A Year in Business for Enterprising Bassoonist

An enterprising music student is celebrating the first birthday of the website he developed to help his fellow students find double reed supplies.

Bassoonist Matthew Petrie launched Crook and Staple after he had trouble getting hold of specialist equipment and supplies.

Third year student Matthew said: “I had difficulty obtaining double reed supplies and items were arriving far too slowly. I spotted a gap in the market, so set up a business to supply reed cane for other students, as well as other oboists and bassoonists that I knew.”

With business advice and mentoring from the college, alongside his studies, Matthew developed the business and set up an online store, stocking specialist double reed materials, tools and equipment. In 2012, Matthew was awarded a Young Entrepreneur Award from the Welsh Assembly Government.

“We now have returning customers from all over the world, and the site is now become a community. We’re developing an ‘Information and Expert Knowledge Hub’ section, providing a range of free online double reed making and support resources, aimed at everyone from novices through to professionals.”

And if his studies and business weren’t keeping Matthew busy enough, he’s also performing as Principal Bassoon with the Filarmonica Oltenia (Romania’s Philarmonic Orchestra) in November as part of an international exchange programme.