Roberson's Music - About Us!

Roberson's Music was established in 1978 as a band instrument repair facility. Since then, Roberson's has grown to become the headquarters for band and orchestra instrument sales, rentals, repairs and supplies for Fredericksburg,Virginia and the surrounding area.

Roberson's Music
We have achieved this by offering high quality musical instruments and services and by placing our customers' needs above profits.

We strive to provide our customers with service and assistance in their musical endeavors to the best of our abilities and continue to educate ourselves to this end. Our goal is to serve properly those who think enough of us to ask for our assistance.

30 years and thousands of satisfied customers later, Harry, Sheila and the Roberson's Music staff would like to thank the Fredericksburg community and the surrounding area for its continuing loyalty, and remain on call - providing you with the best in musical instruments, accessories, education and services.

Roberson's Music consists of two divisions, Band & Orchestral and Education.

The Band & Orchestral Division offers:

Our Education Division offers:

Private Lessons - One-on-one instruction by our staff of professional, degreed instructors. All Roberson's Music teachers are working musicians who bring the most current knowledge to the private sessions. Studios are new, sound controlled and very comfortable.
A variety of summer programs designed to "keep 'em playin'" during the school break.

Introducing the Roberson's Music Staff:
Harry Roberson - Founder, Head Repair Tech
Sheila Roberson - Co-founder, Secretary/Treasurer
James Roberson - School Representative, Repair Tech
Jim Payne - Electric Instruments, Repair Tech
Kim Brown - Print Music, Woodwinds, Frontline
Anne Bullwinkel - Repair Tech
Paul Rawlins - Brass, Webmaster, Frontline
Josh Craig - Woodwinds, Frontline

Harry Roberson - Founder and Head Repair Technician

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.

Sheila Roberson - Co-founder and Secretary/Treasurer

A King George native, Sheila began her college career at Virginia Commonwealth University in 1977 "while raising a husband." When Harry opened the repair shop in Richmond, she left school to work three jobs to help build the business. After the move to Fredericksburg, son James was born and was literally raised in the store from the time he was 5 days old. Sheila continued her college education at Mary Washington College (now the University of Mary Washington), and graduated with a BA in Accounting, with honors, from Strayer University in 2003.

Sheila personally designed the Roberson's Music bookkeeping system. She works the "front line" with the same professionalism and attention to detail that she brings to the Roberson's office and manages Roberson's rental instrument fleet.

James Roberson - School Representative and Repair Technician

James literally grew up at Roberson's Music. Following in Harry's footsteps, he is a professional drummer and, interestingly, a full time firefighter with Henrico Fire and Rescue. In his free time he is a full-time dad to Emma Grace and a repair technician at Roberson's.

Jim Payne - Guitar/Bass Specialist and Repair Technician

Jimmy, as we know him, began his career at Roberson's Music in 1986 as head of the P.A. department . He became Frontline Manager soon thereafter, a position he held for 15 years. He moved to the Roberson's repair shop in 2003. Jim performs as bassist and vocalist with his group Crossroads in and around Fredericksburg and performed at the Vice President's mansion for former Vice President Al Gore.

Kim Brown - Print Music/Woodwind Specialist and Frontline

An accomplished flute and piccolo player, Kim graduated from East Henderson High School, Hendersonville, NC in 1992. She then enlisted in the Navy and spent eight years as a machinist's mate, AC tech and administration specialist on board the USS Shenandoah and the USS Platte. Kim left the Navy when her daughter, Alex, was born. Subsequently, she entered Strayer University, graduating in 2005 with a BA in accounting. Joining the Roberson's Music staff in 2004, Kim assumed the responsibility of maintaining print music and accessory inventory.

Anne Bullwinkel - Repair Tech

Originally from Clarks Summit, PA, Anne graduated from Marywood University in 1996 with a BM in Music Education. In 1998 she joined the U. S. Army as a clarinetist and was stationed at Fort Campbell, KY, Fort Monroe, VA and Camp Red Cloud, South Korea. She has played for a large variety of audiences including three NFL football pregame/halftime shows, and recorded several CDs with her units. In 2008 she left Active Duty for the National Guard and attended Western Iowa Tech Community College where she earned an AAS degree in Band Instrument Repair Technology. �In her spare time, Anne pursues various artistic endeavors. She also is a costumer, artist and volunteer staffer at Anthrocon, a non-profit convention that raises money to support charitable animal-based organizations.

Paul Rawlins - Brass Specialist, Webmaster and Frontline

Paul is a native of Santa Fe, New Mexico, and graduated from the University of Miami, FL in 1968 with a major in Music Theory/Composition. His major professors were Clifton Williams and Alfred Reed. He backed Frank Sinatra, Ann-Margret and others when Miami Beach was the "Las Vegas of the East," and appeared in Las Vegas and the state fair circuit with The Impact of Brass. He toured with his group Shadberry Street for six years, playing resorts across the U. S., Acapulco and Europe.

Paul retired from the USAF Band, Washington, D.C. in 1994 after a career as Bass Trombonist and Arranger for the Air Force's Premier Jazz Ensemble, The Airmen of Note. He taught brass instruments and guitar privately at Roberson's Music while still on active duty. After retirement Paul toured with U2, Pia Zadora, Bud Forrest and In the Mood, Hanson, Michael Crawford and performed with his duo, Driftwood, on board the Norway. When life "on the road" no longer was viable, Paul came home to Fredericksburg and Roberson's Music.

Josh Craig -�Woodwind Specialist and Frontline

Josh is a Fredericksburg native. He graduated from James Monroe High School in 2009 where he played in the Symphonic Band and the Marching Band. He currently attends the University of Mary Washington and plans a major in history. In addition to playing the clarinet and alto saxophone, Josh is studying the viola.

Last Updated on 2/9/10