Martha Curtis

Martha Curtis is a professional violinist, speaker, and writer based in the Greater Pittsburgh region whose career brings together music performance, education, neuroscience, and personal storytelling. She began playing piano at a young age before discovering the violin, which became a central part of her life and career. Curtis studied music performance at Interlochen Arts Academy, where she graduated Salutatorian, and later earned a Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance from the Eastman School of Music, studying with Charles Castleman. Her professional experience includes orchestral performance, violin instruction, chamber coaching, and presentations combining music with personal narrative.

Curtis's career has been shaped by her experience living and performing with epilepsy. After years of managing seizures while pursuing professional music, she became an epilepsy surgery candidate at Cleveland Clinic and underwent multiple brain surgeries, ultimately resulting in removal of her right temporal lobe. Her medical case required specialized testing because she was a professional musician, with an emphasis on preserving her musical abilities. Curtis subsequently developed her "Victory Tour," presenting her story through both words and music at universities, neuroscience symposia, epilepsy conferences, and other organizations throughout the United States and internationally. Her presentations have included the Eastman School of Music's Kilbourn Hall Series, Stanford University's Psychology Department, the University of Utrecht in the Netherlands, and the American Psychological Association Presidential Track.

Today, Curtis continues her work as a violinist and inspirational speaker, using her experiences in music, epilepsy, brain surgery, and recovery to educate and inspire audiences. She has been featured by CBS's 60 Minutes, NBC's Today Show, and Globo TV in Brazil, and she has contributed to discussions surrounding consciousness, neuroplasticity, and the transformative power of music. She is a member of the American Federation of Musicians and the American String Teachers Association and has also worked extensively as a violin instructor, chamber coach, and orchestra coach. Her professional journey reflects her commitment to perseverance, self-advocacy, music, and continuing forward despite significant challenges.