It looks as if we can start making reservations for Graz, Austria for the IDRS Conference in August, 1984. Last August at the Towson Conference Graz looked a little doubtful, so IDRS 1st Vice President Noah Knepper, went to work. Using IDRS honorary Karl Ohlberger as a contact, the response was quick and excitingly assertive. Dr. Ohlberger secured the services of the three Viennese bassoonists, Walter Sallagar, Werner Schulze and Michael Nagy, all of whom have agree to work for bringing the IDRS to Graz. Probably Werner Schulze will be the primary director--members will recall that he performed both on bassoon and contrabassoon at Edinburgh in 1980. Besides these people, bassoonists Rudolf Frodl and Dr. Steinmetz will serve as contacts in Graz. Bravo to all you gentlemen for helping to make Graz a reality in 1984!
In my own personal musical world, I am happy to announce that, barring statewide financial cutbacks too horrible to imagine, I will be on sabbatical leave of absence from my position at the University of Idaho to reside in Paris from August, 1983 to July, 1984 in order to study "la basson francais" with Maurice Allard. This is the realization of a goal I formulated the first time I heard Maestro Allard and all the other great French bassoonists at Edinburgh in the summer of 1980. I'm looking forward to this year with great excitement--not only for being able to immerse myself in the French style (and to practice my Heckel diligently as well) but perhaps more importantly to be able to broaden the base of the IDRS through direct contact with our European colleagues while I'm there. Then, coming at the very end of my year in Europe, Graz will be a very exciting finale to my stay. See you in Graz: 'Auf wiedersehen" . . . "a bientot"!