Midsouth Regional Symposium
The IDRS Midsouth Regional Chapter annually hosts a double reed symposium for the double reed community of our region and beyond. The conference features the Eric Varner Young Artist Competition, master classes, presentations, recitals, and vendors.
2026 Conference
University of Central Oklahoma
March 27-29, 2026
Guest Artists
Peter Cooper (oboe, Colorado Symphony, University of Colorado Boulder)
Ryan Reynolds (bassoon, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Akropolis Reed Quintet)
University of Central Oklahoma
March 27-29, 2026
Guest Artists
Peter Cooper (oboe, Colorado Symphony, University of Colorado Boulder)
Ryan Reynolds (bassoon, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Akropolis Reed Quintet)
Registration Rates
Student IDRS Member (Three Day Pass): $60
IDRS Member (Three Day Pass): $70
Non-IDRS Member (Three Day Pass): $80
Family Member of Participant (Three Day Pass): $40
Single Day Pass: $35
UCO Students and EVYAC Participants: $0
December 15, 2025-February 28, 2026 receive $10 off with coupon code: MidsouthEarlyBird
March 1-26, 2026 receive $5 off with coupon code: MidsouthMarch
Student IDRS Member (Three Day Pass): $60
IDRS Member (Three Day Pass): $70
Non-IDRS Member (Three Day Pass): $80
Family Member of Participant (Three Day Pass): $40
Single Day Pass: $35
UCO Students and EVYAC Participants: $0
December 15, 2025-February 28, 2026 receive $10 off with coupon code: MidsouthEarlyBird
March 1-26, 2026 receive $5 off with coupon code: MidsouthMarch
Proposals
We are currently accepting proposals for performances and presentations during the Midsouth Symposium. Performances can be full programs of 15 or 25 minutes, or single pieces on potpourri concerts. Presentations can be lectures, lecture recitals, or poster presentations. The lectures or lecture recitals can be 15 or 25 minutes in length.
Deadlines for proposals is January 31, 2026 at 11:59 pm.
Guest Artists
Principal oboist of the Colorado Symphony since 1993 and teaching professor of oboe at the University of Colorado Boulder College of Music, Peter Cooper has taught and performed as soloist with orchestras in Asia, Europe and the United States. He previously held positions in the San Francisco Symphony and as principal oboist of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra.
In 2022, he co-hosted the International Double Reed Society conference at the University of Colorado Boulder bringing together 1,000 oboists, bassoonists and exhibitors from around the world. In recent years, he has given master classes at the conservatories of Paris and Lyon in France and Berlin, Leipzig and Stuttgart in Germany.
Cooper has commissioned and premiered five oboe concertos and recorded the Strauss and David Mullikin oboe concertos with Sir Neville Marriner and the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields. He previously recorded the Heinrich Schweizer Oboe Concerto with the London Philharmonic. Cooper has also premiered concertos by Bill Douglas and Gregory Walker with the Colorado Symphony. In 2019, he played a new concerto by Kevin Puts with the Colorado Symphony that was co-commissioned by the Colorado and Baltimore symphonies.
A prize winner in the Tokyo International Oboe Competition, Cooper is a frequent guest principal oboist with many American orchestras. He has toured and recorded with the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra and has played first oboe with the Boston, Atlanta, Seattle, Houston, San Diego and Milwaukee symphonies as well as the Israel Chamber Orchestra.
Cooper plays on Marigaux oboes and Marigaux, Paris, has sponsored him in recitals and master classes throughout the United States, Asia and Europe. He has also been their American consultant for the development of a new model Marigaux oboe designed especially for American oboists.
A graduate of Northwestern University, Cooper studied with Ray Still and Gladys Elliot.
In 2022, he co-hosted the International Double Reed Society conference at the University of Colorado Boulder bringing together 1,000 oboists, bassoonists and exhibitors from around the world. In recent years, he has given master classes at the conservatories of Paris and Lyon in France and Berlin, Leipzig and Stuttgart in Germany.
Cooper has commissioned and premiered five oboe concertos and recorded the Strauss and David Mullikin oboe concertos with Sir Neville Marriner and the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields. He previously recorded the Heinrich Schweizer Oboe Concerto with the London Philharmonic. Cooper has also premiered concertos by Bill Douglas and Gregory Walker with the Colorado Symphony. In 2019, he played a new concerto by Kevin Puts with the Colorado Symphony that was co-commissioned by the Colorado and Baltimore symphonies.
A prize winner in the Tokyo International Oboe Competition, Cooper is a frequent guest principal oboist with many American orchestras. He has toured and recorded with the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra and has played first oboe with the Boston, Atlanta, Seattle, Houston, San Diego and Milwaukee symphonies as well as the Israel Chamber Orchestra.
Cooper plays on Marigaux oboes and Marigaux, Paris, has sponsored him in recitals and master classes throughout the United States, Asia and Europe. He has also been their American consultant for the development of a new model Marigaux oboe designed especially for American oboists.
A graduate of Northwestern University, Cooper studied with Ray Still and Gladys Elliot.
Dr. Ryan Reynolds is the Assistant Professor of Bassoon and Chamber Music at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where he teaches bassoon, chamber music, reed-making, and graduate practicum courses in instrumental music pedagogy and contemporary techniques. Before coming to UNCG, he taught at Eastern Michigan University in Michigan, Heidelberg University in Ohio, and Miami University in Ohio.
Dr. Reynolds the bassoonist of the GRAMMY® Award-winning ensemble Akropolis Reed Quintet, and is known for his pedagogy, activity within the American chamber music circuit, output as a recording artist, and commitment to creative and collaborative art-making. An award-winning chamber musician, Dr. Reynolds has won prizes at six national chamber music competitions, including the Gold Medal at the 2014 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition.
As a member of Akropolis, Dr. Reynolds tours internationally and has released six studio albums with the ensemble. The most recent album, Are We Dreaming the Same Dream?, was released in April 2024 in collaboration with composer/pianist Pascal Le Boeuf and drummer Christian Euman, and won a 2025 GRAMMY® Award. Dr. Reynolds has performed with orchestras throughout the United States including the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra, and Savannah Philharmonic Orchestra, among others.
In addition to his prolific performance output, Dr. Reynolds served on the faculties of the Renova Music Festival and the Maine Chamber Music Seminar, and currently teaches each summer at the Interlochen Adult Chamber Music Camp and the Akropolis Chamber Music Institute. He has given masterclasses and lectures in Canada, Germany, Spain, the United Arab Emirates, and at many American colleges and universities.
Dr. Reynolds is a graduate of Interlochen Arts Academy, holds a Bachelor of Music (BM) and Master of Music (MM) from the University of Michigan, and a Doctor of Music (DM) from Florida State University. He is grateful to his teachers Eric Stomberg, Jeffrey Lyman, and Jeff Keesecker. Reynolds is a Fox Artist and performs exclusively on a Fox 601 bassoon.
Dr. Reynolds the bassoonist of the GRAMMY® Award-winning ensemble Akropolis Reed Quintet, and is known for his pedagogy, activity within the American chamber music circuit, output as a recording artist, and commitment to creative and collaborative art-making. An award-winning chamber musician, Dr. Reynolds has won prizes at six national chamber music competitions, including the Gold Medal at the 2014 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition.
As a member of Akropolis, Dr. Reynolds tours internationally and has released six studio albums with the ensemble. The most recent album, Are We Dreaming the Same Dream?, was released in April 2024 in collaboration with composer/pianist Pascal Le Boeuf and drummer Christian Euman, and won a 2025 GRAMMY® Award. Dr. Reynolds has performed with orchestras throughout the United States including the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra, and Savannah Philharmonic Orchestra, among others.
In addition to his prolific performance output, Dr. Reynolds served on the faculties of the Renova Music Festival and the Maine Chamber Music Seminar, and currently teaches each summer at the Interlochen Adult Chamber Music Camp and the Akropolis Chamber Music Institute. He has given masterclasses and lectures in Canada, Germany, Spain, the United Arab Emirates, and at many American colleges and universities.
Dr. Reynolds is a graduate of Interlochen Arts Academy, holds a Bachelor of Music (BM) and Master of Music (MM) from the University of Michigan, and a Doctor of Music (DM) from Florida State University. He is grateful to his teachers Eric Stomberg, Jeffrey Lyman, and Jeff Keesecker. Reynolds is a Fox Artist and performs exclusively on a Fox 601 bassoon.