Kurt Knecht received his Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance and Music Theory from the University of Tampa, and his Master of Music in Composition from Southern Methodist University. His music is described as "funky" and "joyous" by the Washington Post and "sinister" by the Tampa Tribune.

Kurt publishes with Walton Music. His compositions are a staple of the modern choral festival literature having been performed on All State and ACDA concerts in over 15 states. His arrangement of the spiritual Go Tell it on the Mountain was recently featured at the Kennedy Center by the Grammy Award winning Washington Chorale. His Manly Men's Chorus is an international hit and was recently programmed on a series of concerts in Dresden, Germany. Recent commissions include choral, piano, and organ pieces for churches in Miami, Tampa, and Temple Terrace, Florida and Roanoke, Virginia.

As an eclectic performer, Kurt has been a featured soloist with groups ranging from Smokey Robinson to The Florida Orchestra. As a choral accompanist, Kurt has performed in concert with many of the country's leading conductors including Jo-Michael Scheibe, Jerry McCoy, Eph Ehly, Doreen Rao, Kevin Fenton, and Robert Summer. Previously, he was the conductor of the Collegiate Chorale at the University of Tampa.

Kurt is currently a DMA candidate in Composition with a minor in Organ Performance at the University of Nebraska - Lincoln. He is also the Organist and Choir Master at St. Mark's on the Campus Episcopal in Lincoln, Nebraska.