About Us

music_note Music Director

Damien Crutcher is a native Detroiter and a graduate of Cass Technical High School who, as a music educator, conductor, and arts leader, has had an extraordinary impact on the cultural and civic life of his hometown. He is the co‑founder and CEO of Crescendo Detroit, a nonprofit whose mission is to transform the lives of school children by engaging them in intensive instrumental music, vocal music, and dance programs that promote artistic excellence and character building.

Damien also serves as the Managing Director of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra’s Detroit Harmony Initiative. Through a collaborative citywide effort, Detroit Harmony provides instruments to every K–12 public, private, and charter school student in the city who wants to learn to play music. To date, Detroit Harmony has provided more than 2,500 instruments to students across Detroit and Southeast Michigan, expanding access to music education and strengthening the region’s creative ecosystem.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in music education from Michigan State University and a master’s degree in wind conducting from the University of Michigan. Damien studied horn with Bryan Kennedy and Doug Campbell and conducting with Dr. Ronnie Wooten and H. Robert Reynolds.

After graduating from the University of Michigan, Damien served as Director of Bands and Orchestra at Southfield‑Lathrup High School. Under his direction, the Southfield‑Lathrup ensembles—including the Lathrup Symphony Band—performed in San Francisco, Chicago, the Bahamas, at the White House, and at Carnegie Hall. Many of his former students are now professional musicians, music teachers, and artists across the country.

Damien also serves as the conductor of the Farmington Concert Band, the Detroit Symphony’s Civic Youth Symphony Band, and the Detroit Community Concert Band. He is a frequent guest conductor and clinician throughout Michigan and across the country. Additionally, he has conducted the Pacific Orchestra’s Youth Wind Ensemble, the Detroit Chamber Winds, the Michigan State University Wind Symphony, and the University of Michigan Symphony Band.

In 2019, Damien completed Harvard University’s Chief Executive Officer training as one of 50 arts leaders selected by National Arts Strategies Inc. In 2022, he received the University of Michigan’s Christopher Kendall Award for his “exemplary contributions to community music education.” In 2024, he was named a Kresge Artist Fellow, and in 2025 he received the Marlowe Stoudamire Award for Innovation and Community Collaboration, presented at the Detroit Symphony Orchestra’s annual Classical Roots Celebration.