Shawn Reynolds and Aaron Scott have commissioned three new works for the unique duo of English horn and Eb Soprano Clarinet, by three talented and very composers, all with ties to Ohio.

• “Duologisms” (2023) is a four movement work in the jazz and be-bop style and is composed by Dr. David Morgan, professor of composition and double bass at Youngstown State University.
• “Illegal Formation” (2023) is a four movement work for English horn and Eb soprano clarinet conceived by Jonathan Newmark, a retired Colonel and medical surgeon in the US Army who also holds a degree in music composition from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM).
• “Duo for English horn and Eb Clarinet” (2022) by Dr. Tedrow Perkins, was created by retired professor of Oboe and Theory from Youngstown State University.

These three exciting new works are fantastic additions to the double-reed repertoire and one of very few pieces for this combination of instruments. The three new works were officially premiered during summer of 2025 at the International Clarinet Society (ICA) conference in Ft. Worth, Texas. Additional performances and premiers were done on the campus of Youngstown State University and in Washington D.C.

Our goal was to commission and premier fresh new literature for this unique combination! These works are humorous, fluid, and jazzy and expertly capture the whimsical and fluid nature of both English horn and Eb clarinet in combination.

Did you know that part of what makes a great repair technician is their knowledge of the instrument from a performer’s point of view? Come hear some of your favorite technicians (who are also professional bassoonists) step out from behind the bench, wipe the grease and oil from their hands, and take the stage to share a selection of solos from baroque to avante garde and finish with bassoon repair technician trio—possibly an IDRS first!

This recital pairs two vibrant twentieth-century French works that reveal the expressive palette of the oboe and bassoon by composers at the height of their musical maturity. André Jolivet’s Sonatine for Oboe and Bassoon (1963) offers an intimate dialogue between the two instruments, blending rhythmic vigor with chant-like lyricism. In contrast, Jean Françaix’s Trio for Oboe, Bassoon, and Piano (1994) sparkles with wit and neoclassical charm, its playful counterpoint brashly highlighting the virtuosity of all three performers. Jolivet’s depth and intensity alongside Françaix’s clarity and humor illuminate complementary hues of French modernism.

We, Serenade Quintet, present a recital of woodwind quintet repertoire influenced by jazz. The program will consist of three works: Startin’ Sumthin’ by Jeff Scott, Porchlight by Simon Cheek, and La Nouvelle Orleans by Lalo Schifrin. This program showcases the synthesis of classical traditions and jazz. Our program represents a range of jazz styles from across the United States, including influences from the Northeast (Billy May, Duke Ellington, Chick Corea, John Coltrane), the Midwest (Count Basie), and the South (New Orleans). Porchlight will be a world premiere, and the composer is Serenade Quintet’s clarinetist. Through this program, we hope to promote works for wind quintets both by living composers and works that have been lesser known and are recently rediscovered.

This program includes three contemporary works for oboe, English horn, flute, and saxophone. Amanda Harberg’s Crossroads (2023) is a three-movement piece for English horn, flute, and piano.

The program also includes two world premieres. Neyeshmeh (2022) by Iranian composer Amir Pourkhalaji is written for oboe and flute. The Silence of the Bell (2024) by Iranian composer Morteza Shirkouhi is written for English horn, flute, and saxophone.

The USAF Academy Band’s Rampart Winds presents a program highlighting dynamic American voices and underperformed repertoire, reflecting the ensemble’s commitment to artistic excellence and cultural service.

Ukrainian composers historically have been underrepresented in classical music due to the oppression and censorship throughout history. This has resulted in Ukrainian composers being unable to be performed outside of their native organizations. My recital aims to introduce the world to a variety of styles currently flourishing in Ukraine by Ukrainian composers from neoclassical, folklorism, and avant-garde. There has been a rich chamber tradition in Ukrainian classical music with a vast repertoire of wind quintets and quartets that the Slava Ukraini Winds have created the first recordings of some of these works and have collaborated with contemporary Ukrainian composers who have written and dedicated works to them. All of the works being performed have previously been published or will be in spring 2026 by Éditions Plamondon as part of their Slava Ukraini Series. This recital will also feature. Therefore, this recital is a gateway to introduce these new and hardly performed Ukrainian works to hopefully create more interest in Ukrainian music worldwide.

This recital will feature a newly-composed work for oboe and piano, Lyric Suite for Oboe and Piano by Mark Dal Porto. Suite for Oboe and Piano was commissioned by the Delta Omicron Foundation as part of their 2025 Thor Johnson Commission with Dal Porto as the award-winning composer. This work represents a journey and celebration of life through various memorable events: I. Pastorale (visiting a beautiful, scenic countryside), II. Tarantella (enjoying recreation and leisure time with family and friends), III Nocturne (experiencing the mystery and peacefulness of night), and IV. Celebration (finding and embracing joy in everyday living).

The breadth of contemporary music includes an expansion of harmonies, genres, instrumentation, and techniques. With all these options available today, many composers still feel it is important to connect with the audience on a personal and expressive level. Suite for Oboe and Piano attempts to do just this.

Butler University Double Reed Ensemble performs the music of Christopher Weait

IDRS Honorary Member Christopher Weait has composed and arranged dozens of works for double reed instruments. We will present a program of selected works ranging from one to eight instruments, focused mostly on works with four to eight instruments. Performers will be current Butler University students and recent alums, led by Butler oboe professor Pam Ajango and bassoon professor Doug Spaniol. The program will include brief commentary from Christopher Weait.

The Golden Appalachian Reed Trio consists of Chase Kennedy, Madi Cardenas, and Joel Panas. With works by Auric, Dymit, and Mucha; we are presenting “Echos and Evolutions.” Works from the past that lead fluidly into the present day.

The Washburn University (Topeka, KS) Faculty Woodwind Trio (flute, oboe, and bassoon) will perform two new trios by Minnesotan composer Jonathan Posthuma. “A Musical Field Guide for Minnesota Wildflowers” is an ongoing project in which Posthuma is creating 18 trios for oboe, bassoon, and one other woodwind instrument, with each trio musically depicting four species of wildflowers native to Minnesota, for a total of 54 wildflower species. Trios no. 2 and 3 are valuable additions to the repertoire for flute/alto flute, oboe, and bassoon, an ensemble that currently has a limited selection of works. Both trios will receive their IDRS premieres at IDRS 2026 at Miami University. “A Musical Field Guide for Minnesota Wildflowers” bring attention to the diverse ecology of the Midwestern United States and especially its delicate and unique prairie ecosystems.

Unity & Light is a program that celebrates the voices of contemporary composers of color. Each work invites listeners into moments of community, companionship, and celebration, illuminating the connections that bind us together. Showcasing Hydra Winds’ distinctive ensemble sound and their mission to amplify music by underrepresented composers, this program features exclusively living composers; culminating in a newly commissioned work by Kyrese Washington written specifically for Hydra Winds.

A recital of new music for woodwind trio performed by The Maribo Trio, members of the faculty at the University of Kentucky. This recital will feature two newly written works for oboe, clarinet, and bassoon trio. Sunrise on the Parkway, written for The Maribo Trio in 2024 by University of Kentucky graduate student and collaborative pianist, Carlos Martinez, is a two movement work that paints a tonal landscape of an early morning drive along the Bluegrass Parkway. The second work, Companion Pieces by Susanna Hancock, was commissioned by The Maribo Trio in 2025. The work is written in three movements, one for each of the trio members’ dogs, and each movement describes the individual dog in a loving, musical way. Both works were premiered in faculty recitals at the University of Kentucky during the 2024-2025 academic year.

Opera has produced some of the most beloved melodies in Western music, yet they are almost always heard through the human voice. This recital reimagines iconic arias through the oboe family: oboe, oboe d’amore, and English horn. Each instrument has long been compared to singers for its lyricism and expressive range.

The program begins with Bizet’s instantly recognizable Habanera from Carmen, bringing playful familiarity to the audience. Saint-Saëns’ Mon cœur s’ouvre à ta voix from Samson et Dalila follows, showcasing the English horn’s rich, vocal timbre. At the center is Ethel Smyth’s aria What if I Were Young Again? from The Boatswain’s Mate, a rarely heard work that highlights a female composer whose contributions to opera deserve greater recognition. The program concludes with the dazzling Polonaise from Ambroise Thomas’s Mignon, a virtuosic showpiece that celebrates the oboe’s agility and brilliance.

Together, these works invite audiences to hear cherished operatic moments in a new way, while spotlighting underrepresented voices and the expressive power of the oboe family.

English Horn and Bassoon Duos. A world premiere of a work composed for English Horn and Bassoon as well as two duos arranged for English horn and Bassoon.

Daydreaming: 21st Century Music for Oboe and Percussion is a recital that explores the many soundscapes created by oboe and drums. Each work uses extended techniques and stylizations from both western and non-western music to paint scenes with new color palettes.

• “Dreamscape, III. Innuendo” by Alyssa Morris portrays a steamy scene played by an oboe jazz trio, which features piano and drums.
• “Trigrams of the I Ching” for solo oboe is inspired by the Chinese divination text, “I Ching.” Each movement, written as a graphic score, represents one of the eight trigrams: Heaven (Qian) ☰, Thunder (Zhen) ☳, Lake (Dui) ☱, Fire (Li) ☲, Earth (Kun) ☷, Mountain (Gen) ☶, Water (Kan) ☵, and Wind (Xun) ☴. Each trigram is visually represented by the score and aurally depicted by the oboe, which uses many extended techniques, such as timbral trills, multiphonics, pitch bends and more.
• “Midnight” for English horn and Drums/Synthesizer is a duet that explores new instrument combinations to illustrate a child’s creative flow at midnight.