Orchestra section toward the middle of the pit

OBOES

These double-reed woodwinds often play melancholic solos and sit near the clarinets, tuning the orchestra with their distinctive A note.

This clue points to the oboes, which are woodwind instruments typically seated near the center of an orchestra pit. The phrase "toward the middle" hints at their usual placement, while "orchestra section" narrows it down to a specific group of instruments. Since "oboes" fits both the definition and the letter count, it’s the straightforward answer.