2nd Annual Chicago Double Reed Festival Hits Record Attendees

Highwood, IL – MYA Conservatory (Midwest Young Artists) hosted world class clinicians, professional musicians from the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Lyric Opera Orchestra, local universities and more as they shared their knowledge with area student musicians in an annual one-day learning and music extravaganza.

While more than 37,000 runners were warming up for the Chicago Marathon, closer to 100 students, teachers, specialists and professional oboe and bassoonists were doing some warming up of their own at Ravinia. They were participants in the 2nd Annual Chicago Double Reed Festival, held Sunday October 11th at Bennett Gordon Hall at Ravinia Festival in Highland Park. The festival is overseen artistically by Stephen Colburn, retired Principal Oboe of the Milwaukee Symphony, Ars Viva and the Washington Island Music Festival, and by Miles Maner, Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Program directors included Naomi Bensdorf Frisch of the Illinois Philharmonic and DePaul University, and by Dianne Ryan of Light Opera Works and Elmhurst Symphony and New Philharmonic.

The day began with the rehearsal of a massive double reed choir rehearsal by all attendees and many clinicians, harnessing the musical ability of each participant at their level. The ensemble was rehearsed and conducted by Stephen Colburn. The day ended with a recital that showcased clinician talents and the performance of the double reed choir.

The list of 22 clinicians represented the best of the best in the industry, and the entire Chicagoland and southern Wisconsin area. In addition to the organizations already listed, clinicians represented organizations such as the Chicago Lyric Opera Orchestra, The University of Illinois, Butler University, the Santa Fe Opera, Roosevelt University, Northwestern University, Elmhurst College, Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra, Manitowoc Symphony Orchestra, Breckenridge Music Festival, Black Marigold Wind Quintet, Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, South Bend Symphony Orchestra, Valparaiso University, Ensemble Dal Niente, Lake Forest Symphony, and Midwest Young Artists Conservatory.

The record number of participants learned specialized knowledge from the clinicians. Topics ranged from shoring up fundamentals, professional audition taking and orchestral excerpts, to breathing techniques, reed making and master classes. Participants were also able to speak one on one with clinicians and vendors throughout the day, including Oboe Chicago.

“Festivals like these are so important to the ongoing music education of our students,” stated Allan Dennis, Executive Director of MYA Conservatory. “The expertise these talented experts lend to those still developing is priceless. Our students remember the lessons learned at an intensive day like this for years to come.”

CHICAGO DOUBLE REED FESTIVAL
Chicago Double Reed Festival is a program of Midwest Young Artists Conservatory. Along with the Chicago Viola Festival and the Chicago Bass Festival, it serves as an intensive learning opportunity for musicians in Chicagoland and surrounding areas, to meet, be taught and interface with leaders in their field. It is held annually at Ravinia’s Bennett Gordon Hall, and brings in the finest and best clinicians and vendors of any festival of its kind.

For more information visit www.mya.org

MIDWEST YOUNG ARTISTS CONSERVATORY reaches over 1,000 students from more than 74 cities in the Chicagoland area, with students ranging in age from 2nd through 12th grades. In addition, MYA Conservatory now offers music and movement classes for early childhood development. MYA Conservatory strives to provide the highest quality music experience for young musicians nationwide. MYA Conservatory expects the best out of its students and provides a supportive and nurturing environment. MYA Conservatory has 9 youth orchestras, 60+ chamber music ensembles, 4 choral ensembles, 4 jazz big bands, numerous jazz combos, music history, theory and composition classes. Students have the opportunity to travel abroad and to perform in major venues throughout Chicago and around the world. Leading the nation in chamber music instruction, MYA Conservatory graduates are accepted at the most selective conservatories, universities and colleges in the country.