Martin Kesuma is an award-winning pianist, educator, and arts administrator who has performed nationally and internationally as a soloist and collaborative artist. He has appeared with ensembles including the Central Texas Philharmonic, Round Rock Symphony, Density512, Texas State Symphony Orchestra, University of Texas University Orchestra, and Orkes Simfoni Nasional Indonesia.
Prizewinner of numerous international competitions, his awards include top prizes at the San Jose International Piano Competition, Vancouver International Music Competition, Betty Dickinson Piano Competition, ASEAN International Concerto Competition, and the Texas State International Piano Festival Concerto Competition. His debut album, Detours, released on Centaur Records in 2021, received critical acclaim and 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.
Alongside his performing career, Kesuma is active as an educator and arts administrator. He currently serves on the faculty of Texas State University and Texas Lutheran University, and is Director of the FunKey Piano Project at Texas State University. He is also Founder of the San Marcos Institute of Music, Marketing Director of the Texas State International Piano Festival, and Music Director at Advent Ridge Academy.
A native of Jakarta, Indonesia, he holds degrees in Piano Performance from the University of Texas at Austin, the Glenn Gould School of The Royal Conservatory of Music, and Texas State University.
“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)