Double Reed Day

Double Reed Day 2014 
Saturday, January 18

Sospiri
Margaret Herlehy, oboe; Janet Polk, bassoon; Arlene Kies, piano

Photo-Kate Stein, UNH class of '91    

Schedule for the day
9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Registration/  Vendors open for business (see list below)
10:30 a.m. to noon Bassoon and Oboe Master Classes
Noon to 2 p.m. Lunch/  Vendors open for business
12:45 to 1:30 p.m. Brown Bag Recital featuring UNH Double Reed students
2:00 p.m. UNH Faculty Recital with Sospiri
3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Bassoon band and oboe band (for all attendees)

Vendors
Charles Double Reed Company, Double Reed Shop,
Ellis Music Co. (with Jonathan Ranney, repairman), Gray’s Clays, Miller Marketing

Email or Call: 
Bassoons-Janet Polk 603-679-1459  jpolk@cisunix.unh.edu
Oboes-Margaret Herlehy  mherlehy@hotmail.com

Click here for driving directions
Download a parking map

The University of New Hampshire’s Double Reed Day (UNH DR DAY) is a day-long event held each January for double-reed players of all ages and skill levels. Over 100 participants come each year sometimes braving snow storms, ice storms, power outages and floods both outside AND inside. More often than not, however, the sun does shine on this day. Janet Polk, UNH bassoon instructor and Margaret Herlehy, UNH oboe instructor organize this event with the able assistance of the music service fraternity, Kappa Kappa Psi.

Separate bassoon and oboe master classes are held in the morning. From noon to 2 p.m., participants may browse at the many vendors that have assembled, form small ensembles, attend a Brown Bag recital featuring UNH Double Reed students, or stroll into Durham for lunch. At 2 p.m., the trio Sospiri (Margaret Herlehy, Janet Polk and Arlene Kies UNH piano professor) perform. At the conclusion of the recital, all participants in the day can play in bassoon band or oboe band.

According to Justin Miller, president of Miller Marketing and a long-time vendor at this event, UNH DR DAY is one of the largest and longest-running Bassoon Day/DR DAY in the United States.

UNH DR DAY began as Bassoon Day. In 1993, Alan Fox of Fox Products Corporation, suggested to Janet Polk she start a bassoon day at UNH. She decided to take on the challenge and asked Mr. Fox if he would be her first guest. So, in January 1994, the first annual Bassoon Day took place. In January 1999, the oboes joined in the fun and the event became known as Double Reed Day.