Benjamin Kunkel

Classical guitarist Ben Kunkel, a native Minnesotan, began playing guitar at the age of nine. He received his Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Minnesota, studying under Jeffrey Van, and his Master of Music degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music, studying under Jason Vieaux. Ben is an active solo and chamber musician and has given many concert appearances as a soloist and in a variety of ensembles. He has been a member of the Minneapolis Guitar Quartet since 2014, with whom he has toured throughout the United States, Europe and Asia. While passionate about the traditional guitar repertoire, Ben is a strong advocate of new music and frequently premieres new works and collaborates with composers. A dedicated teacher, he brings excitement, expertise, and an understanding of the learning process to students of all ages and levels. In addition to his expertise in classical guitar, Ben has extensive experience playing and teaching other styles of guitar, including rock, folk, jazz, fingerstyle and pop. Ben joined Kramer’s School of Music in 2020.