Martin T:son Engstroem was born in Stockholm where he graduated with degrees in the History of Music and Russian.

He started his professional career as concert organizer in Stockholm, where he worked to promote many activities dedicated to new young talents.

The series of concerts called "Swedish Young Musicians" that he created in 1973 was an important step for the development of the artistic career of those who are today prominent Swedish musicians. His interest in discovering young talent led to the development of many careers such as Barbara Hendricks, Giuseppe Sinopoli, Ilya Gringolts, Han-Na Chang, Lang Lang and many more.

Since 1975 he has worked as an impressario for many leading artists such as: Leonard Bernstein, Karl Böhm, Bernard Haitink, Birgit Nilsson, Lucia Popp, Jessye Norman, Renato Bruson. He worked as consultant for Herbert von Karajan, for EMI France in the development of recordings and for the Opera of Houston.

In 1994 he founded the Verbier Festival & Academy, for which he is the General Director. In 2000 he founded and became Executive Director of the UBS Verbier Festival Orchestra. He collaborated with James Levine, Music Director of the Orchestra, both for the organization of the summer season of Verbier and for the international tours. In 1992 he collaborated for the opening concert of the Opéra Bastille with Alfredo Kraus, Leonard Bernstein, Michael Tilson-Thomas, Robert Wilson. In the same year he was instrumental in the selection of conductor Myung-Whun Chung to the post as Artistic Director of Opéra Bastille.

In 1999 he was appointed Artistic Director and Vice-President to Deutsche Grammophon where he was directly responsible for the recordings of artists like Anne-Sophie Mutter, Pierre Boulez, Maurizio Pollini, Claudio Abbado, James Levine and many others. Since 2003 he is Senior Executive Producer & Artist Development for Deutsche Grammophon.