Stephen Caplan has defied the odds with his three decades career as a classical oboist in Las Vegas. What other oboe player has tuned a slot machine, recorded music with a spinning roulette wheel, and performed for Klingons at a Star Trek convention? Principal Oboist with the Las Vegas Philharmonic and Professor of Oboe at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Caplan’s career is truly multi-faceted. He has travelled internationally as a concerto soloist and chamber musician, performed with classical music superstars, and is equally at home accompanying popular music superstars on the Las Vegas Strip.

 For many years, Caplan performed with and directed the award winning Sierra Winds, touring throughout the US and producing numerous acclaimed recordings. His devotion to championing new American music for oboe culminated in his highly acclaimed solo recording, A Tree in Your Ear. Caplan is described by Fanfare magazine as a “superb soloist, alternately plaintive and exuberant,” for his recording of the Jean Francaix concerto, L’Horloge de Flore. His recordings have been featured on NPRs All Things Considered, and Performance Today, and he has played in orchestras for the Latin Grammys as well as other international television broadcasts.

Born in Louisiana, Caplan studied with many of the world’s finest oboists including Ray Still, John Mack and Evelyn Barbirolli. His teaching is profoundly influenced by his work with flutist Marcel Moyse; tuba and breathing expert Arnold Jacobs; and Body Mapping teacher, Barbara Conable. He received a Bachelor’s degree in Oboe Performance from Northwestern University, and Master’s and Doctoral degrees from The University of Michigan. Dr. Caplan, has devoted years investigating ways to make oboe playing easier through somatic work such as Alexander Technique, Feldenkrais Method, Yoga, and Tai Chi. He became licensed to teach Body Mapping after extensive private study with the creator of this technique, Barbara Conable. His book, Oboemotions: What Every Oboe Player Needs to Know about the Body, is praised as “the operating manual for oboists,” and his Breathing Book is becoming a staple for oboists internationally. Dr. Caplan contributes a regular column, “Health Matters,” to the journal of the International Double Reed Society, The Double Reed. He has presented clinics at many of the world’s finest music schools and conservatories, and his master classes have been featured at conferences of the International Double Reed Society. Caplan is a Buffet Group USA Performing Artist. For more information, including performance and instructional videos, see oboemotions.