Mike Martin is top brass. The 24-year-old Marietta native is the newest member of the trumpet section of the world-renowned Boston Symphony Orchestra and Boston Pops.

Martin, a Sprayberry High School graduate, auditioned with the BSO in February. After making it through rounds of auditions, Martin was hired as the youngest member of the BSO.

"It still really hasn't set in. Once I get up there, it will hit me hard then," he said. The BSO kicks off its 2010-11 season at Tanglewood on July 9.

"It's a great feeling. I basically have been working for this since I was 11," he said.

Martin said that some of the earliest recordings he listened to when he started playing the trumpet at age 11 were by the Boston Pops. "It's really very cool now that I've finally made it," he said.

From an outsider's viewpoint, "making it" in the music world might appear a daunting task. After completing his bachelor's and master's degrees at Northwestern University in Chicago, Martin "followed the money" freelancing where he could and teaching. Coming from a long line of gifted musicians, it was only a matter of time before this talented Martin made it.

Martin's father, Freddy, has been the band director at the esteemed Westminster School in Atlanta for 40 years and founded Spirit of Atlanta, a drum and bugle corps, among numerous other accomplishments. His mother, Lynda, is an alto with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. His brother, Chris, is principal trumpeter with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

Martin's musical line doesn't end with immediate family. Among other musical relations is his uncle Dan Martin, former band director at Sprayberry High School; aunt Sharon Martin, choral director at the Marist School; and cousin Les Still, who founded Still Swinging, The Les Still Big Band.

Martin credits his success to the example set by his parents, recalling his father teaching seven hours a day, then coming home and conducting a marching band rehearsal, a concert band rehearsal or lessons. His mother pursued a full-time career as a CPA but found time to sing with the ASO and church choir.

He also saw his accomplished older brother diligent in his practice and his success in the music industry.

"I feel like I was brought up with a very strong work ethic," Martin stated. "It's not possible for (my parents and brother) to get any of that done without them having a solid and dedicated work ethic."

"Basically they've all taught me to prioritize, to keep what's more important in the forefront," he explained.

With parents who provided Martin a world of opportunity, he once considered pursuing golf as a living. Instead, at age 15 he prioritized choosing his horn over the golf course.

"I knew that golf was something I could always come back to no matter what," said Martin. "If I decided to pursue golf, I knew I couldn't just on the weekends pick up the trumpet and still be pleased with how I sounded. It was such a big part of my life at the time. I didn't want to lose that."

After 14 auditions, Martin landed the "big one."

"Luck is involved here, but hard work is too," he said.