Conference Highlights/Impressions

Tonight's evening concert was definitely a highlight for me.  So many world premiers and all the performances were top notch.

We bassoonists certainly got a few new pieces that are bound to become well-played in the next few years.  The premiere of Jeff Scott's "Elegy to Innocence" played by Monica Ellis received high praise from the audience, both for the composition and the fervor and devotion (not to mention execution) of the performance by Monica.  That was immediately followed by the IDRS commission of Libby Larsen's "Concert Piece for Bassoon and Piano", which was a sure hit delivered by Ben Kamins.  Yoshi's performance of Daniel Kellogg's "Suite for Bassoon and Strings" was beautiful and virtuosic.

I'm not sure if anything will top the jazz bassoon and musical saw duet that some of us were treated to at the Marriott last night though.  I'm sure pictures of that will be in the next issue of the journal, but I'll post one here once I get home.

A terrific post, Christopher; thank you! A few of us bassoonists who couldn't get to Provo made do over this past weekend with a "bassoon monsoon" gathering for good sight-reading and great food in Washington, DC. Terrific fun, but alas, no vendors.... Hope to see you in Birmingham and / or Norman the following year. -Thom

Marsha,

Here goes: For me the highlights were Mark Fink's playing the RVW oboe concerto from memory, Sue Heinneman's bassoon artistry, Martin Schuring's  memorable oboe performance of Telemann, the Woodhams/Hunt  Garnier oboe duet, Krista Riggs's English horn soliloquy & Dan Ross's inspirational lecture on care & feeding of gouging machines. The orchestral  accompaniment rose to new heights & the volunteers outdid themselves. This one was most certainly worth a detour, as they  say in La Guide Michelin. Apologies for sins of omission.

I  don't have a  laptop. Have a hard enough time  keeping track of oboe, reeds, wawa, swab…well, you  get the idea.

Missed you at the reading  sessions & hope to  see you across the  pond  next year. Per Glen Harmon (readings  coordinator) & Mark Fink (IDRS conference coordinator) we will  have  them, at least that  was the  word from both as of  last  week; I was privileged to meet Mark, who  visited to discuss  this  issue with Glen (& me) as  we  were playing oboe/EH duets during one of the noon sessions. Also had  a wonderful conversation with Laila Storch, who signed her book on Tabuteau for my  oboe/EH teacher, Bob  Hubbard. This too a great highlight.

Best,

john