Born in Brownsville, Texas, John Hunter is an in-demand performer and educator in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. He currently serves as Principal Bass of the Corpus Christi Symphony Orchestra for the 2025–2026 season. Hunter has also performed with numerous orchestras across the United States, including the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, Dallas Opera Orchestra, Dallas Symphony Orchestra during their Summer Parks series, Dallas Chamber Symphony, Memphis Symphony Orchestra, Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, Shreveport Symphony Orchestra, Tulsa Symphony Orchestra, Richmond Symphony Orchestra, Irving Symphony Orchestra, and the National Philharmonic in Washington, D.C. He has additionally appeared as Guest or Substitute Principal Bass with the Irving Symphony Orchestra, Plano Symphony Orchestra, Shreveport Symphony Orchestra, and the Dallas Chamber Symphony.
Hunter regularly performs as Soloist with Avant Chamber Ballet and Verdigris Ensemble. His performances include Missy Mazzoli’s chamber opera Songs from the Uproar and Astor Piazzolla’s Contrabajissimo. He recently appeared as a guest artist with the Earspace Ensemble at Southern Methodist University in the world premiere of A Rural Requiem.
As a soloist, Hunter was the winner of the University of Texas at Arlington Concerto Competition, performing Giovanni Bottesini’s Concerto No. 2 in B minor for Double Bass and Orchestra. He has participated in numerous festivals including the Brevard Music Center, PRISMA Festival, Aruba Symphony Festival, Music in the Mountains, and the National Music Festival. During his studies, he also performed alongside members of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and violinist Pinchas Zukerman as part of Southern Methodist University’s chamber music program.
An active and dedicated teacher, Hunter works with students throughout the Dallas–Fort Worth area. His students regularly earn high placements in All-Region orchestras and ensembles such as the Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra. He currently serves as Adjunct Faculty at Abilene Christian University and Hardin-Simmons University, and teaches Dual Credit Music Appreciation through Dallas College to high school students in Dallas ISD.
Hunter studied with Brian Perry, Jack Unzicker, Tyler Shepherd, Paul Unger, Katherine Decker, and Clif Evans, and has performed in masterclasses for Paul Ellison, Ed Barker, Craig Brown, Daniel Tosky, George Speed, Alex Hanna, and Hal Robinson, among others. He holds a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, a Master of Music from the University of Texas at Arlington, and a Performance Certificate from Southern Methodist University.
Outside of music, Hunter is an avid marathon runner and enthusiastic foodie who enjoys exploring new restaurants and coffee shops throughout the cities he visits.
The Low End Studio 