The Ball State School of Music will host five free concerts beginning at 7:30 p.m. July 25-29 in Emens Auditorium as part of the 35th Annual Conference of the International Double Reed Society (IDRS).

The concerts on July 26 and 29 will feature international soloists performing with orchestra. The concerts on the 25, 27 and 28 will feature soloists with string chamber ensembles and/or piano.

Evening soloists include:

• Michel Bettez, Bassoon: Metropolitan Orchestra of Montreal
• William Buchman, Bassoon: Chicago Symphony, De Paul
• Stefano Canuti, Bassoon: Italian soloist/recording artist
• Peter Cooper, Oboe: principal, Colorado Symphony
• Gerald Corey, Bassoon: retired, Ottawa National Arts Center Orchestra
• Ariana Ghez, Oboe: principal, Los Angeles Symphony
• Merrill Greenberg, English Horn: Israel Philharmonic
• Sue Heineman, Bassoon: National Symphony
• Gordon Hunt, Oboe: British soloist, recording artist
• Kiyoshi Koyama, Bassoon: Japanese soloist/recording artist
• François Leleux, Oboe: French soloist/recording artist
• Stéphane Lévesque, Bassoon: Montreal Symphony
• Patrick McFarland, English Horn: Atlanta Symphony
• Frank Morelli, Bassoon: Orpheus Chamber Orchestra
• Magnus Nilsson, Bassoon: Swedish soloist/recording artist
• Pauline Oostenrijk, Oboe: The Hague
• Emily Pailthorpe, Oboe: London Conchord Ensemble
• Frank Rosenwein, Oboe: Cleveland Orchestra
• Joseph Salvalagio, Oboe: principal, Memphis Symphony
• Grover Schiltz, English Horn: retired, Chicago Symphony
• Christian Schmitt, Oboe: Basel (Switzerland) Symphony
• Theodore Soluri, Bassoon: Milwaukee Symphony
• Roger Soren, Bassoon: Louisville Orchestra
• Barrick Stees, Bassoon: Cleveland Orchestra
• Linda Strommen, Oboe: Indiana University
• John Wetherill, Bassoon: Indianapolis Symphony
• Robert Williams, Bassoon: Detroit Symphony
• Gillet-Fox Bassoon Competition Winner (TBA)

The concerts are free and open to the public.

The IDRS is a world-wide organization of double reed (oboe and bassoon) players, instrument manufacturers and enthusiasts. This is the first time Ball State has been selected to host this prestigious conference.

For more information on the 2006 IDRS conference, go to www.idrs2006.org or contact Keith Sweger at 285-5511 or ksweger@bsu.edu.