Healing Through Music

Mt. Lebanon band director Brett McCutcheon transforms personal grief into a global message of love and healing through his award-winning music and documentary.

When tragedy struck in September 2017, Franklin Park native and North Allegheny graduate Brett McCutcheon found himself searching for a way to process his grief. His older brother Ryan—a talented percussionist—was killed in a car accident at just 19 years old. For Brett, who was also just a teenager at the time, music became the bridge from heartbreak to healing.

Now 24 and director of bands at Mt. Lebanon High School, Brett continues to carry his brother’s memory forward through a powerful project that has touched audiences around the world. In addition to leading the school’s concert bands, he has also assumed leadership of the Mt. Lebanon marching band program.

A graduate of Slippery Rock University’s music department, Brett has spent years composing and collaborating on what would eventually become “The Ocean – Five Years,” a music album and documentary film that explores grief, memory and love.

“I have always had a great passion for creating music,” says Brett. “Starting at the age of 4 and while living in Prague, I took on piano lessons to perform in the school’s assembly. This later turned into performing on saxophone and percussion in high school, where I decided I wanted to go into the music education field. Expressing myself through music and teaching others to learn that same ability is a large reason why I found music education so fascinating.”

That passion took on deeper meaning after Ryan’s passing. Together with close friend and vocalist June Bracken, Brett began writing music as a way to navigate his grief. Their first song, “Sinking,” became the seed of a much larger body of work.

“Composing this music was extremely cathartic as I was going through the grief process,” says Brett. “It allowed me to sit with my thoughts, express myself and navigate my emotions through a healthy outlet. There was also a sense of keeping Ryan’s memory alive through the music.”

What began as a simple idea—a short animated video about grief awareness—soon evolved into a 40-minute documentary film produced by Flying Scooter Productions. With the help of Chris Wu, retired first violinist of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Brett enlisted world-class musicians to bring his compositions to life. Local favorite Chris Jamison, a finalist on Season 7 of “The Voice,” also contributed his vocal talents to the project.

Structured around the album’s track list, “The Ocean – Five Years” weaves together moving accounts of grief and resilience from Brett’s family and friends. The project has continued to earn recognition on both the film and digital media stages. In addition to being selected by 10 international film festivals and earning honors such as Best Documentary at the Vienna International Independent Film Festival and the Audience Choice Award at Pittsburgh’s Three Rivers Film Festival Shorts, the documentary recently received a Silver Anthem Award in the Education, Art and Culture category.

It also earned two Gold Telly Awards—one for Film & Shorts/Documentary and another for Film & Shorts/Kids & Family—recognizing its powerful storytelling and educational impact.

Although the project has garnered international acclaim, Brett emphasizes that its purpose remains deeply personal.

“While the intent of the film was to raise awareness about the unique nature of child grief, it really is a story of love and hope,” he says. “A recognition that we all experience grief at some point in our lifetime. It’s OK to grieve. To grieve is to love.”

The documentary first aired on WQED and is now available through PBS Passport and WQED+, allowing viewers to access the film on demand. It is also available for streaming on Apple TV and Amazon, expanding its reach to audiences nationwide and beyond.

Today, Brett brings the lessons he learned through loss into his classroom every day. As an educator, he understands that many students carry unseen challenges and that music can provide a powerful outlet for expression and connection.

“This project has allowed me to connect with my students, the school building, and the community on a deeper level and help provide support to those dealing with grief,” he says.

As “The Ocean – Five Years” continues to find new audiences, Brett remains focused on honoring Ryan’s memory while helping others navigate grief through music, education and compassion.

For more information about the project, including a trailer for the film, visit theoceanfiveyears.com.