Born in Geneva in 1958, Denis Martin studied violin with Liliane and Corrado Romano at the Geneva Conservatory of Music, then viola with Bruno Giuranna and Christoph Schiller and in 1985 he obtained the "Konzertreifediplom" at the Hochscule in Zurich.

He has participated in numerous chamber ensembles and has been invited to play as a soloist for the SODRE Symphony Orchestra of Montevideo. He was principal viola of the Orchestre des Pays de Savoie, before being engaged in 1990 with the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, in which he was several times DAS tutor (orchestral formation). In addition, he gave masterclasses in Buenos Aires between 2005 and 2016. On the other hand, his experience has also turned towards Hispano-American musical cultures, whose approach has been facilitated by guitarists Sergio Garcia and Jorge Pacheco.

Finally, Denis Martin studied piano with Willy Buard, singing with Isabel Balmori and obtained a Diploma in Choral Conducting under the teaching of Michel Corboz. He has recorded for Erato, with the Chœur de Chambre du Midi, the Mass for double a cappella choir by Frank Martin.