URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) — Even though it was the weekend, classes were still in session for some at the University of Illinois. 

Single Reed Day brought clarinetists and saxophonists together to learn, play and teach one another. It was the first time the event welcomed both kinds of musicians into a single, jam-packed day.

More than 100 middle school, high school and college students took classes from world-renowned professionals before taking center stage to show off what they learned. 

“There’s a number of win-wins here, I mean, obviously playing with other people, meeting other musicians that they wouldn’t normally meet [and] meeting the faculty staff,” Gary Winder, Vandoren vice president of sales and marketing, said.

Vandoren, the Champaign-based reed company who sponsored the event, said it’s special to have such a big turnout so close to home.

“We do a lot of these types of events, but to do something like this in my hometown, or home city, [I get] goosebumps,” Winder said. 

Winder said the event was a huge success — so much so, that they had to limit registration to make sure every performer could fit on stage for Sunday’s performance.

He and other organizers are already planning for next year.