Mervin Cutright is a Graduate of Eastern Oregon State College. He is a retired music teacher. He taught grades K-12, general music, band and choir for 31 years in small public schools in Eastern Oregon. After retiring, Merv taught a couple music education classes at Eastern Oregon University for 2 years. He also drove buses and motor coaches for schools for 40 years.

Musically, Merv is a member of the Happy Canyon pit orchestra of which he was the conductor for 9 years and has played with them since 1979. Merv enjoys playing his tuba every chance he gets. His regular gigs include Happy Canyon, Tuba Christmas, Northwest Big Brass Bash, and the Pacific University concert band. He played with the Grande Ronde Symphony since 1971 and the La Grande Community band for many years until moving out of the area. Merv also played with the Inland Northwest Orchestra for several years.