Collaborators
Bob McCutcheon
Music Producer, Owner of Vault Recording Studio
Bob recorded, mixed and mastered all of the tracks on Katie’s first EP. In 1988, Bob started his first recording studio, “Alternative Studios” in his mother’s garage. He worked his way through college engineering and producing local Pittsburgh bands. After graduating from Robert Morris University with a business degree, he pursued a 28 year career with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, ultimately retiring as Managing Partner – but always followed his passion and continued to play, write and record music.
Inspired by their love of music, Bob, his wife Dana and their two sons Ryan and Brett embarked on a journey to create something more than just a recording studio. They envisioned a new and vibrant space were musicians of all kinds could connect, co-create, record and promote their music.
They purchased the old bank building on Neville Island and hired Los Angeles based Yanchar Design and Consulting Group, a premier design firm specializing in the design of high-end recording and post-production facilities.
In 2016 construction was complete and The Vault was born. With the addition of Jimmy Hoyson, the acquisition of the Neve 8058 and Bob’s retirement from PricewaterhouseCoopers, the Vault began operating commercially in 2018. In addition to running the studio and related record label, Bob still actively produces and records projects for clients across all genre.
Alex Price
Guitarist
Alex played guitar on “Blessed is the One,” “Perfect Trinity,” “My God, My God,” and “As I Lay Down to Rest” on Katie’s first EP album. Alex Price is a multi-instrumentalist, composer/arranger, and audio engineer. He can be found performing across the western Pennsylvania region in various symphonies, jazz groups, and pop ensembles. Prior to returning to work in the United States, he had spent years performing internationally in theaters onboard cruise ships, most notably the world famous ocean liner, the Cunard Queen Mary 2. A proficient sight reader and improviser, Alex has found work in a wide variety of genres ranging from jazz and classical to rock and gospel. Recently, he licensed music to a few films, including Mona Lisa and the Blood Moon. He holds Bachelor’s degrees in music education and performance from Indiana University of Pennsylvania (2016) and a Master’s in jazz guitar performance from Duquesne University (2022). He currently teaches privately and at Duquesne University.
Michael Hammer
Pianist/Organist
Michael plays piano on “Blessed is the One,” “Home,” and “Perfect Trinity” in Katie’s EP, and he plays organ on “Our Blessed Redeemer.” Michael Hammer is a pianist, organist, teacher, and composer living in Pittsburgh, PA. His concert activity has taken him around the world from caves to cathedrals. He’s accompanied choirs and soloists, played in ensembles and as soloist with orchestras, as keyboardist in a funk band, and has appeared on several recordings in various musical styles. His cat finds him endlessly fascinating, and vice versa. Michael Hammer is the church organist and pianist for 3rd Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh.
Simon Cummings
Cellist
Simon Cummings played cello on “Blessed is the One,” “Home,”
“My God, My God,” and “As I Lay Down to Rest” on Katie’s first EP album, and composed the cello part for “Blessed is the One.” Mr. Cummings is an active cellist, composer and teacher based in Pittsburgh, PA. He attended Carnegie Mellon University and received his BFA in Cello Performance in 2008. Mr. Cummings is a founding cellist and composer in the cross-genre cello ensemble, Cello Fury. With Cello Fury, Mr. Cummings has composed and recorded three full length albums and toured extensively for the past 13 years. Mr. Cummings currently collaborates with other numerous Pittsburgh based cultural groups as a composer and performer, such as Texture Contemporary Ballet, Attack Theatre, Resonance Works, Bricolage Production Company, The Pittsburgh Playhouse, Quantum Theatre and Alia Musica. In addition to his performance career, Mr. Cummings is the Strings Teacher at The Ellis School, an all-ages private school for girls. Mr. Cummings is also the director of the Ellis after-school music program, the Ellis Music Academy, and maintains a large studio of private cello students in the Pittsburgh Area.
Devin Arrington
Violinist
Katie’s husband, Devin Arrington, played violin on “Home,” “My God, My God,” and “As I Lay Down to Rest” on Katie Arrington’s first EP. He also composed the string parts for these three songs.
Devin Arrington, is an award-winning violinist and composer. A few of his original compositions are highlighted on his YouTube channel. Devin holds a B.A.degree in Music from Middlebury College (summa cum laude) and M.M. degree in Music Composition from Carnegie Mellon University. He also runs his own violin studio, plays violin at weddings, and runs a nonprofit called Musicians With A Mission (MWAM) that brings musicians into nursing facilities to perform for the elderly.
William Gleeson
Filmmaker
William Gleeson is responsible for the production of Katie’s music video for “Blessed Is The One.” William is an up-and-coming filmmaker and founder of GBF Productions, based in Pittsburgh, PA. William has made just about every type of video–from weddings to promotions to documentaries–but loves to write and direct narrative shorts. He aspires to continue making narrative films and further his artistic endeavors.
Juliann Marraccini
Dancer
Juliann danced in Katie’s music video “My God, My God.” Juliann is a 22 year old dancer based in Pittsburgh, PA. She has trained in dance since she was 4 years old, and now works as a dance teacher and choreographer. She recently graduated from California University of Pennsylvania with a degree in Communications and Dance. Currently, she is a graduate student at Point Park University. She was excited to have the opportunity to preform in such a meaningful piece, and had a wonderful experience working alongside everyone.
Teah Creasy
Dancer
Téah danced in Katie’s music video for “Blessed is the One.” She was so excited by the opportunity to work with Katie and had an amazing time! Téah Creasy is a 17 year old dancer based in Pittsburgh, PA. She is in level 8 pre-professional division at Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre and she has trained at Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre since she was 7 years old. She has been delighted with the opportunity to perform in the Nutcracker with Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre each year she has been there. She has also attended summer programs in dance with Point Park University and American Ballet Theatre.
Alyssa Mann Creasy
Vocalist
Alyssa Mann Creasy sang backing vocals on “Blessed is the One,” “Perfect Trinity,” and “Our Blessed Redeemer” on Katie’s first EP. Alyssa is a vocalist, singer/songwriter and pianist in the Pittsburgh, PA area. She and her husband, John Creasy, have been making music together for over 20 years. Their band, This Side of Eve, has released 3 full length albums and several additional EP’s and singles. They have performed all over the region and have had their music featured on local radio shows and podcasts. Alyssa has been singing since she can remember. She’s played piano most of her life and also enjoys being a piano teacher and mentor to younger musicians. Alyssa is also an artist under the name Larkspur AmC.
Sruti Bapatla
Double Bass
Sruti Bapatla performed the double bass parts in “My God, My God” and “Perfect Trinity” on Katie’ EP. Sruti is a second year double bass performance major through the BXA program at Carnegie Mellon University, studying under Micah Howard. She has been participating in various state and national orchestras since childhood, and is interested in classical, jazz, and traditional Indian music. She is especially passionate about chamber music, and is currently working with rising composers to combine traditional elements of classical and jazz music with unconventional instrumentation. She is the bassist for the jazz quartet Fourth Grade Sweethearts, who have performed in numerous venues across the tri-state area. Apart from playing music, her interests include biomedical engineering, luthiery, and surgical robotics. She is looking forward to working with many talented musicians in the future, and further exploring the Pittsburgh music scene!
Benjamin Filippone
Tenor
Benjamin Filippone sings the tenor parts on “Perfect Trinity” and “Our Blessed Redeemer” in Katie’s EP. Benjamin is active throughout the Pittsburgh area as a choir conductor and voice teacher. He teaches music and directs the choir at Community College of Allegheny County. He also serves as music director for the Mon Yough Chorale and East Shore Chorale, and is a professional core member of the Bach Choir of Pittsburgh. He performed the role of Ben in Menotti's "The Telephone" and recitals at the Maiski Opera Festival in Stara Zagora, Bulgaria, and performed world premiers as a soloist and ensemble singer with OvreArts. He holds a BA in music education from Grove City College, a MM in vocal performance from Duquesne University, and studied choral conducting at the University of Arizona. He has appeared as the guest conductor for the Westmoreland County Music Educators Association Jr. High Chorus Festival, served as the chorus master for Undercroft Opera, and participated for three summers as a conductor with the Sarteano Choral Conducting Workshop with Simon Carrington in Sarteano, Italy.
Carmen Alica Martinez
Singer/Guitar
Carmen Alicia Martínez translated and sang the Spanish parts in “Trinidad Perfecta” in Katie’s first EP and played the Spanish guitar part in the same song. Carmen is a renowned singer and educator in Pittsburgh’s Latin American community. Originally from Ibagué, the music capital of Colombia, where everyone lives, eats and breathes music, Carmen grew up with a guitar on her back and a song in her voice. She has performed with award-winning folkloric groups, such as Tierra Caliente, a Colombian quintet, and Musuhallpa, an Andean music band, as a soloist, guitarist, and charango player. She has performed in various choral groups as a soprano in Colombia, Raleigh, NC, and Pittsburgh, PA. Carmen Alicia finds joy in performing for audiences as well as promoting Latin American music, language, and culture to the young audiences of innumerable schools and colleges through interactive musical workshops throughout Western Pennsylvania. She studied in Psychology and Pedagogy at the Universidad Pedagógica Nacional in Bogotá, Colombia, and Music Therapy at the Pontificia Universidad de Comillas in Barcelona, Spain. She also holds a Master’s in Education, and a Doctoral Degree in Higher Education Management from the University of Pittsburgh. Carmen Alicia is very excited about her contributions to local musicians and is looking forward to further exploring new collaborations. ¡La música es vida!
Clair Gunsbury
Flutist
Claire wrote and performed the flute part on “Perfect Trinity” in Katie Arrington’s EP. Flutist Claire Gunsbury is a versatile performer and teacher with an appetite for novelty and nuance. She is currently pursuing her Master of Music at Carnegie Mellon University with Pittsburgh Symphony principal flutist Lorna McGhee. As an orchestral and chamber musician, Claire has enjoyed performing with the National Repertory Orchestra, Lakes Area Music Festival Orchestra, and Akron Symphony. Her passion projects include co-founding the venture Spark Mindful Artistry to advocate for musicians’ wellness, and co-producing a 12 Hour Marathon Concert in April 2021 to raise funds for musicians in Colorado affected by the pandemic. Claire is also proud to be a founding member of the Carnegie Lullaby Project in Pittsburgh, working with parents and children to write and record personal songs for families. Claire graduated from the University of Colorado in 2021 with a Bachelor of Music in Flute Performance, Bachelor of Music in Musicology, and Certificate in Music Entrepreneurship. Her primary teachers include Lorna McGhee, Christina Jennings, Immanuel Davis, and Alicia McQuerrey.
Ryan Saeler
Bass Vocalist
Ryan Saeler sings the bass part on “Our Blessed Redeemer” in Katie’s first EP. Ryan’s enjoyment of and appreciation for music began at a young age in Butler, PA through singing in church as well as various school choirs. Things got deeply serious in the summer between 7th and 8th grades when his voice shifted into a register that would have him reading bass clef from then on. Ryan continued singing through high school including in various musical theater shows such as Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat where he was nearly arrested for stealing the show as Pharaoh. Ryan traveled to New Wilmington, PA to continue his musical journey in Amish country at Westminster College where he minored in music while singing in choirs and vocal ensembles as well as causing a mass swooning event while reprising his role as Pharaoh. As Ryan continued to fall in love with singing at Westminster, he also fell in love while singing with his future wife Nora. Upon graduation, the pair moved to Austin, Texas for a couple of years while Nora continued her education at UT and Ryan continued singing at a church in the area. Ryan returned to Pittsburgh with his wife in 2004 where they began singing regularly at Third Presbyterian Church and still do to this day. When not making music, Ryan is employed as a radio news reporter for stations in Butler.
Scott Hornbostal
Trumpet
Katie’s father, Scott Hornbostel, wrote and played the trumpet part on “Our Blessed Redeemer.” Scott has been playing trumpet from a young age, and currently plays trumpet on the worship team at his church, St. Stephens Anglican Church, in Sewickley, PA.