Keith McCutchen currently serves as director of the African American Choral Ensemble Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana. McCutchen has taught at Berea College, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, and St. Olaf College. Keith also serves as Music Director at Bethel A.M.E. Church, Bloomington, Indiana and is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Choral Conducting from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, Bloomington.
As a composer, arranger, pianist and choral director, Keith has received numerous commissions and grants for his religious choral music as well as his original jazz compositions and arrangements. Under a national endowment grant in 1998, Keith was commissioned to write Spiritual Medley. Written for a community choir and jazz quintet, the work combines elements of gospel and jazz and was accompanied by legendary jazz artists, pianist Kenny Barron, the late saxophonist Stanley Turrentine, bassist Richard Davis, and Carl Allen on drums. Keith is the recipient of the Al Smith Fellowship Professional Development Grant, presented by the Kentucky Arts Council, for his arrangements of the music of John Coltrane and Miles Davis.
As a jazz pianist, Keith has performed with such artists as Mel Torme, Doc Severinsen, Diane Schuur, bassist Richard Davis, drummer Eric Kamau Gravatt and trumpeter Brad Goode. Keith currently co-leads the Mahluli McCutchen Quintet with saxophonist Fareed Mahluli.
Keith has traveled and performed internationally as pianist and arranger with the American Spiritual Ensemble. The American Spiritual Ensemble, The St. Olaf Choir (Anton Armstrong, director) Trumpeter Michael Suman, and the Twin Cities Gospel Choir have recorded Keith's music. Keith has choral works published by Earthsongs Publishing. He has commissions from The University of St. Thomas (I Will Bless the Lord) and Vocal Essence (co-arranger for Witness, honoring the life of African-American photographer, Gordon Parks.)
To learn more about McCutchen Music Publishing, contact us at (812) 336-7383 or info@mccutchenmusic.com.