Harry Roberson, Founder and Head Repair Technician

Roberson’s Music, Fredericksburg, Virginia

Harry studied instrument repair with Alton Barnes of Southern Music in Richmond while simultaneously and successfully pursuing a degree in Percussion Performance at Virginia Commonwealth University.

In 1978 Harry and Sheila Roberson opened their own repair shop in Richmond, serving local musicians and several Richmond area schools. To fill the demand from the Fredericksburg music education community, they returned “home” in 1978 to open a band instrument repair facility in downtown Fredericksburg. As time passed, band directors requested that Roberson’s stock accessories such as reeds, mouthpieces, drumheads, etc., studios were built; and soon Roberson’s Music became the area’s premier full-service music outlet.

Harry became a member of the National Association of Professional Band Instrument Repair Technicians (NAPBIRT) in 1995 to stay on top of new instrument repair techniques. The Fredericksburg area continued to grow, and schools began adding orchestra instruction to the music curricula. To service these programs, Harry included string instrument repair to Roberson’s services in 2003. Mr. Roberson “goes to school” every year to add to his extensive knowledge of instrument repair techniques, most recently with famed flute maker and pad designer David Straubinger.

A multi-instrumentalist, Harry thoroughly play-tests every instrument that Roberson’s Music repairs. It’s not unusual to find him playing his violin, a tenor sax or trumpet in between repairs in the shop, or playing drums professionally with several groups in and around Fredericksburg.