History of IDRS

1969 - To the World’s Bassoonists

Gerald Corey published the first edition of To the World’s Bassoonists in June 1969. A “double reed club” to promote opportunities for double reed players was founded by Lewis Hugh Cooper and Alan H. Fox, planting the seed for what would soon become the International Double Reed Society.

1971 - Creation of IDRS

The International Double Reed Society was established in December 1971. Lewis Hugh Cooper, Gerald Corey and Alan H. Fox held the inaugural meeting on December 16, 1971 during the December 1971 meeting of the Mid-Western Band Masters convention. The first edition of To the World’s Oboists was published in 1972 and The Journal of the International Double Reed Society was started in 1973.

1972 - First IDRS Conference

The first IDRS Conference was held August 1-3, 1972 at the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA).

Lewis Hugh Cooper, host

1974 - The First Honorary Member

In 1974, W. Hans Moennig (1903-1988) became the first Honorary Member elected to this distinguished position.

1976 - First Canadian Conference

The first Canadian conference was held August 16-18, 1976 at the University of Toronto (Toronto, Ontario, Canada).

Christopher Weait, host

1980 - First European Conference

The first European conference was held August 12-15, 1980 at the University of Edinburgh (Edinburgh, Scotland).

Laurence Taylor, host

1981 - First International Competition

The first International Fernand Gillet Competition was held in 1981.

1994 - Grants and Associate Organizations

IDRS created IDRS Grants and began recognizing Associate Organizations.

1995 - IDRS Online

IDRS Online (www.idrs.org) launched.

1996 - 25th Anniversary

The 25th anniversary conference was held in Tallahassee, Florida in 1996. The Françaix Trio for Oboe, Bassoon, and Piano was commissioned in 1995 as part of the 25th anniversary conference.

1998 - Changing of the Journal

In 1998 the Journal of the International Double Reed Society was discontinued. In 1999 the publication was changed to The Double Reed, the quarterly publication that is still being delivered to our members via mail and digital PDF. When The Double Reed was first published in 1999, it went out with a special 25th Anniversary edition and CD.

2000 - First South American Conference

The first South American conference was held August 10-14 , 2000 at the Conservatorio Municipal de Musica, Manuel de Falla (Buenos Aires, Argentina).

Andrea Merenzon, host

2001 - IDRS Videos Go Online

In 2001 members could view videos for the first time at idrs.org.

2004 - First Oceania Conference

The first Oceania conference was held June 29-July 3, 2004 at Monash University (Melbourne, Australia).

Anne Gilby, host

2006 - First IDRS Female President

Nancy Ambrose King became the Society’s first female president.

2008 - Young Artist Competition

The first Young Artist Competition was held in 2009.

2015 - First Asian Conference

The first Asian conference was held August 15-20, 2015 at the National Olympic Memorial Youth Center (Tokyo, Japan).

Hitomi Sugawara, host

2016 - IDRS Video Livestream

In 2016, IDRS offered the ability to view livestreamed videos from our annual conference. The first video was a livestream of the Gillet-Fox Competition.

2018 - New Website

In August 2018, idrs.org was updated. The new website offered exciting new interactive features, a mobile responsive layout, easy navigation, and a brand new member interface.

2021 - 50th Year Anniversary

In 2021 IDRS celebrated 50 years! This exciting milestone was celebrated by producing a brand new logo and website, holding the 2nd Virtual Symposium and initiating the ongoing 50 for 50 Commissioning Project.

At the end of 2021 the new Code of Regulations, with specific changes made in the formation and demographics of the IDRS leadership, were approved by the membership. IDRS is proud to continue growing as a community and serving as a resource for double reed members across the world!