Acclaimed for his “most assured pianism,” and “natural, songful lyricism” (The Dallas Morning News), pianist and educator Jonathan Mamora strives to uplift and positively influence others using music as a means for service. An Indonesian-American and Southern California native now with a burgeoning performing career, Jonathan’s commitment to service is steadfast—whether playing in church or in the community or on the concert stage.
Applauded as "a rising star in the piano realm" (New York Classical Review), Mr. Mamora has performed throughout North and South America, Europe, and Asia, and he has enjoyed remarkable recent success, winning first prize at numerous prominent international piano competitions (IPC’s), including: Hilton Head IPC; Scottish IPC; Maria Canals Barcelona IPC; Olga Kern IPC (New Mexico); AntwerPiano International Competition; Dallas IPC; and the Palm Springs IPC (formerly the Virginia Waring). In May 2025, he was one of 30 elite pianists invited to compete in the Van Cliburn IPC in Fort Worth, TX. His May 2023 debut recital at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall drew great praise from the New York Concert Review: “Mr. Mamora’s playing itself is larger than life…(with) a technique so solid that it seemed at times that he couldn’t play a wrong note if he tried (and)…an encyclopedic array of dynamics and articulations.” He returned to Weill Hall in October 2025 for another critically praised recital presented by the HHIPC, and other current recital engagements include: Chicago’s Dame Myra Hess Recital Series; Cincinnati’s Matinee Musicale; The College of Charleston (SC) International Recital Series; Cleveland Museum of Art; Bachauer Festival in Salt Lake City; Green Lake Festival in Wisconsin; Savannah Music Festival (GA); and Cliburn Festival America 250 in Ft. Worth, TX. Following his concerto debut at age 13 with the La Sierra University Orchestra, Mr. Mamora has gone on to perform with such orchestras as the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Orquesta Sinfónica de Madrid, New Mexico Philharmonic, Orquesta Ciudad de Granada, Santa Barbara Symphony, Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra, Greenville Symphony Orchestra, and the American Festival Pops Orchestra. Upcoming concerto engagements include: South Carolina Philharmonic; Lexington Philharmonic (KY); Las Colinas Symphony (TX); DuPage Symphony (IL); and a return with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. Mr. Mamora has served as a church musician much of his life and currently serves as Organist at La Sierra University Church in Riverside, CA and San Dieguito United Methodist Church in Encinitas, CA. He often performs as a collaborative pianist for vocalists, instrumentalists, ensembles, and choirs, and has received the Eastman ‘Excellence in Accompanying’ Award. He also values education as an important tool in music making and now serves as Director of Keyboard Studies at La Sierra University. Jonathan Mamora is a candidate for the Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano Performance and Literature at the Eastman School of Music under the tutelage of Douglas Humpherys, whom he served as studio assistant. He received his Bachelor of Music from La Sierra University and his Master of Music from The Juilliard School. His previous piano teachers include Elvin Rodríguez and Hung-Kuan Chen.