Shalita Black Label Pro Oboe Reed
$32.95
Professional handcrafted oboe reed by Joseph Shalita, Principal Oboist of the State of Mexico Symphony Orchestra. Full dark tone, medium resistance, medium-to-small opening. American long-scrape tradition. Built for professional orchestral players and advanced students. Subscription available.
These reeds are only guaranteed against leaking and cracking due to defective cane.
The Shalita Black Label Pro is the flagship professional oboe reed handcrafted by Joseph Shalita, Principal Oboist of the State of Mexico Symphony Orchestra since 2004. Built in the American long-scrape tradition — the direct lineage of Marcel Tabuteau, the father of the American oboe school — this reed delivers the full, dark orchestral tone that defines the Philadelphia school of oboe playing.
Playing Characteristics Resistance: Medium. Opening: Medium to small. The closed opening requires a fully developed embouchure with no biting. Players who bite will close the reed further and lose response. This is a reed for professionals and advanced students who have complete embouchure control.
Who It's For Professional orchestral oboists, conservatory students, and advanced amateurs playing standard orchestral repertoire — Strauss, Mahler, Brahms, the core symphonic literature. If you want depth, projection, and a sound that sits in an orchestra, this is your reed.
Who It's Not For Beginning and intermediate players. If you're still developing embouchure control, start with the Mimosa Student or WR Profiled Beginner and work up.
The Tradition Behind the Reed Every Black Label Pro is handmade by Joseph Shalita — 35+ years as a professional orchestral oboist, graduate of the Peabody Conservatory and Mannes College of Music, trained by Joseph Turner (Principal Oboe, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra) and John Ferrillo (Principal Oboe, Boston Symphony Orchestra). These are not factory reeds. Each one is hand-scraped to specification.
Subscription Available The Black Label Pro subscription is open. Contact shalitaoboereeds@gmail.com for monthly delivery.
Want to make your own reeds in this tradition? See the complete American long-scrape course at makingoboereeds.com.
