International Double Reed Society
Encyclopedia
The International Double Reed Society is a Finksburg, Maryland
-based organization that promotes the interests of double reed
players, instrument manufacturers and enthusiasts.
Member services provided by the IDRS include an international oboe
and bassoon
competition, an annual conference, member directory, library, grants information and publications, including the society’s journal, The Double Reed.
, Lewis Hugh Cooper, and Alan Fox, president of bassoon manufacturer Fox Products, that a “double reed club” might be beneficial in promoting opportunities for double reed players. Together with Corey, they organized a meeting during the December 1971 meeting of the Mid-Western Band Masters convention, and the first annual conference of the double reed society assembled in August 1972 at the University of Michigan
.
from 1925 to 1946; and master bassoonist Hugo Fox
, principal bassoonist of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
from 1922 to 1949. The competition alternates between bassoon and oboe each year.
The IDRS Young Artist Competition for oboists and bassoonists takes place every year during the society's annual conference, being for the discordant instrument of the Gillet-Fox Competition with a first prize of $2,000, a second prize of $1,000, and a third prize of $500. Three finalists are selected to compete. Oboists or bassoonists who have not yet reached their 22nd birthday by the date of the final round of the competition are eligible to enter. The competition was founded in 2008 with the first competition being for oboe.
The Meg Quigley Vivaldi Competition was founded by Nicolasa Kuster, principal bassoonist in the Wichita Symphony in 2005 and Kristin Wolfe Jensen, bassoon professor at University of Texas at Austin
. It is open to young women bassoonists from North and South America and is held concurrently with the IDRS conference every other year. Namesakes for the competition are Italian Baroque composer Antonio Vivaldi
, who taught music at the Ospedale della Pietà
, a girls' orphanage in Venice, and Meg Quigley, a philanthropist from California who supported women’s issues and institutions. Prizes in the inaugural year included: first place, $9,000 plus performance opportunities; second place, $6,000; and $3,000 for third place.
Finksburg, Maryland
Finksburg is an unincorporated community in Carroll County, Maryland, United States. It is the location of the National Security Agency's EKMS Central Facility. Finksburg is located at the intersection of Maryland Route 91 and Maryland Route 140, on the border of Carroll and Baltimore counties...
-based organization that promotes the interests of double reed
Double reed
A double reed is a type of reed used to produce sound in various wind instruments. The term double reed comes from the fact that there are two pieces of cane vibrating against each other. A single reed consists of one piece of cane which vibrates against a mouthpiece made of metal, hardened...
players, instrument manufacturers and enthusiasts.
Member services provided by the IDRS include an international oboe
Oboe
The oboe is a double reed musical instrument of the woodwind family. In English, prior to 1770, the instrument was called "hautbois" , "hoboy", or "French hoboy". The spelling "oboe" was adopted into English ca...
and bassoon
Bassoon
The bassoon is a woodwind instrument in the double reed family that typically plays music written in the bass and tenor registers, and occasionally higher. Appearing in its modern form in the 19th century, the bassoon figures prominently in orchestral, concert band and chamber music literature...
competition, an annual conference, member directory, library, grants information and publications, including the society’s journal, The Double Reed.
History
The IDRS grew out of a 1969 newsletter for bassoonists compiled by Gerald Corey. The success of the newsletter suggested to the bassoon professor at the University of MichiganUniversity of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
, Lewis Hugh Cooper, and Alan Fox, president of bassoon manufacturer Fox Products, that a “double reed club” might be beneficial in promoting opportunities for double reed players. Together with Corey, they organized a meeting during the December 1971 meeting of the Mid-Western Band Masters convention, and the first annual conference of the double reed society assembled in August 1972 at the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
.
Competitions
The IDRS Fernand Gillet-Hugo Fox International Competition for oboists and bassoonists takes place every year during the society’s annual conference, with a first prize of $8,000, second prize $3,000, and $1,000 for other finalists. Five finalists are selected to compete. Oboists or bassoonists who have not yet reached their 31st birthday by the date of the final round of the competition are eligible to enter. The competition was founded in 1979 and dedicated to the memory of master oboist Fernand Gillet, solo oboist with the Boston Symphony OrchestraBoston Symphony Orchestra
The Boston Symphony Orchestra is an orchestra based in Boston, Massachusetts. It is one of the five American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five". Founded in 1881, the BSO plays most of its concerts at Boston's Symphony Hall and in the summer performs at the Tanglewood Music Center...
from 1925 to 1946; and master bassoonist Hugo Fox
Hugo Fox
Hugo Fox was an American classical bassoonist. He also designed and manufactured bassoons and oboes....
, principal bassoonist of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
The Chicago Symphony Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Chicago, Illinois. It is one of the five American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five". Founded in 1891, the Symphony makes its home at Orchestra Hall in Chicago and plays a summer season at the Ravinia Festival...
from 1922 to 1949. The competition alternates between bassoon and oboe each year.
The IDRS Young Artist Competition for oboists and bassoonists takes place every year during the society's annual conference, being for the discordant instrument of the Gillet-Fox Competition with a first prize of $2,000, a second prize of $1,000, and a third prize of $500. Three finalists are selected to compete. Oboists or bassoonists who have not yet reached their 22nd birthday by the date of the final round of the competition are eligible to enter. The competition was founded in 2008 with the first competition being for oboe.
The Meg Quigley Vivaldi Competition was founded by Nicolasa Kuster, principal bassoonist in the Wichita Symphony in 2005 and Kristin Wolfe Jensen, bassoon professor at University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
. It is open to young women bassoonists from North and South America and is held concurrently with the IDRS conference every other year. Namesakes for the competition are Italian Baroque composer Antonio Vivaldi
Antonio Vivaldi
Antonio Lucio Vivaldi , nicknamed because of his red hair, was an Italian Baroque composer, priest, and virtuoso violinist, born in Venice. Vivaldi is recognized as one of the greatest Baroque composers, and his influence during his lifetime was widespread over Europe...
, who taught music at the Ospedale della Pietà
Ospedale della Pietà
The Ospedale della Pietà was a convent, orphanage, and music school in Venice.Like other Venetian ospedali, the Pietà was established as a hostel for Crusaders...
, a girls' orphanage in Venice, and Meg Quigley, a philanthropist from California who supported women’s issues and institutions. Prizes in the inaugural year included: first place, $9,000 plus performance opportunities; second place, $6,000; and $3,000 for third place.