Kevin McCutcheon had died at the age of 66 due to COVID-19.

Born in  Johnstown, Pennsylvania, McCutcheon studied conducting, piano, and composition at the Philadelphia Music Academy and went on to appear as a soloist and accompanist for well-known instrumentalists.

Additionally, from 1976 to 1979 he conducted at the Opera of Philadelphia.

In 1985 McCutcheon made his debut as a conductor at the Deutsche Oper Berlin in “Così fan Tutte” and became a longstanding staff conductor with the company. The Deutsche Oper Berlin noted that he was such a committed musician and “an artist who was able to replace conductors who were sick at short notice.”

McCutcheon also led performances of the Children’s Music Theater and also made regular guest appearances with the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra, the German Symphony Orchestra Berlin, and the Berlin Chamber Orchestra. He also conducted performances with the Prague Opera, the Potsdam Sanssouci Music Festival, the Rheingau Music Festival, and at music festivals in Spain.

In 1985 McCutcheon was honored with the PMA Music Award in Pennsylvania.

In a statement, the Deutsche Oper Berlin said it “mourns the loss of a musician to whom Berlin owes a lot and will keep him in honor.”