CARYN CRUTCHFIELD'S LIFELONG PASSION FOR THE OBOE SHINES THROUGH WITH THE WEST TEXAS SYMPHONY
For the past 29 seasons, Caryn Crutchfield has dedicated herself to performing with the West Texas Symphony, bringing her rich and expressive oboe playing to audiences throughout the region. Caryn’s deep connection to the orchestra stems not just from her technical mastery of the oboe, but from the joy and fulfillment she finds in playing with this ensemble.
Caryn’s roots in the West Texas Symphony run even deeper - she met her husband Kevin while they both played in the orchestra. “We met in the orchestra, and it’s been a special place in my heart for that reason alone,” she said.
Beyond the personal connections, Caryn is passionate about the Symphony’s role in nurturing the arts community. She highlighted the orchestra’s educational programs, like the Marvelous Melodies concerts for fifth graders, as ways to inspire the next generation of musicians.
“I think for a lot of children, concerts like Marvelous Melodies opens up their eyes to ‘Oh, I can do this when I grow up,’” Caryn explained. “It’s not like playing the recorder in third grade, it visualizes what they can pursue.”
Caryn’s own path to the oboe was somewhat serendipitous. She started playing the flute in junior high, but quickly switched to the oboe after seeing one in her family’s closet. “I went to junior high band, and there were 24 flutes in the band. I decided I wanted to branch out and try something different," she recalled with a laugh.
The oboe has been Caryn’s instrument ever since, and she takes great pride in the oboe's distinctive role in the orchestra. “We get all the pretty solos,” she said. “We don't get a lot of fast solos, but we get the pretty ones.”
Caryn’s passion, skill, and dedication have not gone unnoticed. She has been featured as a soloist with the West Texas Symphony twice, an honor she found deeply meaningful. “I just couldn’t believe it, because there’s always that self-doubt. As musicians, we just doubt ourselves constantly,” she said. “But Maestro Gary Lewis had enough trust in me to do that.”
Whether she’s performing with the full orchestra, the West Texas Winds chamber ensemble, or mentoring young musicians, Caryn’s love for the oboe and the Symphony shines through.
By donating to the West Texas Symphony, you help ensure that talented musicians like Caryn can continue to enrich our community with beautiful music and inspire the next generation of musicians. Your contribution supports not only world-class performances but also vital educational initiatives that introduce young people to the joys of classical music.
