Marty Hebert

Principal Oboe

At this moment …

If the weather's nice, Marty will be out riding his bike. “I'm gradually learning my way around the many great neighborhoods in Portland.” Otherwise, he'll probably be close to his reed desk. “Making reeds is every oboist's second job.”

On the CD player …

Intervision 5. “It's a great Portland band. I can't stop listening to them.”

Marty adds, “Good music is good music, regardless of the genre or style. I often find myself attracted to music that resists easy categorization. Never very far from the stereo are disks of Bela Fleck, Angelique Kidjo and Steely Dan.” 

And classical music? 
“I don't often listen to classical CDs except for study purposes. I prefer my classical music live—on the radio or in the concert hall.”

In the kitchen …

Marty likes to experiment with sauces for seafood. Although not a vegetarian, he says that when it comes to eating animals, “I draw the line at sea level.” And, in keeping with his reed whittling skills, Marty keeps a drawer full of well-sharpened knives. “I just love chopping vegetables for stir fry.”

On the music stand …

“Which one? I usually have at least two stands loaded with music at any one time: one for the upcoming Symphony repertoire and another with studies, solos and chamber music. Whatever aspect of my playing needs the most attention, I'll try to find something to practice which addresses that.”

On the night stand …

“I only read two kinds of books—fiction and nonfiction. In other words, everything I can get my hands on. I don't have time to read a book straight through like I used to do, but I like to be in the middle of more than one at a time—it's fascinating how the same concept will show up in wildly different types of literature, from the cyberpunk of William Gibson to the old school mysteries of Dorothy Sayers.”

Before you left …

You'd be invited to pay attention to Squeak, his large, black and white cat. She got her name because, ever since she allowed Marty to adopt her, she's been extremely talkative. “You'll be her friend for life—or at least the next ten minutes—if you give her a good brushing.”