Brahm Sasner
Brahm Sasner’s first piano lesson wasn’t supposed to be his. At age seven, his sister forgot to cancel her piano lesson, and when her teacher arrived, Brahm stepped in instead. The moment he sat down at the piano, he discovered a love of music that would shape the rest of his life.
Until age 14, Brahm played the contemporary music he enjoyed. His first piano teacher, Mary Hyatt, never insisted on classical repertoire, encouraging him instead to develop his own musical interests. Though his parents are not musicians, creativity runs deep in his family—his honorary great-uncle, Robert Sherman, wrote the beloved songs for Mary Poppins and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
Brahm fell in love with jazz when he joined his middle school jazz band. Mentor Bob Athayde introduced him to the genre, becoming an invaluable teacher throughout high school. Recordings by Oscar Peterson and Erroll Garner first captivated him with their signature styles. As his musical tastes evolved, Brahm developed a deep appreciation for the harmonica complexity and individuality of pianists such as Thelonious Monk and Bud Powell.
Brahm earned his BM from Manhattan School of Music in 2026, where he broadened his perspective on jazz through the school’s diverse international community. He continues to embrace the challenge of developing an original artistic voice while honoring the traditions of jazz.
Extended Bio
Brahm Sasner is a New York-based award-winning jazz pianist and arranger-composer originally from the San Francisco Bay Area.
He is a Silver Medalist at the 2025 Rubato International Piano Competition, a 2022 YoungArts National Competition winner, and an alum of the 2022 Vail Jazz Workshop.
Brahm has performed with the MSM Big Band at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Dizzy’s Club, SFJAZZ, New York’s CloseUp, and the Bay Area’s Mr. Tipple’s. From 2023 to 2026, Brahm performed in the Future of Jazz Orchestra, performing on organ alongside 2011 American Piano Awards winner Aaron Diehl. He has also appeared internationally with the João Rosa Quinteto at Casa da Música in Porto, Portugal.
Brahm was formally introduced to jazz in high school by Bob Athayde, with early inspiration from recordings by Oscar Peterson and Erroll Garner. He was later mentored by pianists Frank Martin and Peter Horvath, who encouraged him to enroll at the Manhattan School of Music.
At the Manhattan School of Music, Brahm studied with pianist Ted Rosenthal, who introduced him to the classical technique and jazz traditions that balance his modern instincts, along with drummer John Riley, bassist Buster Williams, and pianists Glenn Zaleski, Elio Villafranca, and Phil Markowitz. Brahm earned his BM in 2026.
While in New York, he has also studied with Joe Block, a fellow 2027 American Piano Awards finalist. As a composer, he strives to create music that feels both personal and accessible, connecting with fellow musicians and audiences alike.