Mark Porcaro

Mark holds a Bachelors degree in guitar and also a PhD in Musicology and has a great deal of experience teaching the guitar and the lute. He is also on the music faculty at the University of Dayton. He enjoys teaching students of all levels in styles ranging from folk to classical.

John Filbrun

A Guitar Institute of Technology graduate, with additional guitar study at Wright State University,  John has taught at McCutcheon Studios since 1990, and is an active performer in the area rock scene. He is one of the most organized and thorough teachers we have ever seen in this genre. Rock, blues.

John Suttles

John has performed professionally in blues bands for many years, and has often been a featured performer at GuitarFest. He studied music at Miami University, and has taught at McCutcheon Music for over ten years. Styles: rock, blues, fingerstyle, jazz.

Richie TerBush

Richie has spent the past seven years touring with the 80zAllstars out of San Diego. He produced a CD of original instrumental compositions titled "Between Floors." Richie plays with the well-known cover band "The Rusty Griswolds" as well as in "Acoustica, a guitar duo. Styles: fingerstyle, jazz, pop, rock.

James Murrell

James has completed all music requirements for a degree in jazz guitar from Central State University, where he studied with Jim Smith. He recently earned a Specialist Certificate in Advanced Guitar from the Berklee College of Music. He has released several CDs of original tunes, and is one of our busiest teachers. James performs often in the Dayton area, accompanying singers and in combos.

Gwen also teaches piano at the University of Dayton. She was graduate studies advisor at WSU's music department for several years and currently directed the choir at Southminster Church. Gwen also is music director of the Dayton Chamber Chorale, a vocal group known for creative programming and performance.

B.Mus. Piano Performance. Charles is an active composer and teacher, and has taught piano at the University of Dayton.

Teresa Hermiz

Theresa specializes in teaching young children as soon as they can read. She likes incorporating the computer into her pedagogy. She has accompanied choirs all her life, including the Wilmington College Choir. Theresa holds lecture recitals for all her students.

Jeff Hufnagle

Held in high regard by both students and professional players, Jeff has played for many years at jazz venues around southwest Ohio. His teaching abilities range from ear training to improvisation, and he has composed many works in the jazz style.

Hal North
Hal works with beginners thru advanced players emphasizing solid musical fundamentals as well as arranging, theory and composition. He has performed over 50 years, and  performs at several area restaurants, churches as well as other private engagements.

Roger Cavender

Roger has performed in the Dayton area for decades, and has taught music in public schools. His specialties include jazz piano and saxophone.

Jan Davis

Jan holds a B.M. in Piano Performance/Piano Pedagogy from WSU  where she taught in the CMD.  Jan enjoys teaching children, teens, adults, and seniors with a unique playing-based approach that has students playing great-sounding blues, classical, contemporary, gospel, and accompaniments from their very first lessons.  She is a licensed Simply Music teacher and a Licensed Kindermusik teacher.  

Dr. Frank Cox, cello

Dr. Franklin Cox received B.Mus. degrees in cello and composition from Indiana University, as well as composition degrees from Columbia University (M.A.), and the University of California – San Diego (Ph.D.) Dr. Cox has received numerous fellowships, prizes, and commissions from leading institutions and festivals of new music, including fellowships from the Schloss Solitude and the Sacher Stiftung, the Kranichsteiner Prize for both composition and cello performance from the Darmstadt Festival. He has taught at Wright State University since 2007.

Principal Viola Emeritus of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and Juilliard and Eastman graduate, Marna comes to us with a wealth of teaching and performing experience. She has taught for Miami U. and CCM, and performed a variety of orchestral and chamber music.

Mark performs with the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra, and was the first registered Suzuki viola instructor in Ohio. He holds a Masters degree in Music from Miami University, where he received numerous awards in music. Mark has been an active teacher in southwest Ohio for over twenty years. 

Jim Braid, violin. 

Jim holds a B.Mus. Performance degree from Baldwin-Wallace College Conservatory and received that school's Distinguished Alumni Award in 1985. He performs with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and is concertmaster for the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra and the Lakeside Summer Symphony. He teaches classical and popular violin and viola.

Colleen Braid, viola and violin

Colleen holds a B. Mus. in viola performance and a B.M.Ed from Baldwin-Wallace College Conservatory and is assistant principal violist with the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra. She also teaches at the Prelude Strings summer music camp and Stivers Music Magnet in Dayton.

Yoshiko Kunimitsu, violin
Yoshiko received a Bachelor of Music degree from the New England Conservatory of Music and a Master of Music Degree from CCM, as well as additional training at the Mozarteum Academy in Salzburg, Austria. She plays section violin with the Dayton Philharmonic. When not playing the violin, you can find her traveling abroad, reading non-fiction, and doing yoga.

John Toedtman, string bass and electric bass guitar

John holds a degree from Peabody Conservatory, and performs and teaches extensively in southwest Ohio. He teaches several styles of bass playing, including orchestral and electric instruments, and is one of our busiest teachers and performers in the region.

Susan Heeg, violin

Susan studied at Wright State University on scholarship and has performed with the Springfield Symphony. She currently performs with the Lima Symphony as well as with the Stein Piano Trio and String Quintet.
 

John Pascolini, bass and cello

John is an active musician in the Dayton area, and teaches on the faculty at the University of Dayton Music Department.
 

Hal Melia, saxophone

With years of both private studio teaching and college teaching, Hal is one of the premier jazz experts in the region. With an energetic approach to music-making, we are so pleased to have him on our staff.
 

Joyce Long, flute, piccolo

Joyce studied at Indiana University with James Pellerite and was principal flutist with the Sinclair Wind Ensemble for several years. She has concertized and recorded in duo with Jim McCutcheon, and performs with harpist Betsy Williams and guitarist Lee Ann Kinner.

Roger Cavender, saxophone

Roger has performed in the Dayton area for decades, and has taught public school. His specialties include jazz piano, clarinet and saxophone.

John DeGruchy, bassoon

bio available soon

Haley Kendall

Haley has worked at McCutcheon Music for many years. Her degree is in clarinet performance, and she has often been a featured performer often at McCutcheon Music recitals at the Renaissance Auditorium at the Dayton Art Institute.

 

Candi Morris, oboe

We welcome Candi to our staff! She has been an active performer and teacher in the Dayton area for several years, and we are delighted to have her teaching with us!

Ann Smith, flute

Known principally as a jazz pianist, Jeff's music degree is actually in trombone! He is an excellent choice for students aspiring to win chairs in their schools' jazz bands.