About krystal
Krystal Rutzen is an active freelance musician in southeastern Wisconsin performing with the Kettle Moraine Symphony, Beloit Janesville Symphony Orchestra, Sheboygan Symphony Orchestra, Gracenotes Community Orchestra, and Milwaukee Philharmonic. She has also performed with Wisconsin Philharmonic, Knightwind Ensemble, TJ & The Ukuladies, Lake County Symphony Orchestra, Concord Chamber Orchestra, and the Menomonee Falls Symphony.
Highlights of her career include playing contrabassoon in the Double Reed All Star Band at the 2017 International Double Reed Society Annual Conference held in Appleton, Wisconsin, performing on bassoon in the 2015 WASBE conference in San Jose, California and the 2005 BASBWE International Wind Festival in Manchester, England. She has also performed in Germany during her foreign exchange in 2004 playing bassoon in concert bands and trumpet in Fasching (Mardi Gras) parades. In addition to performing on stage, Krystal enjoys playing under the stage in pit orchestras and has played in the pit of fourteen different productions. Playing in pit orchestras has let her branch out from bassoon by doubling on flute, piccolo, clarinet, tenor saxophone, and baritone saxophone.
Krystal received her bachelor of the arts in 2009 from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and then substitute taught music and German in Mukwonago, Wisconsin for a few years before attending graduate school at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee pursuing a master's of music in bassoon performance. She studied bassoon under Steve Ingle, Carol Rosing, Beth Giacobassi and Ted Soluri, piano under Karen Boe, and composition under Jeff Herriott.
Krystal plays on a Püchner bassoon, Fox contrabassoon, and a Cannonball baritone saxophone.