Dr. Egha Kusuma is a musician, percussionist, performer, and educator. He holds a Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A.) degree in Percussion Performance from Arizona State University, where he studied with Dr. J.B. Smith, Dr. Michael Compitello, Shaun Tilburg, Simone Mancuso, and Dom Moio. While at ASU, Dr. Kusuma served as a Graduate Teaching Assistant, teaching percussion lessons to both undergraduate and graduate students, directing the ASU Pan Devils steel band, and teaching a drum circle class. He earned a Master of Music (M.M.) degree in Percussion Performance from Brigham Young University, where he studied percussion with Dr. Ron Brough and Jay Lawrence, and a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in Music-Percussion from Brigham Young University-Hawaii, where he studied percussion with Dr. Darren Duerden. As a performer, Dr. Kusuma has received awards from numerous competitions, including the Percussive Arts Society.

Dr. Kusuma is an orchestral percussionist, a world percussionist, and a jazz musician. As an orchestral percussionist, he has performed with several large ensembles, including Utah Wind Symphony, Utah Philharmonic Orchestra, and Utah Millennial Choir & Orchestra. As a world percussionist, he has performed in various world music settings, including his past work experience at the Polynesian Cultural Center as a percussionist and Polynesian drummer, where he presented the culture of Polynesian countries such as Tahiti, Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, and New Zealand through music. Moreover, he has performed with salsa orchestras, steel bands, Latin marimba ensembles, Balinese gamelan, and Javanese gamelan ensembles. Dr. Kusuma is currently a solo steel pan artist and the lead pan player of the Desert Pan in Arizona. Previously, he played steel pan with the Pan Steelers and Calypso Tide, two top professional steel bands in the state of Utah. Dr. Kusuma’s drum set and jazz experience are diverse and extensive. He was a drum set player for the BYU-Hawaii Shaka Steel Band, Salsa Orchestra, Good Vibes Jazz Combo, and Pan Devils Steel Band. Additionally, he is experienced in jazz improvisation.

In addition to his college teaching experiences, Dr. Kusuma taught percussion at several K-12 schools in Utah, including Lehi High School, Spanish Fork High School, and American Preparatory Academy. He taught percussion method classes, front ensemble for the marching band, private lessons, and directed percussion ensembles. In addition to teaching, he serves as a clinician and adjudicator for high schools. Dr. Kusuma enjoys teaching percussion and has a passion for witnessing the growth of his students. 

Education

M.B.A. (Master of Business Administration) – Western Governors University, In Progress (expected 2026)

D.M.A. (Doctor of Musical Arts), Percussion Performance – Arizona State University, 2021 

M.M. (Master of Music), Percussion Performance – Brigham Young University, 2014.

B.A. (Bachelor of Arts), Music (Percussion) – Brigham Young University-Hawaii, 2012.