I Nengah Susila grew up in a family of musicians in Batubulan, Gianyar, Bali and was immersed in music from a very early age. He studied education before working his way through STSI Denpasar (Sekolah Tinggi Seni Indonesia , The Indonesian Academy of Performing Arts). However he had studied and taught music in his village and performed in festivals all over Bali even before he began his formal musical education in university.

I Nengah Susila has taught and performed widely in Indonesia , Japan and Taiwan . In 2003 I Nengah Susila was invited to work with Ni Madé Pujawati by the AHRC Research Centre for Cross-Cultural Music and Dance Performance based at SOAS, University of London . Since then he has visited the UK each year to compose and teach new pieces to various gamelan groups, including the Semar Pegulingan Puja Semara Kanti at present at SOAS, the Gong Kebyar Lila Cita at City University and the Gamelan Semara Dana at the LSO St.Luke's. In 2006 he was invited to lead musicians on a Balinesedance tour of the USA .