Martin Kesuma is an award-winning pianist and educator who has performed nationally and internationally as a soloist and collaborative artist. He has appeared as a soloist with the Central Texas Philharmonic, Round Rock Symphony, and University of Texas University Orchestra, among others.
His playing has been praised for its “heartfelt flexibility and harmonic sensitivity” (Fanfare Magazine) and “clearly articulated playing of the highest order” (The Art Music Lounge). A prizewinner of numerous international competitions, Kesuma has received top prizes at the San Jose International Piano Competition, Vancouver International Music Competition, Betty Dickinson Piano Competition, ASEAN International Concerto Competition, and Texas State International Piano Festival Concerto Competition, along with special recognition for Best Mozart Performance. His debut album, Detours, released on Centaur Records in 2021, features works by Ginastera, Granados, Kapustin, Takemitsu, Suprana, and Carl Vine. He has also been featured in interviews and performances on NPR, KUTX, Texas Public Radio, and K-Radio New York.
Teaching has remained an integral part of Kesuma’s musical life. His previous academic appointments include Texas State University, where he served as Program Faculty and Director of the FunKey Piano Project, and Texas Lutheran University, where he was Assistant Professor of Piano and Music Theory. His work as an educator has encompassed private and group piano instruction, music theory, pedagogy, and the development of programs for students of varied ages and backgrounds. He currently serves as Marketing Director and Piano Faculty of the Texas State International Piano Festival.
A native of Jakarta, Indonesia, Kesuma holds the Doctor of Musical Arts and Master of Music degrees from the University of Texas at Austin, an Artist Diploma from the Glenn Gould School of The Royal Conservatory of Music, and a Bachelor of Music degree and Performer’s Certificate from Texas State University. His principal teachers include Anton Nel, James Anagnoson, Jason Kwak, and Washington Garcia.
“Not only does he have power and emotion to spare, but he also produces a fine legato line when the music calls for it.”
“Robust but clearly articulated playing of the highest order.”
- Lynn René Bayley, The Art Music Lounge
“Offering a broad geographical sweep, it settles on a nearly ideal balance of familiarity and freshness. […] That variety, of course, would be meaningless, even counterproductive, if Kesuma didn’t have the stylistic flexibility to bring it all to life. But he certainly seems, on the evidence here, to have wide-ranging sympathies.”
– Peter J. Rabinowitz, Fanfare Magazine
"Martin's exhilarating performance [...] particularly 'knocked the socks off' our videographer
– Exposure TV
Reviews
Education
University of Texas at Austin
Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano Performance (2022)
Master of Music in Piano Performance (2018)
Texas State University
Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance (2016)
Performer’s Certificate in Piano (2024)
Royal Conservatory of Music, Glenn Gould School
Artist Diploma Program in Piano Performance (2023)