Marty is a native of Dearborn, Michigan and graduated from The University of Michigan at Ann Arbor where he earned the BM and MM degrees in Music Education (performance emphasis).  He was the first freshman admitted to the top symphonic band at Michigan under the direction of the legendary Dr. William D. Revelli, and went on to perform solo snare drum parts on the Vanguard label recording “Touchdown USA” live at Carnegie Hall. 

In 1968, Marty joined the music faculty at Eastern Washington University and, at the tender age of 20, was both the youngest and first full time professor of percussion in the state of Washington.  He is founder and director of the award winning EWU Percussion Ensemble and was the first state Percussive Arts Society president.  His students have won first place awards at MTNA, MENC, PASIC and Spokane Music Fest competitions at the high school and collegiate levels and many have gone on to perform in major symphonies, celebrity pop, jazz and show groups, and teach at nationally recognized universities and conservatories.  Marty retired from the EWU music faculty in July, 2006 and was awarded “emeritus” status following his 39 year teaching career. 

From 1968 through 2002 Zyskowski performed as principal solo timpanist with The Spokane Symphony Orchestra under six resident conductors including Donald Thulean, Gunther Schuller, Bruce Ferden and Fabio Mechetti.  During his tenure with the orchestra, he performed three concertos:  Robert Parris’ “Concerto for Kettledrums and Orchestra”, Darius Milhaud’s “Concerto for Percussion and Small Orchestra, and most recently the 2002 west coast premier performance of Russell Peck’s “Harmonic Rhythm” for 5 timpani and orchestra.  Marty continues to perform timpani and percussion for the Northwest Bach Festival Orchestra under the direction of Maestro Gunther Schuller and discussions are currently under way to develop a relationship with The Yamaha Corporation of America.  Zyskowski continues to be asked to serve on the summer music festival faculty for the Seattle Youth Orchestra’s “Marrowstone Music Festival” and was featured June 28, 2006 in a performance of Igor Stravinsky’s “Histoire du Soldat”. 

Marty’s conducting career began with the EWU Percussion Ensemble, The EWU Symphonic Band and Marching Bands, The Spokane Youth Orchestra and as resident conductor of the EWU Chamber, Symphonic and F.A.T. (Film, Art & Theatre) Orchestras.  In February of 1999, Zyskowski made history by being the first conductor to have two of his groups selected to perform at the 36^th Northwest Division MENC Conference at Portland, Oregon.  Both the EWU University Percussion Ensemble and University Orchestra performed at that event.  In 1996 Marty was awarded the PTI PacificCorp Foundation Faculty Achievement Award (for teaching excellence) and in 2000 was inducted into the Washington State Music Educator’s “Hall of Fame”. 

In 1993, Zyskowski was invited to present a series of master classes at The Royal Academy of Music at Copenhagen, Denmark and was escorted by Jans Pustjens (principal percussionist with the Concertgebauw Orchestra) throughout Amsterdam and Thorn, Holland performing timpani evaluations for the Adams Music Instrument Corporation.  Marty was recipient of a USAID grant in 1997 to teach western music and study African drumming techniques at The University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast City, Ghana, and West Africa. 

Marty is married to Charlotte Zyskowski, chef/owner of Spokane’s “Apple Charlotte Cooking Company, LLC” specializing in cooking classes and cooking class dinner parties.  Char was trained at the California Culinary Academy at San Francisco and interned at Jordan Wineries in Sonoma County.   Marty and Char are blessed with ten beautiful grand children and their busy parents living in Poulsbo, Woodinville, Snohomish, Greenlake and Spokane, Washington.