University of Kentucky’s Double Reed Club strives for community and support

The newly formed Double Reed Club at the University of Kentucky aims to create a supportive community for oboe and bassoon players while addressing the unique challenges that these musicians face. 

Kali Lewis, treasurer of the club, shared that the initiative stemmed from discussions with UK’s oboe and bassoon professors. As an oboe player, Lewis said she recognized the potential for the club to not only achieve their goals but reach members of the community in ways they hadn’t been able to before.

"The goal was to help with outreach, providing reed making supplies and creating a supportive community for bassoon and oboe players,” Lewis said.

Emily Maxey, co-president of the club and fellow oboe player said that the professors laid a foundation for the club, envisioning a space for double reed players to thrive.

“The double reed community across the world is already small in general,” Maxey said. “They are difficult instruments and take a lot of time and effort to play and make reeds.”

Reed making involves crafting and shaping cane to create reeds that produce sound in woodwind instruments. Students make their own reeds, and the costs can add up.

"Reed making is a big part of oboe and bassoon because they are double reed instruments,” Maxey said. “We cannot make music without our reeds.”

The club aims to alleviate some of this burden by eventually providing members with the essential materials and funding they need. 

“We have not gotten there yet because it just started, but we at least hope to supply members with cane for reed making,” Maxey said.

Despite its nascent status, the Double Reed Club has ambitious plans.

"During our first club meeting, members were able to bring up their ideas about ways the club can help its members and the community as well,” Lewis said.

The Double Reed Club is planning to host the first-ever Double Reed Day event at UK. This informative event is to encourage young double reed students to continue playing their instrument as well as recruit for UK.

“Without good recruitment, the school of music lacks musicians who can fill spots in ensembles, leading to stress for those who have to pick up the slack as well as reducing the strength and diversity of the musicianship currently in our bands and orchestras,” Lewis said.

As the club works to establish itself, recruitment remains a key focus, from hanging up posters around campus to reaching out to people who played double reed instruments in high school.

“We created a social media page to reach more people,” Maxey said. “I think this is so important because oboe and bassoon players can be rare.”

The club is also open to honorary members who might not play double reed instruments but have an interest in supporting the group. 

“We hope to grow our number of members and involvement through those members and become a more known club on campus,” Maxey said.

Looking forward, the Double Reed Club’s overarching focus is to create a welcoming and supportive environment for those who join and participate.

“We always need manpower, so volunteering for events we host and showing up is the best thing you can do,” Lewis said. “Without the people, there is no club.”