Walter Edward Cuttino

Walter Edward Cuttino was born October 21st, 1957 to David W. Cuttino, Jr. and Evelyn Dell Eaddy Cuttino in Meridian, Mississippi. A few years after his birth, the family moved to Macon, GA and finally to Charleston, SC where Walter's father accepted a position with the Baptist College, now Charleston Southern University. Walter has three siblings: Pamela Brinkerhoff of Ramona, CA, David Cuttino, III of Fernandina Beach, FL, and Carole Cuttino of Awendaw, SC.

Walter graduated from Middleton High School and spent glorious summers at Lake Moultrie from the time he was 10 years old: skiing, fishing and carousing with friends and family. Through his father's ministry, he was a member of numerous churches in the Charleston area. He honed his exceptional vocal talent performing in high school and churches during his youth. He received his Bachelor of Music degree from the University of South Carolina where he caught the opera bug and went on to complete his Masters and Opera Certificate degrees at the University of Cincinnati.

He launched his professional career in Germany where he sang over 1000 opera performances and over 500 concerts throughout Europe and the US, including a tour with the late Leonard Bernstein in London and Moscow. He was employed full time by the Theaters in Ulm, Aachen and Krefeld-Moenchengladbach from 1984-1997 as lyrical tenor soloist.

He met his wife, Simone, in 1989. She was a full time ballet dancer in Krefeld-M-Gladbach. He didn't just date her, he became the ‘boyfriend’ of the entire ballet company. He would drop off chocolate for all the lady dancers before a performance. He made friends with the male dancers, and the worlds of ballet and opera had crossed over like never before. They spent part of every summer in Charleston with family and friends and traveled throughout Europe and the US.

They were married in 1995, in Germany first, July 3rd, at the City Hall in Rheydt, and at First Baptist Church downtown Charleston, on July 22nd. Walter was offered a position at his alma mater, USC, just weeks after finding out that Simone was pregnant with their first child, Alina. They decided to move to the US in 1996, and take on the next adventure with him as the new voice professor at the school of music. He kept the position for 23 years, along with being the director of the Palmetto Mastersingers for 20 years and director of music at Lake Murray Presbyterian Church for 15 years.

Walter and Simone have 4 children, Alina Maria, Noah Joseph, Gemma Sofie and Avalyn Eaddy.