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

After graduating from the University of Michigan, Crutcher 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, the White House, and Carnegie Hall.  Many of his students from Southfield-Lathrup are currently professional musicians, music teachers, and artists across the country.

Crutcher is currently the co-founder and CEO of Crescendo Detroit, a nonprofit whose mission is to transform the lives of school-aged children ages 5-18 in Detroit by engaging kids in intense instrumental music, vocal music, and dance programs that promote artistic excellence and character-building.  It is the goal of Crescendo Detroit to create a neighborhood-to-college pipeline using the arts. He is a frequent guest conductor and clinician throughout Michigan and Ohio and also serves as the conductor of the Farmington Community Band and the Detroit Community Concert Band.