Co-Principal
Justin Cummings joined the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra as principal bassoonist in 2021. He was
previously a bassoon fellow with the New World Symphony in Miami Beach, FL. He has appeared
as guest principal with the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra,
and has also performed with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Louisiana Philharmonic and Phoenix
Symphony. His has spent summers at the Sunflower Music Festival, Carmel Bach Festival,
Orchestra of the Americas, Music Academy of the West and Aspen Music Festival.
Mr. Cummings has played under prominent conductors including Stéphane Denève, Alan Gilbert,
Robert Spano and Michael Tilson Thomas, and in many of the world’s great halls such as the Berlin
Philharmonie, Concertgebouw, Elbphilharmonie and Walt Disney Concert Hall. He has performed
chamber music alongside such distinguished artists as Emanuel Ax, Whitney Crockett and Andrew
Marriner.
Mr. Cummings holds Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from the San Francisco Conservatory
and the Colburn School, respectively, where he studied under Stephen Paulson and Richard Beene.
He was born and raised in Fresno, California.
