Doubles Duo (Jillian Honn, oboe and Zack Merkovsky, double bass) is interested in championing these two often-overlooked instruments in the world of contemporary chamber music. They strive to broaden the repertoire of oboe and bass music and present programs and workshops for composers, thus fostering a curiosity in the wide-ranging abilities of their unique instrument combination.

In 2019, Jillian Honn, oboe, co-founded and later became president of versicolor, a student-run new music ensemble at the Yale School of Music. When Zack Merkovsky, double bass, entered YSM in 2020, he quickly became an active participant in the running of the ensemble. Doubles Duo was formed from this administrative team. In the spring of 2021, Doubles Duo began within the liminal space of electronically-wired rooms during their pandemic-era studies. What started off as a project in unusual circumstances led to a fruitful collaboration that prioritizes the performance and commissioning of living composers. 

During their Spring 2025 residency at Syracuse University, Doubles Duo collaborated with student composers to workshop new works, and presented a recital on the Civic Morning Musicals Series, which exemplified the exciting possibilities of oboe and bass music. Previously, Jillian and Zack have performed in a variety of locations that range from concert venues, coffee shops, and even to Lucerne, Switzerland as fellows of the Lucerne Festival Academy. Both duo members are very active in new music and the classical music world.

Jillian holds principal positions with the Cape Symphony, Chamber Orchestra of New York, and the Lake Placid Sinfonietta, and has been a guest musician with groups such as the International Contemporary Ensemble, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, and Orchestra of St. Luke’s. She is the Operations Manager for Contemporaneous, a NYC-based contemporary ensemble.

Zack is a member of the Allentown Symphony Orchestra and the York Symphony Orchestra, and has appeared with the North Carolina Symphony, Syracuse Orchestra, Albany Symphony Orchestra, Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra, Princeton Symphony, New York Classical Players, and New Jersey Festival Orchestra, among others. He has worked with youth orchestras all across New Jersey as a mentor and teaching artist, and also balances a teaching studio within the Tri-State Area.