Reed Talk

REED TALK Episode 29 features Dr. Nermis Mieses who is the Associate Professor of Oboe at Michigan State University and on the faculty of the Sewanee Summer Music Festival. In this episode, we have an eye-opening discussion about the benefits of using a cane hardness tester to increase your reed making success…something our bassoon friends have been doing for years! Music excerpts: Três Peças Atlâ...

REED TALK Episode 28 features Celeste Johnson Frehner who is the Professor of Oboe at the University of Missouri–Kansas City Conservatory, where she is an active performer, pedagogue, clinician, and presenter. In this episode, Celeste discusses being wary of changing your variables, the importance of sharpening your knife (and how to do it,) and making sure your heart is in the right place. Music...

REED TALK Episode 27 features Allan Vogel who was the former Principal Oboist of the LA Chamber Orchestra, and the Oboe Professor at the California Institute of the Arts and the Colburn School. In his episode he shares his experiences studying with Lothar Koch as a Fulbright student, his thoughts about the American school of oboe playing, individualizing one’s sound and how his study of  meditatio...

REED TALK Episode 26 features Claire Brazeau, Principal Oboist of the LA Chamber Orchestra and Oboe Professor at the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music. She’s also one of the top freelance musicians in LA and can be heard on movie soundtracks such as Avatar 2, Tenant and the Color Purple! In this episode Claire shares what it’s like to play on a movie soundtrack as well as some tips for being a succes...

REED TALK Episode 25 features Lindsay Flowers, Assistant Professor of Oboe at the Mead Witter School of Music at the University of Wisconsin, Madison; the English hornist of the Madison Symphony; and second oboe/EH with the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra. In addition to being an amazing oboist and pedagogue, Lindsay is a true pro in all matters of gouging! Want to know more about gouging, how to main...

Erin Hannigan is our guest for REED TALK Episode 24. Erin is the Principal Oboist of the Dallas Symphony and the Instructor of Oboe at Meadows School for the Arts at Southern Methodist University. She is also the founder of the nonprofit Artists for Animals, which has supported many animal rescues. In this episode, Erin recounts the influence of her reed mentors, her amazing career path, and her a...

REED TALK Episode 23 features Heiko Frosch, owner of Oboe Shop in Germany. This episode is chock-full of Heiko’s excellent advice on how to select, store and process cane. He also provides some insight into the growing, harvesting and preparing of cane before it arrives at your favorite cane supplier. Music excerpts: Três Peças Atlânticas: Chorinho baiano by Eurico Carrapatoso performed by Courtne...

REED TALK Episode 22 Part 2 features Robert Sheena, solo English horn player of the Boston Symphony. He also teaches at Boston Conservatory’s School of Music, the Tanglewood Institute, and the Boston Conservatory at Berklee. In this episode, Rob shares valuable advice on taking English horn auditions and on the evolution of Sonnets, a piece commissioned for him by the BSO, and composed by George T...

REED TALK Episode 22 features Robert Sheena, solo English horn player of the Boston Symphony. He also teaches at Boston Conservatory’s School of Music, the Tanglewood Institute, and the Boston Conservatory at Berklee. In his episode, Rob shares with us the story of his journey to the Boston Symphony and his approach to English horn reed making. Music excerpts: Três Peças Atlânticas: Chorinho baian...

In Episode 21 of REED TALK interview Philip Ross, associate principal oboist of the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra and gouging machine creator. We grill Phil with some hard-hitting queries about all that stuff we do with cane before we tie and scrape. No doubt many of your gouging puzzles will be answered by listening! Music excerpts: Três Peças Atlânticas: Chorinho baiano by Eurico Carrapatoso pe...

REED TALK Episode 20 features Titus Underwood, principal oboist of the Nashville Symphony and associate professor of oboe at the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. In this episode, Titus emphasizes the importance of scraping for reliable response, depth, balance, and intonation. He also discusses his video projects and how he stays out of reed slumps. Music excerpts: Três Peças Atlânticas:...

REED TALK celebrates our one-year anniversary! We’re celebrating with an interview of one of the country’s leading oboe pedagogues, Linda Strommen, Professor of Oboe at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music, a guest faculty teacher at the Juilliard School and a faculty member of the Interlochen Arts Camp and the New York String Orchestra Seminar. In Episode 18 Linda Strommen tells about her...

REED TALK is back! In Episode 18 we interview Frank Rosenwein, Principal Oboist of the Cleveland Orchestra and faculty at the Cleveland Institute of Music. Frank shares with us his intelligent and thoughtful approach to reed making as well as a few unique techniques! Music excerpts: Três Peças Atlânticas: Chorinho baiano by Eurico Carrapatoso performed by Courtney Miller; Ravel Sonatine, Mouvement...

REED TALK Episode 17 features Marilyn Zupnik, former co-principal of the Minnesota Orchestra. Marilyn tells us about growing up with her father who played principal oboe in the Cleveland Orchestra under George Szell, the Tabuteau School and studying with John de Lancie. It’s a fascinating excursion through our oboe history. And of course we discuss Marilyn’s approach to oboe reed making! Music exc...

REED TALK’s sweet 16 episode features the one, the only...Sherry Sylar! Sherry is the associate principal oboist of the New York Philharmonic and teaches at the Manhattan School of Music and the New School at Mannes School of Music. In this episode Sherry pays tribute to Paul Laubin and Dan Ross and describes attaining the golden ratio in reed making. Music excerpts: Três Peças Atlânticas: Chorinh...

We welcome Logan Esterling as our guest on Episode 15 of REED TALK! Logan Esterling is the founder and reed maker of Reedesign. He lives in Seattle, WA and plays oboe and English Horn in Symphony Tacoma and the Yakima Symphony. Logan unpacks the story behind Reedesign and describes the company’s approach to data-driven reed making. Music excerpts: Três Peças Atlânticas: Chorinho baiano by Eurico C...

REED TALK Episode 14 features Grammy Award Winner Alex Klein. In this fascinating episode, Alex sheds light on how cane properties influence our reeds and why he approaches reed making using the scientific method. He also offers a candid conversation about his experience with focal dystonia and pays tribute to his mentor James Caldwell. Music excerpts: Três Peças Atlânticas: Chorinho baiano by Eur...

Our guest for Episode 13 of Reed Talk is Dr. Andrew Parker, assistant professor of oboe at the University of Texas-Austin and principal oboist of the Quad City Symphony. Dr. Parker transports us to his reed desk as he eloquently explains his philosophy of reed making in fascinating detail. Music excerpts: Três Peças Atlânticas: Chorinho baiano by Eurico Carrapatoso, performed by Courtney Miller; A...

Episode 12 of REED TALK features a fascinating interview with Elizabeth Starr Masoudnia, solo English hornist of the Philadelphia Orchestra, in which she discusses the legacy of the Philadelphia oboe school dating back to Marcel Tabuteau, her mentors John de Lancie, Louis Rosenblatt and John Mack and valuable tips on English horn reed making. Music excerpts: Três Peças Atlânticas: Chorinho baiano...

In Episode 11 of REED TALK Nicholas Tisherman offers valuable advice on making reeds for various altitudes, cane selection and much more! Nick is the second and assistant principal oboe of the Colorado Symphony in Denver where he also has a thriving oboe studio. Music excerpts: Três Peças Atlânticas: Chorinho baiano by Eurico Carrapatoso, performed by Courtney Miller; Largo from Telemann’s Fantasy...

REED TALK Episode 10 features the phenomenal Nicholas Stovall principal oboist of the National Symphony Orchestra and oboe faculty at Peabody Institute, Johns Hopkins University and the National Symphony Youth Fellowship Program. Music excerpts: Três Peças Atlânticas: Chorinho baiano by Eurico Carrapatoso, performed by Courtney Miller; Oboe Concerto by Vaughan Williams performed by Nicholas Stoval...

Episode 9 of Reed Talk features Principal Oboist of the Colorado Symphony and Professor of Oboe and the University Colorado Boulder Peter Cooper, who reassures us that reed making is a lifelong journey, one that requires patience and calm. Music excerpts: Três Peças Atlânticas: Chorinho baiano by Eurico Carrapatoso, performed by Courtney Miller; Faure Pavane performed by Peter Cooper and Marcia La...

In episode 8, Jamie Roberts, assistant principal oboist of the National Symphony Orchestra, expounds on the importance of warming up and other great advice she received from her mentors. Music excerpts: Três Peças Atlânticas: Chorinho baiano by Eurico Carrapatoso, performed by Courtney Miller; Mexican Dance from Copland’s Billy the Kid performed by the NSO and Cinquième Suitte, I. Le Prudent by Je...

In this episode, Eric Ohlsson discusses micrometer use, the importance of investing in quality equipment and creating a healthy approach to reed making. Dr. Eric Ohlsson is the Charles O. Delaney Professor of Music at Florida State University. Produced by Jason Slote. Music excerpts: Três Peças Atlânticas: Chorinho baiano by Eurico Carrapatoso, performed by Courtney Miller; Cinquième Suitte, I. Le...

In this episode, John Dee shares his philosophy of setting up a system, being thoughtful and organized, creating goals and setting your reed making standards high. Find out about the Golden Reed Case!! John Dee is the Bill A. Nugent Professor of Oboe at the University of Illinois. Music excerpts: Três Peças Atlânticas: Chorinho baiano by Eurico Carrapatoso, performed by Courtney Miller; Oboe Quart...