Acclaimed performances throughout the United States and Europe have established Stephen Caplan as a first-rate oboist and passionate advocate of new music. For over a decade, Caplan has resided in Las Vegas, Nevada where he is recognized as an arts leader, performing music which “discourages the usual image of Las Vegas” (New York Times).

Principal oboist with the Las Vegas Philharmonic and the Las Vegas Pops, he also plays in orchestras accompanying popular “super-stars” on the Las Vegas Strip. The Nevada Arts Council has twice awarded him their prestigious Performance Artist Fellowship. A faculty member of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, he is director of the Sierra Winds, one of the nation’s leading wind quintets. With this ensemble, Caplan has been featured on three critically acclaimed recordings and has been the recipient of numerous grants and awards including the Nevada Governor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts.

Caplan's performances of new music have been heard at venues such as the Kennedy Center and Carnegie Hall and have been featured on several recordings. He has been a concerto soloist with numerous orchestras including the New Orleans Philharmonic, Arctic Chamber Orchestra and International Orchestra. His eclectic performance background includes professional affiliations with a Baroque period-instrument ensemble and a Sousa-style concert band, as well as soundtracks for television and film.

As a student Caplan won many competitions and studied privately with some of the world’s leading oboists. He has a Bachelor of Music degree from the Northwestern University and a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Michigan. His principal teachers were Harry Sargous and Ray Still.