Bio

An award-winning, multi-genre composer, pianist and Yamaha Master Educator, Dr. David Cutler balances a varied career as a speaker, author, consultant, educator, and musician. A self-proclaimed “weekend traveler,” his statements seamlessly weave classical, jazz, popular, folk, and world music. Stretching what it means to be a performer, events regularly involve extreme eclecticism, choreography, humor, interdisciplinary collaboration, celebrity cameos, kazoo playing marching bands, you name it.

One of the world’s leading voices on arts entrepreneurship training, Cutler’s acclaimed books The Savvy Musician and The Savvy Music Teacher—which provide tools for amplifying income, impact, and innovation—have shaped a generation of artists. He has offered ground-breaking interactive workshops for organizations such as the Julliard School, Dutch Classical Music Meeting, New World Symphony Orchestra, Indiana University and Italy’s soundSCAPE music festival. 

Known for leading immersive “innovation GAMEs,” Cutler’s powerful, team-based, problem-solving experiences empower arts, education and business communities to solve creative challenges while becoming better collaborators. His recent full-color, illustrated book The GAME of Innovation guides readers to conquer complex challenges, level up their team, and invent the extraordinary.

Cutler is a Distinguished Professor of Music Entrepreneurship and Innovation at University of South Carolina. He studied at the University of Miami (BM), Hochschule für Musik in Vienna, Austria, Eastman School of Music (MM) and Indiana University (DM), and served as Interim Dean of the School of Music at DePauw University (2022-23). Cutler is a member of the Liberty Fellowship and Aspen Global Leadership Network, associations aimed at building a more just society.