Hover over the name of each person to read a mini-biog. Pictures to follow!

Musical Director: Bob Airzee (acting)See below under 'Percussion'. Bob is currently our acting MD.

Sax Section

Lead Alto: Gilly BurgoyneGill's ambition was to be a tap dancer, so her parents purchased her a clarinet when she was 9 years old. She attended Music School in her native Essex, where she met John Flack (Trombone) and, aged 11 years was given her first Alto Saxophone to play in the King John School Band. Inspired by playing in a Big Band and the desire to leave Essex, she got her first pro gig with the Ivy Benson All Girl Show Band aged 15. A seven year career followed, which included stints with NYJO, Cabaret and Show bands in Europe, theatre work, teaching, and the odd pop video! (ed: When The Going Get's Tough/Billy Ocean - YouTube it!!) Gill also plays flute, soprano sax and tenor sax. Her ambition now is continue to play with the best Big Band ever HORN FACTORY, with all her own teeth, and to support and promote Youth Jazz across the region.

Alto: Chris LundChris joined Horn Factory two years ago. He is a peripatetic woodwind teacher in Essex, but before that he was in the army for 24 years, where he was Band Sergeant Major with the Minden Band. Chris enjoys playing all kinds of music, but likes the challenge of playing jazz and the friendly atmosphere and banter amongst the Horn Factory regulars.

Lead Tenor: Jonathan FarnhillJonathan joined Horn Factory in 1996. He started his musical career at the age of 8 on the clarinet, and progressed to the tenor sax in his teens, playing in the King's Lynn festival and with local Big Bands. At University, Jonathan formed his own trad band and was a regular performer on the Leeds Jazz scene. Returning to East Anglia, Jon has played with several trad, swing and big bands, and now enjoys playing regularly with Horn Factory.

Tenor: Mark UsherMark joined Horn Factory in 2003. A latecomer to the sax, Mark started playing in his 40's. He says "being part of Horn Factory is a real privilege and great fun." Mark can also be found playing the recorder in a group called 'Sweet Pipes' - a consort with instruments from garklein to contra-bass!

Baritone: John HobsonJohn first learned (as a 12 year old) to play euphonium in brass bands 'up north'. He started playing alto sax in a soul band when he moved 'down south'. John moved to baritone sax and has played in various bands, including Horn Factory, small modern jazz groups and 40's style bands.

Trumpet Section

Lead Trumpet: Richard StewardRichard started out playing cornet at the age of 9. After playing in several local brass and wind bands, he switched to trumpet and joined the Suffolk Youth Jazz Orchestra (SYJO). When he no longer fitted the description of ‘youth’, he left SYJO and helped form Horn Factory in 1996. Richard also plays lead trumpet in Swing Machine, as well as deputising in several other local bands from time to time.

Second Trumpet: Rob DaviesRob is a prolific composer for brass and has contributed many modern works to the brass repertoire. Over the past ten years Robert has won several awards including a Holst Bursary to study Film Composition with Miguel Mera at the Dartington International Summer School, the PRS 50th Anniversary Fanfare for Brass and most recently the 2007 Eisteddfod Brass Fanfare competition. Currently Rob tutors brass and composition as well as conducting several ensembles (including Suffolk Youth Jazz Orchestra) in the local area. Rob recently joined Horn Factory and also Swing Machine, after moving into the Ipswich area.

Trumpet: Carl RobinsonCarl's dad taught him to play the cornet when he was about 7. Since then, Carl has played with many Brass Bands in the region on a number of instruments, including Soprano Cornet, B flat cornet, Flugel, Tenor Horn, Baritone and Euphonium, but of course, not all at the same time! Carl had a brief stint playing Big Band Jazz as a member of SYJO, later carrying on with Brass Bands when he left SYJO, due to old age. He joined Horn Factory a few years ago at the invitation of Steve Stone (Carl says "...you have Steve to blame for this!") You can still find Carl helping out at local Brass Bands from time to time, depending on how desperate they are (!)

Trumpet: Steve Stone(ed: when I first asked Steve for his biog, he said there was nothing clean enough to include.... ahem!) back in the early 1970s, a young Steve really wanted to play the saxophone, but his parents bought him a trumpet, as a sax was too expensive... Steve started playing in his high school marching band and then played in many Brass Bands, taking part in contests, and also at the Albert Hall with Clacton Co-op Brass Band. Steve previously played with SYJO and Pale Moon, before joining Horn Factory when it started in 1996.

Trumpet: John "Shep" BurchShep started playing trumpet at the age of 9 at school. At 11, he switched to cornet and played in brass bands until the mid 1990s. During the early eighties, Shep was a road manager for a heavy rock band and also, occasionally, played drums with them. Shep returned to playing trumpet again and joined Horn Factory at its inception in 1996. Shep also plays with the local soul band, 'Souled As Seen' and also is involved with relief tour management, helping from time to time with national and international acts.

Trombone Section

Lead Trombone: Currently vacant. I want to join!

Trombone: John FlackBiog to come soon.

Trombone: Adam RawcliffeBiog to come soon.

Trombone: Lydia UnwinLydia took up the cornet at the age of 5 to deliberately annoy her parents. She changed to the trombone at age 16, playing in Brass Bands for many years before taking a break from playing for a while. Lydia took up the trombone again in 2004 when she joined Horn Factory.

Bass Trombone: Chris NearyBiog to come soon.

Rhythm Section

Piano: Currently vacant. I want to join!

Guitar: Mike SpearmanMike works as a peri guitar teacher in Essex, plays jazz guitar in various settings and is an Associate Artist (Composer) at Colchester Arts Centre. His recent work includes a commission from Britten Sinfonia. Mike joined Horn Factory very recently, and particularly enjoys not even pretending he can read the big band parts fast enough!

Bass: Emma BarnesAs a young girl of 11, Emma learned the clarinet at school, and soon found a flair and passion for music, adding sax and flute to her studies, and becoming a peripatetic woodwind tutor for several years. However, Emma always wanted to play the bass, and so taught herself in 1998. After playing in Church Worship Bands and a local Indie Band, she became interested in jazz in 2005. In 2006, Emma succeeded Rob Rogers as the bassist in Horn Factory, and since then has also depped for many local bands and played in several shows.

Drumkit: Gerry GillingsA native of Ipswich, Gerry started playing the side drum early in life in the Boy’s Brigade. His Father was a dance band drummer in the 30s and that interest led Gerry to an appreciation of the pre-war big bands, in particular, Benny Goodman with the legendary Gene Krupa on drums. When he left school he got his first drum kit and alongside training as an architect, played in a variety of local bands, as well as a top rank ballroom dance band. Upon his arrival in 'Mid-Life', he decided a change of direction was called for and took up teaching the drums and percussion full-time. He now shares this vocation with playing for Horn Factory, many other local bands, as well as being a regular in the theatre pits of Suffolk! He says that next time around he's going to be a Piccolo player...

Percussion: Bob AirzeeBob depped on drums for several years before joining Horn Factory on percussion and currently, as acting MD. He is a peripatetic drum teacher in Suffolk and Essex, though before that was in the army for 24 years reaching the rank of Band Sergeant Major in the 1st Bn Royal Anglian Regiment (preceeding Chris Lund!). Bob's passion is Jazz and Swing. He is also the drummer and musical director of Swing Machine: an 18 piece swing band based in Ipswich.