engstroem has served on numerous juries: the Paganini 50th Anniversary Competition in Genoa, the Galina Vishnewskaja first vocal competition in Moscow, the Thomas Quasthoff first “Das Lied” competition in Berlin; the Clara Haskil; the Geneva Competition (voice), and the Tchaikovsky Competition, (violin).