Biography
I have always loved a good story. From an early age, I was often found with a book in hand or at the movies. When I began my private piano studies, it didn’t take long to discover another outlet for storytelling at the tips of my fingers. Originally from Ohio, I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Piano Performance from Cedarville University in 2016, then went on earn a Masters of Music in Music Direction for Theatre from Arizona State University in 2019.
I have always sought to tell stories through the bridging of the classical and musical theatre spheres. I have served as a collaborative pianist to both classical and musical theatre singers, have been a rehearsal pianist for operas, choirs, and musical theatre productions, and have both music directed and choreographed theatrical productions. As a conductor, my aim is to communicate with audiences through my service as liaison between the vocalists and orchestra. My work as a solo pianist has incorporated elements from the classical repertoire as well as the musical theatre canon, culminating in well-rounded artistic experiences.
After graduating from Cedarville University, I spent the summer in Falmouth, MA, as a rehearsal pianist/assistant choreographer at the College Light Opera Company. Upon returning to Ohio for a year, I worked at Wright State University as a musical theatre staff accompanist. During my time at Arizona State University (ASU), I served as a graduate teaching assistant, accompanying musical theatre classes, music directing both mainstage and student lab productions, and vocally coaching undergraduate students. I also taught the class “Singing for the Actor” in ASU’s theatre department and have done multiple guest talks regarding auditioning for musical theatre. I was awarded an AriZoni Award for my music direction of A New Brain at ASU in 2018. For multiple summers I worked as the children’s summer camp music director at Childsplay Theatre and The Phoenix Theatre Company. I then ventured to the high seas onboard the Norwegian Breakaway as the Music Director of SIX and Burn the Floor. My current adventure takes me all over the country with the WICKED National Tour, where I currently serve as the Keys 3 player and music librarian.
When I’m not in rehearsal, I’m often still found with a book in my hand; I love to travel, visit family and friends, experiment with new recipes in the kitchen, and spend an outlandish amount of time looking at puppy pictures. You can reach out to me at danileehutch@gmail.com or visit me on Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube.
