Tama Kott has performed solo, orchestral, opera, wind band, and chamber music throughout Europe and the Americas.  She has been part of numerous orchestras, bands, and chamber ensembles performing live on National Public Radio. 

As a performer in many leading ensembles, she has played under such renowned conductors as John Paynter, Frank Battisti, Donald Hunsberger, Robert Spano, and Gunther Schuller.  Throughout her education at the New England Conservatory, Eastman School of Music and Ohio State University, she has gained significant performance and teaching experience earning awards, scholarships, and fellowships.   She competed and was a semi-finalist at the prestigious Fischoff Chamber Music Competition, won an ASCAPLUS Award in the Concert Division, and has been awarded numerous grants to research and perform in the US and abroad.

Her interest in repertoire for bassoon has led her to publish a well-regarded book on excerpt collections (Mellen Press).  She is also involved in an ongoing research project into Russian bassoon literature.  As part of the exploration of this complex and varied repertoire, she works closely with musicologists, performers, and composers from around the world and, has numerous articles published in the journal of the IDRS. Dr. Kott has taught at the University of Tennessee at Martin, West Liberty University, Berry College, and the Long Island Conservatory where she also held an administrative post.  Additionally, she has given performances and master classes at the University of Georgia, University of Florida, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, University of Missouri, and the CUNY Graduate School among others.

Dr. Kott has performed at numerous IDRS Conferences, the NFA Conference, the Aspen Music Festival, Grand Teton Orchestral Seminar, and Domaine Forget, Quebec, Canada.  She has served as West Virginia State Chair for NACWPI, CMS Campus Representative, published articles, has arrangements published by Dorn and TrevCo, and adjudicated for national band, orchestra, and young artist competitions.  Additionally, she has given clinics at multiple state and national conferences, and has served on the faculty of the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp.

As an orchestral musician, Dr. Kott has performed as principal bassoon with the Orquesta Sinfonica Universidad Autonomo Nuevo Leon, Mexico, The Heidelberg Schlossfestpiele Opera Orchestra, Germany and served as Associate Musician with the Columbus (OH) and Chattanooga Symphony Orchestras and other ensembles throughout the US.  Recently, she performed with orchestras in TN, KY, and GA.  She is also involved in recording projects and regularly commissions and premieres new works for bassoon and chamber ensemble.  

As a chamber musician, Dr. Kott was most recently performed with the Bravada ensemble and is currently a member of the DT Duo.  The DT Duo, founded by Tama Kott and Arnold Irchai, believes strongly in commissioning new works, education and community outreach.  In collaboration with the Ocala Symphony and other orchestras, the duo has presented programs in the public schools. Recent concert performances, lectures, and master classes include engagements at the Lyceum in Alexandria, VA, the 20th Anniversary Season of the Summit Music Festival, NY, Southeast Missouri State University, Murray State University, University of Florida, International Double Reed Society Conference, and the NACWPI Conference.  Currently, Dr. Kott is affiliated with Northern Arizona University.