After college, Francis Kuttner attended the Violin Making School in Cremona graduating in 1978. He stayed on in Cremona working with Francisco Bissolotti. He set up his own workshop in San Francisco in 1978 and went on to a very successful career winning awards and medals from all over the world including three gold medals at Violin Society of America competitions. He served as a judge at a number of competitions as well. Later on, he maintained workshops in both San Francisco and Cremona.