Design, Rebuilds, and Diagnostic Alchemy
Horn Forensics
After 35 years playing French horn in the San Francisco Symphony, Bruce Roberts has spent the years since at the shop bench trying to address common causes of frustration with the instrument.
A major factor in horn players’ attrition is the mismatching of players and their equipment. Horn Forensics exists to address that, through original horn designs, careful repairs and modifications, and teaching players who want to understand both.
Offerings
French Horn Building
Bruce Roberts has studied with master horn makers around the world, including Keith Berg and George McCracken. He has built traditional horns as well as horns in non-traditional wraps.
French Horn Repairs
Bruce offers a unique repair experience that upholds Horn Forensics' mission to share experiences and knowledge and to make the horn easier to play.
Consultation
Bruce offers in-person consultations in his workshop north of San Francisco, and virtual consultations via Zoom to anywhere in the world.
THE FOUNDER
About Bruce Roberts
Born into a musical family, Bruce started playing the cornet at age five. He switched to horn at age twelve at his father’s insistence that the horn was “a nobler instrument.”
Bruce attended Cal State Northridge where he studied with Fred Fox. After five years and with no degree in sight, he decided to attend Cal Arts where he studied with Ralph Pyle. There he met flutist Jody Meese, who eventually became his wife.
At the end of his first year at Cal Arts he got his first orchestral job playing in Mexico City. Fortunately, so did Jody, and off they went to Mexico where Jody played in the National Opera and Ballet Orchestra and Bruce played in the Mexico City Philharmonic.
In 1981, after three years in Mexico, Bruce and Jody moved to Salt Lake City where Bruce played in the Utah Symphony. They stayed there for seven years and had their first child, Laurel, in 1986.
At the 1987 Horn Symposium hosted by BYU in Provo, Utah, Bruce met Dave Krehbiel, then-principal horn of the San Francisco Symphony. Dave encouraged Bruce to audition for a horn vacancy in San Francisco. After winning that audition, the family moved north of San Francisco where they had their second child, Mason, in 1989.
During his time in the San Francisco Symphony, Bruce played every position in the section, but spent the bulk of his time playing Third Horn and Associate Principal. He has done extensive recording work at Skywalker Studios and he is a founding member of the Bay Brass.
His interest in horn design and building has been a long simmering passion that wasn’t explored until his children were grown and he finally had the time to pursue it. He has worked with Keith Berg and George McCracken to gain shop skills and share ideas on all things horn.
Bruce collaborates with German valve and bell makers to produce the parts that are needed for his new designs. He has developed two new horns that can be viewed on his blog.
Horn Forensics is the result of Bruce’s desire to give back to others what he has learned over many years of playing horn and experimenting with design ideas. It is priceless to see players' faces light up when they realize their upgraded equipment is going to make their musical life so much easier.
When not designing and repairing horns, Bruce enjoys hiking, camping, cooking, cheering on the Giants and the Warriors, doing Sudoku, and playing with his granddaughter.
Bruce Roberts is a horn designer and builder in California's Bay Area. He is a retired San Francisco Symphony French horn player.
The Horn Forensics Mission
To share experiences and knowledge
To offer insights and options to musicians of all ability levels
To advance the art of horn manufacturing and design
To explore theories and experiment with an open mind
To ease the discomfort and anxiety of playing the horn