Alia Kuhnert joins the faculty at University of the Pacific’s Conservatory of Music in the fall of 2025 as assistant professor of practice in trumpet.

A San Francisco native, Kuhnert is a versatile and dynamic trumpet player recognized for her vibrant sound and engaging musicality. She began playing the trumpet at age ten, originally choosing the instrument as a playful rebellion—but quickly discovered a deep and lasting passion for it. In addition to her trumpet studies, Kuhnert trained in classical piano and was a member of the San Francisco Girls Chorus, performing throughout the Bay Area, including regular appearances at Davies Symphony Hall.

As a freelance orchestral musician, Kuhnert performs regularly with leading ensembles across Northern California, including the Berkeley Symphony, Oakland Symphony, Marin Symphony, Santa Rosa Symphony, Santa Cruz Symphony, Fresno Philharmonic, Modesto Symphony and Stockton Symphony. Her recent solo appearances include performances with the Golden Gate Park Band and Albany High School. She also toured Central Europe with UC Berkeley, performingin Berlin, Prague, Vienna and Kraków.

A dedicated educator, Kuhnert is also on faculty at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music Pre-College Division, East Bay Center for the Performing Arts, Schools of the Sacred Heart and Cazadero Music Camp. She leads weekly masterclasses and sectionals in schools across the Bay Area, teaches brass and musicianship classes, and maintains a thriving private studio. Her teaching philosophy emphasizes a student-centered approach that nurtures individual interests, strengths and goals, creating a supportive and inclusive environment for learners of all backgrounds and experience levels.

Kuhnert holds a Bachelor of Music from the New England Conservatory and both a Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts from Stony Brook University. While living in New York, she co-founded eGALitarian, an all-female brass ensemble committed to empowering women through music and served as a substitute instructor at the Juilliard Pre-College. Her principal teachers include Catherine Murtagh, Ben Wright and Tom Siders of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and Kevin Cobb of the American Brass Quintet.

Outside of music, Kuhnert enjoys art and making ice cream, is a member of the International Karate League and performs nationally on a regular basis.