ABOUT IDRS 2025
The 54th Annual Conference of the International Double Reed Society will be held June 10-14, 2025, at Butler University, in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA, and will be co-hosted by oboist Pam Ajango and bassoonist Doug Spaniol. It will feature performances, lectures, and classes by many of the world’s leading double reed artists, pedagogues, and scholars. It will also include many of the IDRS conference features that we’ve all grown to love.
- 4 gala evening concerts held in Clowes Memorial Hall. Two of these concerts will feature concerto soloists performing with the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra led by music director Matthew Kraemer. The other two gala evening concerts will feature solo and chamber music performances.
- A very special two-part event on Friday, June 13. The evening will begin with a 7:00pm concert by the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra led by music director Jun Märkl. The program will feature the world premiere of a new concerto for oboe and bassoon by composer Hanna Benn, with ISO principals Jennifer Christen, oboe, and Ivy Ringel, bassoon. The program also includes double reed favorites, Ravel’s Alborada del Gracioso and Berlioz’ Symphonie Fantastique. The concert will be followed by a reception at the Hilbert Circle Theatre, home of the ISO. (There will be an extra charge to attend this concert and reception; it is not included in the regular conference registration. You must purchase your ticket via the conference registration form to attend the reception.)
- Premieres of new works as part of the IDRS’ 50 for 50 Commissioning Project
- The Fernand Gillet – Hugo Fox International Competition for oboe and the Norma Hooks Young Artist International Competition for bassoon.
- IDRS Baroque Band – The IDRS Baroque Band brings ceremonial and festive flair in the form of a fanfare before evening concerts: an enriching experience for participants and listeners alike and an ongoing feature at IDRS conferences. The IDRS Baroque Band harkens back to the great wind bands of the 17th and 18th centuries. By bringing both solemnity and frivolity, it fosters joy and shared participatory experience for avocational and professional players of historic double reeds. The IDRS Band, officially established in 2022 to be an annual conference activity, Any IDRS member may join the IDRS Baroque Band.
- Reading Groups – Reading Groups are sight-reading sessions that have been a regular part of the IDRS Conference since 1999. The sessions are designed to be fun and stress-free, yet sufficiently challenging to be musically satisfying. There is music for almost every combination of double reed instruments and of varying difficulty allowing us to cater to the desires and abilities of the players who show up at each session. The sessions are run in a very informal atmosphere. We encourage you to attend as many or as few as you wish.
- Contraband is an ensemble comprised of as many contrabassoons as we can muster. It will perform Saturday at 4:30 – 4:55 pm with rehearsals earlier on Saturday. Grab a contra and play along!
For more info about Butler University including a campus map and directions, click here.
Please check back here and idrs.org for more information as it becomes available.
