This article, authored by Ryan Loren, originally appeared on the MSU Alumni Office website.
Damien Crutcher graduated from the MSU College of Music in 1990, and ever since he has worked to enhance the lives of Detroit area students through music.
It takes more than just good intentions to make a difference. Damien Crutcher knows that meaningful change requires something more.
Born and raised in Detroit, Crutcher has witnessed transient organizations and nonprofits blitz into the city with big ideas but lacking the know-how to meet their goals, leaving a lamentable legacy of broken promises and wasted time and money in their wake.
“That tends to happen a lot,” Crutcher said. “They’re well-meaning, but you’ve got to listen to the folks you’re trying to work with. You need to listen to the community and the community’s wants and desires.”
So, when the Detroit Symphony Orchestra announced an audacious plan to put an instrument into the hands of every kid in the city, Crutcher took notice. An accomplished artist, conductor, educator and entrepreneur, Crutcher was well-positioned to lead the program and threw his hat in the ring.
In 2020, he was hired by the DSO as Managing Director of Detroit Harmony—an initiative focused on enriching arts culture in the city by providing students with instruments and music education. The project is a collaborative effort between the DSO and other nonprofits, schools, community organizations and city leaders.
“I knew the DSO did not really understand what that meant—an instrument for every kid,” Crutcher said. “It’s a great idea and a good notion, but it was important for me to show how much work it really takes and that you have to bring in the community to make it happen.”
A determined Crutcher established a collective impact model to bring the bold vision to life, pulling together contacts and colleagues gathered over a decades-long career. A strong foundation for Detroit Harmony was set around the life experiences that had enlivened Crutcher’s passion for both music and education.
For Crutcher, it started in the fifth grade. First playing trumpet and later the French horn, he was introduced to band at Van Zant Elementary School in Detroit by his general music teacher David Williams, a 1958 MSU alum.
“He put the love of music—all kinds of music—into our hearts and minds,” Crutcher said. “He inspired us to listen to music, to appreciate music.”
MSU Music alum Damien Crutcher has dedicated his career to helping young musicians while maintaining an active professional life as a conductor.
Williams was the first in a long line of inspiring Spartan mentors. During his high school years, Crutcher met MSU Professor of Horn Doug Campbell who convinced him to come to Michigan State. Crutcher pursued a degree in music education under the tutelage of Director of Bands Kenneth Bloomquist while also studying conducting under Dr. Ronney Wooten (MMUS ’87, DMA ’90).
After graduation, Crutcher sought to give back what so many others had given him. He taught at Oak Park Schools while continuing his professional development as a conductor. He was soon discovered by University of Michigan professor and director of bands H. Robert Reynolds, who recruited him to his graduate conducting program.
Then Crutcher made a surprising decision.
“When I graduated from Michigan, I had three interviews set up for me, but my heart was telling me to go back and teach,” Crutcher said. “I didn’t even take the interviews. I had the plane tickets and everything. H. Robert Reynolds was so mad with me because he wanted me to be a professor. But I wanted to go back to my community.”
Crutcher returned to the public school system as the Director of Bands and Orchestra at Southfield-Lathrup, inspiring renowned future Spartan musicians like Kris Johnson (’05, MMUS ’08) and Noah Jackson (’10). He also distinguished himself as an acclaimed conductor. This year, Crutcher enters his 21st season leading the Farmington Concert Band, his ninth season with the Detroit Community Concert Band, and his 10th year leading youth ensembles at the DSO.
In 2011, Crutcher founded Crescendo Detroit with his brother, Fred (’93). The nonprofit is dedicated to transforming the social and emotional education of Detroit youth through music, dance and academic enrichment.
Crescendo Detroit and MSU Community Music Schools are key partners of Detroit Harmony, which has flourished under his leadership. The DSO has handed out 1,200 instruments to students over the past four years. But the mission doesn’t stop there. After receiving an instrument, students are placed in one of 60-plus partner programs.
“It’s not just about the instrument,” Crutcher said. “It’s about everything that goes along with it—building community, the classes and lessons that are needed, performance ensembles. We make sure everybody is in a program, and we track their progress for anything else they need.”
In completing the full picture, more and more Detroit students each year are granted access to arts education from an organization built to go the distance.
“We need purpose-driven lives,” Crutcher said. “For me, there was always a person every step of the way that showed me the right way. I feel it’s my responsibility to give that back. I owe the kids in the community that much.”
