Martino Traversa started studying music as a self-taught person at the age of seven. Thereafter, he has studied piano, composition, jazz music and electronic music supported by several teachers.
Graduated in Information Technology at University of Parma, he obtained a degree at the High Perfecting Academy of Pescara in piano improvisation techniques. He attended masterclasses at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, at the Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustic (CCRMA) of Stanford University.From 1981 to 1987 he carried out research activities at the National Research Council (CNR).
From 1987 to 1989 he studied with Luigi Nono. He created and conducted the Ensemble Edgard Varèse in 1990.
In 1991 he instituted the international festival of modern and contemporary music “Traiettorie”.
In 2008 he constituted Fondazione Prometeo, an institution with the aim to support and promote cultural initiatives in the domain of art, music and science.
In the 2011 he founded Ensemble Prometeo.
In 2016 he founded the scientific journal of musicology «Nuove Musiche».
He has been Professor at the Faculty of Literature and Philosophy - Musicology section - of the University of Parma. Besides the activity of being a composer, he is a researcher in the field of electronic technologies applied to musical acoustics and spatialization techniques.
He co-operates with the leading solo and ensemble performers of contemporary music.