Martin Snell was born in Dunedin, New Zealand. After studying law and obtaining professional qualifications, he entered the Royal Nothern College of Music, Manchester, England in September 1991 to begin his vocal studies with Patrick Mc Guigan, where he graduated with distinction in 1994. He has received many awards and scholarships, including first prize at the Mobil Song Quest 1993 (New Zealand) and a scholarship from the Peter Moores Foundation, London.

He was a member of the International Opera Studio at Zurich Opera House in 1994/1995. This was followed by solo engagements at the Theater St. Gallen, Theater Basel, and Lucerne Theater. From August 2005 to September 2019 he worked as a freelance artist and since September 2019 he has been a member of the solo ensemble of the Bayerische Staatsober München. Martin Snell's repertoire includes various roles from Bach, Monteverdi and Handel to Mozart and Rossini, Donizetti and Strauss to Berlioz, Janácek, Offenbach, Puccini, Smetana, Starwinski, Tchaikovsky, Verdi and Wagner.

As a concert and opera singer he has performed throughout Europe as well as in Asia and in his homeland New Zealand and Australia with conductors such as Vladimir Ashkenazy, Andrea Battistoni, Bader Bignamini, Betrand de Billy, Herbert Blomstedt, and many others. Highlights include Hunding (Die Walküre) with Marek Janowski and the Runfunk Sinfonieorchester Berlin on tour in Spain, Pater Profundus in Mahler's Symphony No. 8 with Vladimir Ashkenazy and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra at the Sydney Opera House and also at the New Zealdn International Arts Festival with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.

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