William Benjamin Hutto, III, 67, musician, composer, and teacher, died September 29 in Washington, D.C. Born in Charleston, South Carolina, on October 4, 1947, Hutto graduated in 1968 from Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, with additional study at Westminster Choir School, Princeton, New Jersey, the Royal School of Church Music in England, and in the Education for Ministry program at the University of the South, Sewanee, Tennessee. In He was named a Fellow of the Royal School of Church Music in 1998 and in 2013 was awarded an honorary doctorate from the Virginia Theological Seminary, Alexandria, Virginia. Hutto served as president of the Anglican Association of Musicians from 1988 until 1989 and of the Royal School of Church Music in America from 1999 until 2006.
In 1969, Hutto joined the staff of the Porter-Gaud School of Charleston as an English teacher and choral director. During this period, he also served as organist and choirmaster of the Episcopal Cathedral of St. Luke and St. Paul of Charleston. He was a co-founder of the organ recital series of the Piccolo Spoleto Festival. Hutto was appointed organist and choirmaster of Christ Episcopal Church, Charlotte, North Carolina, in 1985. In 1999, he moved to Washington, D.C., to serve St. Albans School for Boys and National Cathedral School for Girls as director of choral activities and director of performing arts. During Hutto’s tenure, the choral program experienced tremendous growth that included tours across the United States and to Australia, South Africa, Chile, and Argentina. In 2006, Hutto became organist of St. John’s Episcopal Church, Lafayette Square, in 2009 becoming director of music. As a composer, his work was included in The Hymnal 1982 of the Episcopal Church, and several of his anthems have been published. William Benjamin Hutto, III, is survived by his sister, Catherine B. Hutto, of Silver Spring, Maryland.
Photo credit: Steve O'Toole; courtesy St. Albans School, Mount St. Alban, Washington, D.C.
