Forrests Music was established as a repair shop in 1947 by "Dutch" Forrest, a former band director,  on Kittredge street in Berkeley.  Gradually the firm expanded into sales of new woodwind instruments and accessories, and flourished by selling and renting school instruments in the rural areas of northern California.  After Mr. Forrest's death in the early 1950's, his widow Kathryn continued operation of the business,  with the support and encouragement of Ben Meltzer.  She subsequently moved  to larger quarters at 1908 Shattuck avenue in Berkeley.  

There she succeeded in obtaining the services of Bill Shiek, a highly regarded woodwind technician, whose clients were the oboists and bassoonists of the major orchestras in the San Francisco bay area.

To better serve these local client's needs, as well as those of their students, Forrests began to carry not only oboes and bassoons, but also their related woodwind accessories.  Although Forrests became known as a double reed specialty firm, it also sold all band instruments, as well as guitars and drums, since the local market could not possibly support a firm with a narrow specialty such as double reeds.

During the mid 1970's advancing age and declining health forced Mrs. Forrest to retire.  She sold the business to Peter and Joan Klatt who, after the initial learning period, began to focus on expanding the business via the double reed specialty market.

With the guidance of oboist friends, most notably Ray and Ellie Duste´, emphasis was placed on offering only the highest quality products and services.  In 1977 a single page price list of double reed accessories was created, to be mailed in response to inquires from outside the local area.

With this modest beginning, the Forrests catalog was established, and the mail order business begun.  As the catalog increased in size, and illustrations were included, efforts were made to develop a proprietary mailing list of double reed players.

By the mid 1980's Forrests had outgrown the Shattuck avenue location.  In 1986 the Klatts moved Forrests Music to its present location at 1849 University Ave., which they had purchased and remodeled.   

In the late 1990's Peter and Joan Klatt began to prepare for their retirement and, in 1999, they sold the business to long time employees John Goebel and Marilyn Day

We continue to publish a comprehensive catalog of woodwind instruments,  accessories, music, and CDs.  We benefit greatly from the continued support of our loyal customers, our tireless manager, Celia Bryan, our oboist friends Ray and Ellie Duste´, and Peter and Joan Klatt.

Our intention is not to compete with your local music retailer, but to make accessible to oboists and bassoonists the many unique products and services and the specialized knowledge that may not be available at ordinary music stores. We offer fair prices and friendly, fast service;  happy customers tell us that we're tops! And if there is a crisis in your musical life, talk to us, we will try our best to help resolve it.

Oboe Reeds - Basson Reeds - English Horn Reeds
Woodwind Instruments And Supplies