Dr. Jessica Kunttu is a highly sought after performer and educator based in Raleigh, NC. As an orchestral player, Dr. Kunttu plays bassoon and contrabassoon regularly with the North Carolina Symphony, Richmond Symphony, Charlotte Symphony, Carolina Ballet, and North Carolina Opera, among others, and has appeared as Guest Principal Bassoon with the North Carolina and Charlotte Symphonies.

A proponent of new music, Dr. Kunttu maintains an ongoing collaboration with NYC-based Korean-American composer Seong Ae Kim, whose works center social justice issues. Two recent compositions include “Fever Dream” for bassoon and piano, which is an allegorical message for how to combat racism, and “Gravity-Levity” for solo bassoon, which symbolizes the coexistence of growth and depression. “Gravity-Levity” was premiered at the International Double Reed Society Conference in 2022.

Dr. Kunttu teaches bassoon at both the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Duke University, and maintains a large private studio of middle school, high school, and adult students. Her approach to teaching involves creating a safe space for students to learn, grow, and make mistakes, but also helping students understand how to transfer skills learned in music to all areas of life. Dr. Kunttu also enjoys teaching chamber music and serves on the faculty of the Saarburg Festival in Germany, as a Faculty-Artist for the Chapel Hill International Chamber Music Festival, and has served on the faculty of the North Carolina Chamber Music Institute (NCCMI).