Reed’iculous Two

About Us

We first met in the Guildhall reed-making room during Thaïs’ exchange from France. Thaïs was, and still is, inspired by the originality of Victor Borge, Bill Bailey, and the duo Igudesman & Joo. She was on a mission to find partners who weren't afraid to bring humor to the stage. Meanwhile, Charis was discovering just how rewarding it is to introduce "rare" instruments to new audiences. She realized that the pure joy on a 10-year-old’s face is a feeling too powerful to ignore (after all, a kid’s face never lies!) Seeing that spark of connection made it clear that this was a mission worth pursuing. We decided to join forces and created our first show, ‘Piano Recital… Just Kidding,’ at Guildhall. The warm response from the audience gave us all the motivation we needed to pursue this path together!

Our Mission

Today, our goal is to make classical music accessible to everyone by blending high-quality performance with jokes, visual gags, and plenty of fun. We bring this same energetic approach to our teaching and workshops, especially for younger pupils who might find a traditional, hour-long concert a bit too "still." We believe students learn best when they are fully engaged and having a laugh!

Our Teaching

We adapt our approach to ensure every lesson is tailored to the individual. Whether that means building strong foundations for beginners, supporting steady progress through graded exams, or refining technique and expression at an advanced level, we meet our students exactly where they are. We are committed to creating an inclusive, adaptable space for everyone, including those with additional learning needs. Our goal is to help students build confidence, develop independence, and enjoy making music in a way that feels truly rewarding and motivating!

Charis Lai

Charis Lai

Charis Lai is a London-based oboist and cor anglais player originally from Hong Kong.She is passionate about music as a universal language that connects people across cultures and backgrounds.

Charis graduated with distinction from the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, completing both her undergraduate degree and the Orchestral Artistry Master of Performance programme, where she studied with Alison Teale, Gordon Hunt, and Steven Hudson. She was a Junior Fellow at Guildhall and a member of the Orpheus Sinfonia Foundation Programme (2024-2025) and the CATIL Wind Quintet. She is also the founder of the Reed’iculous Two, partnering with Thaïs Bordes.

A versatile and experienced soloist, chamber, and orchestral musician, Charis performs regularly on both oboe and cor anglais. She has held trial positions as Principal Cor Anglais with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, and BBC National Orchestra of Wales. Her freelance engagements include performances with the Philharmonia Orchestra, Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra, Thames Sinfonia, and Sinfonia Smith Square.

Charis is the recipient of the Guildhall Cor Anglais and oboe Prize (2022 & 2023) respectively and has participated in a range of prestigious festivals and courses. These include the British Isles Music Festival (2019), the Chipping Campden Music Festival (2023), and the Taipei Music Academy and Festival (2024 and 2025). She was also selected to join the Asian Youth Orchestra Festival in 2020.

Currrently, Charis teaches as an oboe tutor in Guildhall Young Artist. Charis has also taught in West London free School, London Youth Conservatoire and Music In Office as oboe and piano teacher. During her time with the Musicians' Company (2022-2027), she has held a 6-weeks workshop in 2024 with an amazing partner to introduce music and create music with the students in Moreland Primary School, then the Batten Disease Project in Richard Cloudesley in 2025. She has represented Guildhall to do workshops, masterclasses, and chamber coachings in Norwich Music Centre and Norfolk Centre for Young Musician.

Charis loves crocheting, cooking and reed-making with Netflix in her free time!

Thaïs Bordes

Thaïs Bordes

Originally from Toulouse in France, Thaïs began her musical journey with flute, piano, and singing in La Maîtrise du Conservatoire de Toulouse under the direction of Mark Opstad. At the age of 12, she discovered the bassoon and, inspired by its unique sound, decided to pursue it professionally.

After obtaining diplomas in bassoon, piano, and music theory in Toulouse, she completed undergraduate degrees both in perfoming and teaching the Bassoon at the Pôle d’Enseignement Supérieur de Musique et de Danse in Bordeaux. She furthered her training at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, completing a Master’s degree in the Orchestral Artistry course and won the Needlemaker's Prize for woodwind and the Bassoon Prize in 2024. She has been working as a Junior Fellow at the institution since then.

Thaïs has performed with several professional orchestras, including the Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse, the Opéra National de Bordeaux, the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. She is also a founding member of the CATIL Quintet, formed with her peers at Guildhall, with whom she regularly performs and leads educational workshops in schools. Alongside performing, she has taught privately throughout her studies and coached young bassoonists during a week-long wind orchestra course in France for several years, focusing on ensemble playing. Now, she continues to teach privately and is a visiting teacher at Queen Elizabeth's School for boys in Barnet.

In her spare time, Thaïs likes baking and making musical arrangements of different kind of repertoire for Wind Quintet and Double-Reed ensembles.