Paul Cutlan
Resume
Paul Cutlan is a multi-instrumentalist and composer specialising in improvisation, cross-cultural music, jazz and hybrid genres. Recent projects have included the debut of his thirteen piece Pan Demon’s Band, the premier of ‘Towards Affinity’ by The Metropolitan Orchestra, Big hART’s 'Acoustic Life of Boatsheds' and Hamed Sadeghi’s 'Empty Voices' (both for Sydney Festival), and the debut of Cutlan’s work 'Colour Therapy', commissioned by the Sydney Improvised Music Association.The title track of Cutlan’s String Project's second album Living was a finalist for the 2021 APRA Art Music awards.
Cutlan’s recent work as performer and composer includes the releases Bungarribee - Hunger, Divergence Jazz Orchestra - Shadows and Light, and MARA! Big Band Zashto?
A member of the Australian Art Orchestra for 15 years, Cutlan continues as a member of world music outfit MARA! after 28 years. His career has taken him to major venues and festivals in over twenty countries.
His creative versatility has seen him in demand for theatrical productions by Belvoir, Sydney Theatre Company, as well as numerous stage musicals. Cutlan has performed with Tasmanian and Sydney Symphony Orchestras, the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra, the Australian Chamber Orchestra, Gurrumul, Lou Reed, Bobby Previte, Jim McNeely, and Ólafur Arnalds.
He was composer and musical director for the acclaimed theatre production _Birth of the Coo_l for the Sydney Festival, with subsequent seasons in Edinburgh and Germany. Other commissioners include Ars Musica Australis, The NOISE string quartet, Divergence Jazz Orchestra and Jenny Eriksson. Cutlan’s PhD research into cross-cultural hybridity in the music of MARA! is on track for completion in 2026.