California music educator Ken Tuttle once performed with notable celebrities. (Photo credit: San Bernardino Sun)

Many excellent music educators have also earned fame as performers. One of these was Ken Tuttle, a choir teacher from California, who also performed with notable celebrities.

Ken was born on July 28, 1952, in Painesville, Ohio. As a youngster, he attended Western High School in Las Vegas. After his high school graduation, Ken earned his undergraduate degree from Chapman University in Orange, California He earned his Master’s degree in Music with an emphasis in Choral Conducting Performance from the the University of Nevada, Reno.

Ken’s career as a teacher of the performing arts spanned 37 years. He worked at schools in Reno, Las Vegas, Anaheim, and finally settled at Redlands High School in San Bernardino County, California. There he served as the Chair of the Vocal Music Department for 24 years, until his retirement in 2015. In addition to teaching choir, Ken taught piano and music theory classes, and he was involved in many theater productions. Many of his students were Special Education students. Ken escorted his students to prestigious competitions and festivals, where the groups often earned first-place trophies and gold medals

For his work in the classroom, Ken garnered the Outstanding Choral Music Educator of the Year by the California Music Educators Association in 2012. In 2016, he was named a Hero of the Arts by the Redlands Community Music Association. Ken frequently served as an adjudicator or guest clinician for festivals, honor choirs, and all-state choirs throughout the Western United States. He also served a stint as the President of the Southern California Vocal Association.

Not only was Ken an outstanding classroom educator, but he was also a sought-after musician. He served as a soloist with the William Hall Chorale, touring all over Europe. He also sang in a choir that performed back-up vocals for Barry Manilow and Paul Anka.

Ken Tuttle passed away on December 8, 2020, in Highland, California. To read more about him, see this article published in the San Bernardino Sun.