Bio

Anne Kunkle is an award-winning saxophonist and educator based in Rochester, New York, whose performance career spans solo, chamber, and large-ensemble repertoire. A passionate advocate for contemporary music, she is dedicated to expanding the role of the saxophone through innovative programming, collaboration, and performances that connect with diverse audiences.

Kunkle made her Chicago debut at the Chicago Cultural Center as First Prize winner of the 2018 Musician’s Club of Women Competition. As soprano saxophonist of the Khroma Saxophone Quartet, she earned the Silver Medal at the 2019 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition. She has performed at distinguished venues including Lincoln Center and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and internationally at the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing and Singapore’s Esplanade Theatre. Her international engagements include performances and a recording of Shostakovich’s music with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Andrew Litton, as well as performances with the Eastman Saxophone Project.

An active soloist and chamber musician, Kunkle regularly collaborates with living composers and is committed to bringing new music to audiences. She has premiered works by emerging and established composers and actively seeks opportunities to expand the saxophone repertoire. Her programming reflects a broad range of musical styles and perspectives, with an emphasis on creating engaging performances for audiences both within and beyond traditional concert settings.

Kunkle is a founding member of Keystring, a unique trio for harp and two saxophones. The ensemble was awarded a grant from the American Harp Association to commission and premiere a new work by composer Amy Nam. She has also performed extensively as a member of the Eastman Saxophone Project, one of the world’s leading saxophone ensembles, where she served as Assistant Director and chief arranger. Her work with the ensemble involved innovative programming, large-scale performances, and collaborative projects designed to showcase the versatility and expressive possibilities of the saxophone.

As a performer, Kunkle is committed to maintaining a broad and active musical practice. She frequently collaborates with colleagues and ensembles at the local, national, and international levels and regularly attends conferences and professional gatherings to remain engaged with developments in the saxophone field. She views performance and teaching as complementary aspects of her career, with her experiences on stage continually informing her work as an educator and mentor.

Kunkle holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in Saxophone Performance and Literature, with a minor in Music Theory, from the Eastman School of Music. During her doctoral studies, she performed with the Eastman Wind Ensemble and served as Assistant Director and chief arranger of the Eastman Saxophone Project. She also holds a Master of Music from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and a Bachelor of Music in Saxophone Performance and Instrumental Music Education, with High Distinction, from Eastman. She completed Eastman’s Arts Leadership Program and was inducted into Pi Kappa Lambda, the national music honor society.

Her principal teachers include Chien-Kwan Lin and Debra Richtmeyer. Anne Kunkle is a Selmer Artist and performs on Selmer Paris saxophones.

updated summer 2026