About me

In 2001 Crystal earned a Bachelor of Music degree from the Oberlin Conservatory studying under James Caldwell, and in 2003 received a Master of Music degree from the University of Texas where she studied with Rebecca Henderson. Crystal has appeared at various summer music festivals, including the Festival Institute at Round Top in Texas and the Banff Centre for the Arts in Banff, Alberta, Canada.

An active freelance musician, Crystal plays frequently with many area ensembles, including the Illinois Philharmonic, New Philharmonic, South Bend Symphony, the Northwest Indiana Symphony, Quad Cities Symphony, and the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, and has been a substitute musician with the Florida West Coast Symphony and the Louisiana Philharmonic. She is the principal oboist with the Illinois Symphony and 2nd oboe/English horn with the Rockford Symphony.

Crystal is the oboist and director of education for the Fifth House Ensemble, which presents regular subscription chamber music concerts as well as concerts in lots of non-traditional venues (bars!) and interactive outreach/educational concerts and in-school residencies. Crystal is also the oboist with the Bel Sonore Chamber Ensemble which performs in various venues throughout Chicagoland. In addition to playing, she maintains a busy private teaching schedule at various music schools and high schools in the Chicago area.

Originally from St. Paul, MN, Crystal Stohr Hall currently resides in Chicago, IL, where she moved to play a two-year contract with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. She was also a MusiCorps fellow, which helped her to bring music into underserved communities around the city. During her time in Civic, Crystal was a founding member of the Hará Woodwind Quintet.