After graduating from Bellbrook High School in 1981, deGruchy earned a degree in oboe music performance at the Case Western Reserve Cleveland Institute of Music.
“I knew I wanted to be an orchestral player,” said deGruchy. “I got a job offer with the Mexico City Philharmonic in Mexico. I didn’t speak any Spanish, so it was like jumping into a pool and trying to swim.”
After 17 years as an oboist with the Mexico City Philharmonic, deGruchy left Mexico in 2005 with her son, Danny Mendez, 12, because her husband was abusive.
“It was a leap in faith to make the move, and I was still debating whether I should leave,” said deGruchy, whose family and friends at Bellbrook United Methodist gave her encouragement and support. “But I just remember that Abraham took a big step and moved to a new land. I just want to let other people know that it’s not something you have to put up with. You can have a new start and you can move on.”
After returning to Bellbrook, deGruchy was able to purchase her childhood home from her father. She became reacquainted with former Cleveland Institute of Music classmate, John deGruchy, a bassoonist who teaches and performs. The couple married and formed the chamber music trio, Burning River Winds, by inviting guest musicians to sit in the third chair.
“Burning River Winds is a tongue-in-cheek name, because when we were in Cleveland the Cuyahoga River was so polluted that it burned,” said deGruchy, who is a regular oboe substitute for the Dayton Philharmonic and also plays with the Hamilton-Fairfield Philharmonic and the Middletown Symphony. “I have about five part-time jobs, but I always make it home for dinner, even if it’s just for 20 minutes.” In addition to playing oboe professionally, deGruchy teaches students privately and instructs college students in oboe as an adjunct professor at Wright State University. But it is in her position as director of music at Bellbrook United Methodist Church that she is particularly known for her creativity and her ability to share the joy for music.
“My gift is music, and I used to think it was a lonely little gift, because all I could do was play. But I’ve learned through my church position that you can get people involved,” said deGruchy, who composes musical pieces including an Easter Cantata that will be featured on Psalm Sunday.
“It’s fun for me when I know I’m helping someone,” she said. “We have all levels involved. John and I will play on the professional level, but we have little kids playing something, or singing. We also have bluegrass music, which makes for a really neat service.”
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