The University of South Carolina School of Music is profoundly sad to share that Walter
Cuttino, Associate Professor Emeritus of Music at the University of South Carolina,
has passed away. In 1996 Mr. Cuttino joined the voice faculty at the University of
South Carolina and held his position for 23 years. Mr. Cuttino performed regularly
on American and European stages and served as artistic director of The Palmetto Opera, conductor of the The Palmetto Mastersingers and as director of Music at Lake Murray Presbyterian Church. He was also an alumnus of the School of Music, graduating with a BM degree in 1979.
Mr. Cuttino’s resume included over 1,000 operatic performances throughout Europe. Ferrando (Cosi fan Tutte), Almaviva (Barber of Seville), Tamino (The Magic Flute), Lenski (Eugene Onegin), Alfredo (La Traviata) and Rodolfo (La Boheme) are a sampling of the more than 40 roles in his repertoire. He also performed over 500 concerts, including a concert tour with the late Leonard Bernstein, to London and Moscow.
“Walter Cuttino was, for many years, the heart and soul of the voice area of the School of Music. In addition to his beautiful, clear, and bright tenor voice, Walter was a loving and collaborative colleague who performed superbly in any genre and in any venue that presented him. His legions of voice students over the years attest regularly to the significant impact he had on their learning and development. Our world is diminished without Water Cuttino in it" said Dean Tayloe Harding.
The faculty, staff, and students of the School of Music wish to extend their sympathy
to the family of Mr. Cuttino. We are deeply grateful for his years of service to the
School of Music and at the University of South Carolina.