About
John Kuntz (b. 1996) is a pianist, educator, composer, and producer based in the Twin Cities. With a background in classical performance, music composition, audio storytelling, and video production, he brings a well-rounded and creative approach to everything he does. Whether teaching a new beginner their first scale, producing a nationally syndicated radio program, or performing the music of Chopin, Liszt, or Beethoven, John aims to make an impact.
John teaches class and private piano lessons at Farmhouse Music Studio in Long Lake, MN, where he works with students of all ages, from beginner to advanced levels. He follows the Piano Express curriculum in a class setting and specializes in helping students connect deeply to music while building healthy technique, confidence, and musical expression. Teaching music is one of his greatest joys.
As a pianist, John has performed a wide range of solo repertoire, including major works by Beethoven, Brahms, Rachmaninoff, and Prokofiev. He is also a seasoned accompanist and chorister, with past performances at Luther College, the University of Memphis, churches and concert halls across the Midwest and South, and most recently with VocalEssence.
In addition to his work as a teacher and performer, John is an experienced producer, editor, and storyteller in classical audio and video. He currently produces Pipedreams with Michael Barone and New Classical Tracks with Julie Amacher at American Public Media, and has led the creation of polished, engaging content for radio and digital platforms. His video work includes performance films, interviews, and mini-documentaries—one of which was submitted for Emmy consideration. John is skilled in all stages of production, from story development and field recording to editing and distribution.
John is also an active and passionate composer whose music spans large orchestra, chamber ensemble, choir, solo-voice, and musical theatre. His work explores expressive extremes—emotional intensity, sonic color, and narrative clarity—and aims to make a visceral connection with listeners. He was recently nominated for Film Score Fest, where his film score was premiered by a live orchestra in St. Paul, MN. His music has been performed across North America, with commissions and premieres by the Mississippi Valley Orchestra, Luther College, Berklee College of Music, and others. Highlights include a yearlong composer-in-residence role with MVO, the chamber work As the Day Unfolds broadcast live on Classical MPR, and Two Minds, commissioned for Luther College’s Reformation Cantata.
In 2024, John was selected to participate in Art Song Lab in Winnipeg, where his new song Fire Works, a collaboration with soprano Katherine Petersen and poet Jessica Woolford, received premiere performances in both Winnipeg and New York. John also regularly collaborates with soprano and librettist, Natalie Nelson, writing and premiering original cycles Virago, Sonder, and Styx, centered around themes of resilience, transformation, and inner life.
He holds an M.M. in Music Composition from the University of Memphis and a B.A. in Music from Luther College. When not behind a piano or Pro Tools session, you can find him biking, experimenting with homemade soup recipes, or on a walk with his partner, Britta.