Mary Levin Cutler ’55, College of Arts and Letters alumna, actress, singer, musician, and ethnomusicologist who enjoys traveling the world and collecting instruments was honored for the fourth year at Cal State LA with a faculty recital for her continued support of music in education.
“It’s an honor to perform for Mary, her talent, time and treasures greatly enrich the educational experiences we provide in the Department of Music at Cal State LA,” said Dr. Emily Moss, Director of Bands and Head of the Department of Music.
Cal State LA music students have the unique opportunity to get hands-on and learn about instruments from around the world thanks to Cutler’s generous gift of world instruments. The donated collection currently contains 166 percussion, string and wind instruments along with several non-categorized instruments, numerous music LPs, tapes, books, sheet music and memorabilia.
Mary graduated from Cal State LA in 1955 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education. Mary studied violin and voice, performing both for some years. She went on to receive a Master of Music degree from the University of Southern California. Mary represented Cal State LA at the Hollywood Bowl production of Miss Starlight and was Homecoming Princess in 1954.
She lectures in ethnomusicology and acquired her extensive collection of ethnic instruments on her travels throughout the world. At the Faculty Recital Tribute Concert Mary presented the Department of Music with yet another instrument, a Hulusi, to add to the impressive collection. Considered one of China’s Top Ten traditional instruments, the Hulusi, a free reed wind solo instrument is made of bamboo pipes and a gourd and when played sounds similar to a clarinet. The Hulusi is popular in the southwest Yunnan particularly among the Dai and Yi community.
Click here to view more photos from the Mary Levin Faculty Recital Concert on Facebook.
By Kathleen Sanchez | Cal State LA College of Arts and Letters News Service