Mission
To enhance the art of double reed playing; encourage the improvement of instruments; facilitate the composing and arranging of music for double reeds; assist teachers and students of double reed instruments to attain a high standard of performance; and encourage cooperation and exchange of ideas.
Our History
The Midsouth Regional Chapter of the International Double Reed Society was formally created in the spring of 2024 when IDRS wanted to open up new opportunities for their members to be more involved with the organization. The Midsouth Chapter is unique as it formed as a merging of the already existing organization, the Midwest Double Reed Society, and currently serves the states of Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, and Texas.
The MDRS was an organization that served the six-state area of Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Iowa. Each year the society sponsored a young artist competition for high school and university students in the six-state area and a double reed festival featuring master classes, recitals, and clinics.
The society was founded in 1983 as a regional organization aligned with the values of the International Double Reed Society. The founding members were Marita Abner, Carol Padgham Albrecht, Jean Cantwell, Judith R. Dietz, Harvey Doemland, Beth Fleming, Phyllis Glass, Alan Hawkins, Tamara Heitland, Frank Malewski, Jody Mantarro, Anne Miller, Morton Rader, Pamela Smith, and Susan Copeland Wilson. The members began publishing the newsletter in 1984 and established the Young Artist Competition in 1987. In the years since, the prizes for the Young Artist Competition have expanded in quantity and amount thanks to the fundraising efforts of our members and the generous donations of our sponsors. The annual meeting expanded to a weekend festival in 2002, and the newsletter has shifted its emphasis from general announcements to increasingly scholarly material. In 2008 the society took on its first commissioning project. The works were premiered at the 2008 MDRS Double Reed Festival and performed at the 2009 International Double Reed Society conference in Birmingham, England.
The MDRS was an organization that served the six-state area of Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Iowa. Each year the society sponsored a young artist competition for high school and university students in the six-state area and a double reed festival featuring master classes, recitals, and clinics.
The society was founded in 1983 as a regional organization aligned with the values of the International Double Reed Society. The founding members were Marita Abner, Carol Padgham Albrecht, Jean Cantwell, Judith R. Dietz, Harvey Doemland, Beth Fleming, Phyllis Glass, Alan Hawkins, Tamara Heitland, Frank Malewski, Jody Mantarro, Anne Miller, Morton Rader, Pamela Smith, and Susan Copeland Wilson. The members began publishing the newsletter in 1984 and established the Young Artist Competition in 1987. In the years since, the prizes for the Young Artist Competition have expanded in quantity and amount thanks to the fundraising efforts of our members and the generous donations of our sponsors. The annual meeting expanded to a weekend festival in 2002, and the newsletter has shifted its emphasis from general announcements to increasingly scholarly material. In 2008 the society took on its first commissioning project. The works were premiered at the 2008 MDRS Double Reed Festival and performed at the 2009 International Double Reed Society conference in Birmingham, England.