David Weber is owner of WEBER REEDS Inc. and co-author of The Reed Maker’s Manual, Step-by-step instructions for making oboe and English horn reeds and The Reed Maker’s Video, A supplement to The Reed Maker’s Manual.

A graduate of The Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, where he was a full scholarship student of John de Lancie, David Weber served as principal oboist of the Alabama Symphony from 1971 to 1993. Since then, this professional oboe player known for his reed making abilities has built a unique business dedicated to sharing his expertise with others. In addition to oboe, English horn and oboe d’amore reeds of the highest professional quality, WEBER REEDS offers the highest quality products and services, including master classes, workshops and private personal instruction, to support the reed making efforts of all discriminating oboe players.

David grew up in Charlotte, North Carolina and was a member of the first graduating class of the North Carolina School of the Arts. His early teachers included John Mack, James Caldwell and Donald Hefner. Upon graduation from The Curtis Institute of Music, he joined the Atlanta Symphony as assistant principal oboe under the direction of Robert Shaw. In addition to his tenure as principal oboe in the Alabama Symphony, he has played principal oboe in the Aspen Festival Orchestra, the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, the Minnesota Orchestra, the National Symphony of Mexico, the Columbus (GA) Philharmonic, the Charleston (SC) Symphony and the Savannah (GA) Symphony. He has also played oboe and/or English horn in the symphony orchestras of Charlotte, Chautauqua, Milwaukee, Philadelphia, and in the Santa Fe Opera Orchestra.

Until his move to Arizona in 1999, David was a member of the faculties of Birmingham-Southern College and the University of Montevallo. He has been the sabbatical replacement for Marc Lifschey at Indiana University and for James Caldwell at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, as well as on the faculties of the Aspen Music School, the University of Alabama, and Auburn University. Since the publishing of The Reed Maker’s Manual & Video in 1990, he has taught master classes in reed making at Indiana University, Florida State University, Louisiana State University, The Curtis Institute of Music, and the University of Alabama, and he has presented the acclaimed “Reed Maker’s Workshop” at Ball State University, the University of Southern Mississippi, and California State University, Fresno with Ferald (Fred) Capps, his co-author of The Reed Maker’s Manual and Video, and owner of Reliable Reeds.

Vendla Weber is the business manager of Weber Reeds, and the editor and illustrator of The Reed Maker’s Manual.

The friendly voice on the Weber answering machine belongs to Vendla Weber. She handles orders and accounts and can answer most questions about Weber Reeds products and services. If she can’t, she will either transfer your call to David Weber or have him get back in touch with you.

Until the Alabama Symphony declared bankruptcy and closed its doors in 1993, Vendla Weber was its principal flutist for over 20 years. She is a graduate of The Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, having studied there with John C. Krell as a full scholarship student. Previous to that, she studied privately with William Kincaid in Philadelphia and with Albert Tipton, Irvin Gilman and Clement Barone while growing up in Dearborn, Michigan. She received her high school diploma from Cass Technical High School in Detroit, where she played in the symphonic band under Harry Begian. She was appointed assistant principal flute of the Atlanta Symphony by Robert Shaw in 1970 and then moved to Birmingham, AL with her husband, oboist David Weber, the following year.

Mrs. Weber has been a member of the Santa Fe Opera Orchestra, has toured the United States with the Bolshoi Ballet Orchestra, and has performed for the National Flute Society and for the 1996 International Double Reed Society Conference with her husband David. She has appeared as flute soloist with the Alabama Symphony, the Chamber Soloists of Philadelphia and the Birmingham Musica Antiqua, has performed in chamber music concerts and solo recitals regularly, and has had extensive teaching experience. Until her recent move to Arizona, she carried on the Kincaid legacy as an adjunct faculty member at Birmingham-Southern College and the University of Montevallo.

Mary Simon is office manager and repair technician at Weber Reeds.

Mary holds a Bachelors degree from Arizona State University and a Masters degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, both in oboe performance. Her primary teachers include Martin Schuring and John Dee. She studied oboe-making and repair under Ginger Ramsay at Covey & Ramsay.