Senior Master Sgt. Bryce Bunner is principal violist with the Air Force Strings, The United States Air Force Band, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C. Originally from Evansville, Indiana, his career in the Air Force began in May 1999. Bunner currently serves as the band's operations section chief of special programs, including education outreach, priority events, chamber music and Smithsonian museum concerts.
Bunner studied at the Oberlin College Conservatory of Music, earning Bachelor of Music degrees in viola performance and music education in 1998. He subsequently studied at the Cleveland Institute of Music from 1998-99. In 2004 he completed his Master of Music degree at the University of Maryland College Park.
As a freelance musician in the D.C. area, Bunner is a founding member of the Inscape Chamber Orchestra, and has performed with the Baltimore Symphony, National Gallery Orchestra, National Philharmonic, Maryland Symphony and the Fairfax Symphony. Prior to joining the Air Force, he was a member of the Erie Philharmonic, Canton Symphony and the Evansville Philharmonic, as well as principal violist of the Oberlin and Cleveland Institute orchestras.
Bunner attended the Aspen Music Festival, Music Academy of the West, the Kent/Blossom Music Festival, Festival-Institute at Round Top, and the Encore School for Strings. His principal teachers include Carol Dallinger, Roland Vamos, Lynne Ramsey, Mark Jackobs and Katherine Murdock.
Highlights of Bunner's Air Force career include performing in Cambodia for the King and Queen Mother of Cambodia as well as for Cambodian school children in 2016; and performing for a private swearing in ceremony for Vice President Joe Biden in 2013.