Quentin Rychner

Reedmaking is an important part of playing the oboe. Oboists select, split, gouge, shape, and tie cane on a staple. This blank is then cut open and scraped, at the tip, thinner the a hair. This process is essential because therein lies a good part of the tone. It is important for oboists to remain sane, however, as a reed is merely a component of our instrument, not the goal itself. One should focus on the goal which is making music.

As a professional oboist, I need to have enough blanks to make reeds as needed, also for my students. In the past few weeks, I've been tying quite a lot, and I now have enough for the next half year!

This week, on the 13th of November, I'll play the Tombeau de Couperin by Maurice Ravel. This piece is sometimes also called the Tombeau du Hautboïste because of it's prominent oboe solos. I, as every other oboe student, have practised those solos, especially the Prélude, for the past ten years because it features in every audition! I am very glad to finally perform it, with an orchestra composed of very good friends, in the Buitensociëteit van de Hanzehof!

I am very glad to announce that I am the new oboe teacher at the Hillegomse Muziekschool! I gave the first lessons to my new students on September 13, and I am looking forward to see them every Tuesday and work with them.

As a freelance musician, you must always be prepared to be called on a Sunday afternoon to substitute for a colleague the very next day. That happened to me last week when a friend asked me to fill in for him the three next days with the Metropole Orkest in Hilversum. After moving a few appointments, I took the gig! It was really exciting to work a few days with very nice colleagues, in the Muziekcentrum van de Omroep, the studio facility where the Metropole Orkest rehearses.

After two years of draught, it is finally possible again for students to play their final bachelor's or master's recital with public, and with ensemble or orchestras. I was lucky to be accompanied by wonderful musicians for my recitals and I am happy to pay it forward! On the 17th of May I played in the orchestra that accompanied Evelina Argyrou and Mar Sánchez-Domènech, and I will be playing for Eline Verkuijl (2nd of June) and Rodo Nijhoff (29th of June).

On the 4th of February, I went to Uwe Henze in Neuss (D) to buy a new instrument. After more than ten years playing on my old and faithful Rigoutat, I needed a new instrument to continue my technical and musical development. I was able (in part thanks to Stichting Eigen Muziekinstrument) to complete the funding for a new oboe. I chose to look for a Marigaux instrument, and out of nine different instruments, one caught my attention. After trying it for a few days, my attention turned to something close to love! And after a few months of gently breaking in, I got the opportunity to play the Matthew Passion on it, with the Residentie Orkest, thus inaugurating its career. Looking forward to many more concerts!