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Gerard F. Kunkel

 Headshot of Gerard Kunkel.

Lecturer, Jazz Guitar
Jazz Studies

(301) 405-5529

1118 The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center
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Research Expertise

Jazz

Appointed Spring 2022

Gerry Kunkel is known for his versatility as a guitarist and has performed extensively in the jazz, contemporary and classical music fields. His performance credits include performances with Aretha Franklin, Audra MacDonald, Joshua Bell, The Smithsonian Jazz Master Works Orchestra, Seth MacFarlane, Jessye Norman, National Symphony Orchestra, Boys II Men, Diane Reeves, Clark Terry, Ron Carter, Patrice Rushen, Joss Stone, Grover Washington, Jason Alexander, Martina McBride, Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Terrell Stafford, Terri-Lynn Carrington, Frank Wes, David “Fathead” Newman, Bernadette Peters, Mike Crotty, Harold Jones, Eric Reed, Natural Bridge, Chris Vadala Quintet and many others.

His theatre credits include Footloose and the world premiere of The Watsons Go To Birmingham - 1963 at the Kennedy Center, Fun Home at Baltimore Center Stage, Newsies and Anything Goes at Arena Stage, Cabaret at Olney Theatre Center, Timon of Athens, Man of La Mancha and Kiss Me Kate at Shakespeare Theatre, Showboat at the Kennedy Center with the Washington Opera, Ragtime at the Kennedy Center and Ford’s Theatre, Mama Mia, West Side Story and Chicago at Wolf Trap and the National Theatre, 42nd St. and Spamalot at the National Theatre, Spring Awakening at Round House Theatre, The Full Monty, Joseph and the Technicolor Dream Coat, Chita Rivera, All That Jazz, Chess, the world premiere of the musical Beaches at Signature Theatre in Virginia, Spin, Tracie Olivera, I am Nova and Sunset Blvd. and many others. He shares all of this experience with his students to prepare them for a life filled with music.