GHS student's composition wins regional

LEE CUTCHIN A music composition about fear by Gaffney High senior Lee Cutchin won a regional contest May 11.

Cutchin received a Superior rating for his composition "De Metu" at a Southeast Regional competition held by the National Federation of Music Clubs. He is one of 64 students to submit entries in the music composition contest.

Cutchin is among the five regional winners selected by judges May 12 to advance to the national junior composers contest.

An aspiring composer, Cutchin plays the tuba in the Gaffney High Band of Gold and is a member of the school's Honor Choir. Piano is the main instrument he uses when composing music.

"Music is my passion in life," Cutchin said. "My ultimate goal is to write film scores for movies."

Cutchin's song "De Metu" is named after the Latin phrase for fear and was composed entirely on computer. The Gaffney High student used his knowledge from a musical theory class to write the song with parts for a string orchestra, brass, choirs, violin, viola, trumpet and trombone.

He enlisted the help of teacher Hugh Fincher to translate into English the three Latin lines that form the song's musical theme: "Fear controls you. Lingers in the dark. Save yourself from the fear."

"I was going through a rough time in my life, struggling with fear and anxiety," Cutchin said. "This song was my way of letting it all out."

Southeastern Regional contest chair Rachel Cadenheod penned a personal note to Cutchin congratulating the Gaffney High student on his achievement.

"The judges and I were amazed with the amount of work and time that went into your writing the music, printing it and sending it to this chairman," Cadenheod wrote. "We were all very impressed with your talent and desire to participate in this worthwhile event."