By the time you read this message, most of you will have made plans to attend the 23rd Conference of the International Double Reed Society at the University of Indiana at Bloomington. If you have not yet made plans to attend, registration details can be found in this publication.

Ed Lacy, this year's conference host, has planned a series of fabulous events, including recitals, concerto performances, and lectures on reed making, instrument repair and instrument maintenance. Featured will be an international roster of leading double reed artists from France, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, Brazil and the United States ... WOW!

Every I.D.R.S. conference also includes the Gillet competition. This year's competition is for bassoon, and according to Daryl Durran, cochair of the competition, the finalists were selected from a record number of contestants from Europe, South America, Australia and the United States. The final competition is an event not to be missed.

Most of you are aware that the 1995 conference of I.D.R.S. has been awarded to the Rotterdam Conservatoire of Netherlands. The dates of this conference are August 29 through September 2. A significant attraction of this event will be the world premiere performance of Trio for Oboe, Bassoon and Piano by Jean Francaix. Mr. Francaix has been commissioned to write this work by three double-reed organizations, namely, I.D.R.S., the British Double Reed Society, Japan Bassoon Society

(JBS) and the 24th International Double Reed Festival of Rotterdam. The composition will be published by Schott and will be available to the public after August, 1996. Performance rights will be reserved for the four commissioning organizations until the end of July, 1996.

My special thanks to William Waterhouse who served as the liaison between Francaix, Schott of Germany and the commissioning organizations. Bill's influence, his ability to speak three languages (English, French and German) and his diplomatic skills were indeed very helpful in realizing this project.

The premiere performance of the Francaix trio is only one of many other fabulous events scheduled for the 1995 conference. If you want to know more about the Rotterdam conference, come to the 23rd Annual Conference at Indiana University from August 9 - 13. The host of the Rotterdam conference, Koen van Slogteren, will be there.

Every conference is as distinctive as its host and sponsoring institution. Together they mold an event that reflects a unique view of the world of double reeds. This year's conference host is a veteran. Ed Lacy hosted the 1977 conference and has attended and/or participated in all but one I.D.R.S. conference ever held! The Indiana University School of Music, as we all know, is one of the best schools of music in the world with an outstanding roster of graduates and an internationally recognized faculty. The Indiana conference will indeed be an auspicious event that all of you must experience.