Marta Kersulis

At the young age of four, Marta Kersulis was diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia, a cancer of the blood and bone marrow that affects white blood cells.

Two and a half years of chemotherapy would follow, along with shots and other unpleasant experiences. She received a total of a little more than seven years of treatment before doctors declared her cancer free.

“I remember some of that, like the shots and needles and strapping me down,” Marta, formerly of Waterloo, said as she was too young to recall much of the experience.

Now, Marta, 21, attends the University of Missouri-St. Louis as a music student, who began playing the piano at seven years old. She will graduate with a Bachelor of Music in December.

“I enjoy not only her performances, but her practicing as well,” Marta’s mother Karen said. “I never tire of hearing the same songs played repeatedly.”

“She matured in ways well beyond most people as she grew,” Marta’s father, Zack, said. “I don’t know what she would be like today without having gone through such trials, but I have no doubt she is better because of it.”

But before Marta could become a successful musical performer, she would need the support of friends and family in Waterloo to pull her through her cancer. The community held a blood drive through the American Red Cross in Marta’s honor in 1999.

“The American Red Cross was so impressed with the huge number of local donors who gave blood at the First Baptist Church in Waterloo in Marta’s honor,” Karen said.

Local business owners, including Dr. Mike Kirk, Dr. Jay Pickett, the Waterloo Optimist Club and the late Marcia Hahn donated money for the Red Cross to buy t-shirts for each blood donor.

Karen added that members of her church and others helped with babysitting her children.

“As a kid you already need people taking care of you,” Marta said. “As a kid with cancer, you really have to have people taking care of you.”

Recently, Marta took first place in the Missouri Music Teacher’s Association Collegiate Upper Division competition in the piano category. Marta went against music students from across the state.

“It was a really exciting and humbling experience,” she said.

Marta will do a senior piano recital at 4 p.m. Dec. 3 at UMSL’s Touhill Performing Arts Center, with music from Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, Prokofieve and Grieg. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact the performing arts center at (866) 516-4949.

Marta has performed at many recitals and competitions as a music student. She also served as an undergraduate teaching assistant for a social studies class, saying the experience affirmed her desire to teach.

“I really like personally investing in people, and I don’t mean the cliche, Hallmark level,” Marta said. “It’s exciting to see someone succeed.”

As a music student, Marta improved her piano skills under Alla Voskoboynikova, UMSL associate teaching professor of music. Voskoboynikova said she taught Marta for a total of six years.

“She is that type of student that every teacher would love to have — always there, responsible, reliable, always prepared, always motivated,” Voskoboynikova said. “She is super organized, always taking notes, she knows why she is there. She works hard.”

Marta plans to continue her education to earn both a masters and a doctorate in piano performance. She will then go on to do performing and teaching, including both solo and collaborative performances.

“It’s a lifestyle for me,” she said of performing.

The piano player said she appreciates the support she received from members of the community to get her where she is now. As she moves on to the next chapter of her life, Marta said she wants to encourage more people to learn the piano.

“Anywhere I go, there’s not a lot of interest,” she said. “Music is so rewarding. People say sports teaches teamwork. I say orchestra teaches you teamwork.”