Conductors

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Dr. Matthew McCutchen has served on the University of South Florida’s music faculty since 2009, first as the Director of Athletic Bands for nine years and then as the Director of Bands since 2018. His responsibilities at USF include conducting the Wind Ensemble, teaching graduate and undergraduate courses in Conducting, Wind Band Literature, and Music Education, and serving as the Assistant Director of the School of Music.

McCutchen earned a Ph.D. in Music Education with an emphasis in Instrumental Conducting from Florida State University, a Master of Music degree in Conducting from Virginia Commonwealth University, and a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Furman University. Before coming to USF, he taught middle school in Georgia, high school in Virginia, and served as an adjunct instructor at Virginia Commonwealth University for several semesters.

McCutchen is active as a guest conductor and clinician. He is the Artistic Director and Conductor of the Florida Wind Band and the Founder and Conductor of the Bay Area Youth (BAY) Winds, which features many of the finest high school musicians throughout the Tampa Area. He has been published in the National Band Association’s Journal, the 7th and 8th editions, and the “Solos with Wind Band Accompaniment” editions of the Teaching Music Through Performance in Band series, The Instrumentalist, VMEA Notes, and The Florida Music Director. He is the Chair of the National Band Association’s William D. Revelli Memorial Band Composition Contest Committee, is a member of the John Philip Sousa Foundation Legion of Honor Selection Committee, and holds memberships in numerous national and statewide professional organizations. In 2022 he was elected to the prestigious American Bandmasters Association. 

Mrs. Devin DeDon is a recent graduate of the University of South Florida with a Master's degree in Instrumental Conducting. Previously, she earned a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Louisiana State University and taught public school music for six years in Hillsborough County. Currently, Devin gives horn masterclasses around the Tampa area, maintains an active horn studio, and teaches the BAY Winds Symphonic Winds.  

Brian J. Panetta teaches music as the Director of Bands at Berkeley Preparatory School, an independent day school in Tampa, Florida, where he oversees the Conservatory of Music. In his time at Berkeley Preparatory School, Brian established and developed a comprehensive music program and founded the Marching Buccaneers, a jazz band program comprised of two complete ensembles, and is responsible for creating the Berkeley Conservatory of Music, which provides private lessons for students on campus. Dr. Panetta started his teaching career in 2009 as the Director and Coordinator of Music at Sandusky Central Catholic School in Ohio, where he taught middle and high school bands and choirs. Brian has developed a passion and skill for working with small and developing music programs throughout his career. Brian has been responsible for evolving dormant programs into stimulating, comprehensive, and inclusive music departments in both his positions at Sandusky Central Catholic School and Berkeley Preparatory School. 

Dr. Panetta received his Bachelor of Music in Music Education from the University of Dayton. He studied music education with Dr. Linda Hartley, saxophone with Dr. Willie Morris III, and conducting with Dr. Patrick Reynolds. His Master of Music in Instrumental Music Education is from Bowling Green State University, where he also served as a graduate assistant for the University Bands, studying conducting with Dr. Carol Hayward, Dr. Ken Thompson, and Dr. Bruce Moss. At Bowling Green State University, Brian studied music education with Dr. Vincent Kantorski, Dr. Elizabeth Menard, and Dr. Lisa Gruenhagen. Brian recently completed his Ph.D. in Music Education with a cognate emphasis in conducting at the University of South Florida. His research interests include beginning band pedagogy, music performance assessment, conducting curriculum, cognitive benefits of instrumental music education, and inclusive practices in the music classroom. Brian’s work has been presented at national and international conferences and published in peer-reviewed music education journals.