Name: Bob Burks.Age: 55.Hometown: McAlester, Okla.Education: St. Louis Conservatory of Music and Cleveland (Ohio) Institute of Music studying Oboe Performance.Vocation: Principle Oboe, Chattanooga Symphony & Opera.FavoritesMovie: “Pirates of Caribbean.”Music: “I loved the Moody Blues growing up. When we did the show at the Roundhouse with them, it was one of the highlights of my life. We did “Nights in White Satin.” Wow.Quotation: “Life can only be understood backwards. Unfortunately it has to be lived forwards.” — Unknown
Jason sought the Golden Fleece, Ahab searched for the white whale and Psyche searched the world over for Cupid.
Bob Burks, principal oboe for the Chattanooga Symphony & Opera, is on the hunt for the perfect reed. Burks, who is second to only Concertmaster Don Zimmer as the longest tenured principal with the CSO, makes his own reeds, something he has plenty of practice doing since they don’t last long.
Burks said he once made a “freak reed” that held on for 19 shows while he was touring Germany, but it eventually split in half prior to the final concert.
Burks said he is constantly purchasing and making his own reeds from cane he buys from France. He often performs this task while watching a Hallmark movie.