THE SECKFORD ENSEMBLE - Key Persons

David Cole is a genuine Essex boy having been born in Clacton-on-Sea. He studied trombone at the Colchester Institute School of Music and The Royal College of Music, London. He spent some years as a freelance player with experience of most styles of music, from a European Symphony Orchestra to Cruise liner, London Festival Ballet to West End Theatre. After some years as a peripetetic brass teacher for Shropshire, David moved to Ipswich as a class teacher and has been head of music at Holywells High School, The Hawich School and Finborough School but is now currently working at St Joseph's College. He has been Musical director of the Telford Youth Jazz Orchestra, Horn Factory and Suffolk Youth Jazz Orchestra.

Geoff was born in 1952 on February 5th (the day before the late king died). Geoff is from a very local Suffolk family; they moved from one side of Ipswich to the other in about 1800 and stayed there. Geoffs mother tried to get him to go to piano lessons at the age of 7 but gave up the struggle. So at the age of 11 in his first term in secondary school he was persuaded to go to band practice one Tuesday lunchtime. The teacher said "smile at me" and then said "you're playing one of these" and promptly handed him a somewhat bashed Eb Bass. He was then put in the band cupboard with an older boy, who showed him what to do with the tuba and the following Thursday he was in the school band. That was Geoff's only "lesson" until he went to Ipswich Civic College (Suffolk College) to do 'A' levels, 5 years later. There he met and had lessons with the indomitable Chas Pelling and Bernard Reader. After 'A' levels Geoff moved to North East Essex Technical College (Colchester Institute) to continue his musical studies, with Michael Clack. From there Geoff moved to teacher training college and into brass teaching in 1975. His first post was as the brass teacher in Orwell High and Deben High schools Felixstowe. Geoff has since moved to the Suffolk County Music Service. Away from teaching Geoff's playing has involved Brass Band - mainly Ipswich Town Band and now Ipswich and Norwich Co-op Band, both championship section, Wind band - Suffolk Military Band (Suffolk Concert Band), he conducted their junior band and on occasion conducted the main band for 25 years. Geoff also conducted the Trianon Music Group wind band for a number of years. At some point Geoff has played for every orchestra in the area. We must not forget quintets and brass ensembles, mainly Suffolk Brass, a quintet that played all over the eastern area and abroad. Geoff is very happily married to Sally. They have a cat called Molly and a wonderful daughter, Charlotte, who plays the trumpet. Incidentally Geoff now lives in the village that his family moved from 200 years ago.

Born in Ipswich, Ian's early musical life revolved around the world of brass bands, competing in the championship section with the Ipswich Town and Colchester Silver bands. Ian is indebted to a number of teachers who encouraged his love of the instrument, but it was the tuition he received from George Reynolds that most inspired him (that and his home-made cider). Deciding that health and income were paramount, Ian did not pursue a career in music, turning instead to the Civil Service. This does not stop him from using his trumpet as a passport to good music and excellent company. Since the early days, Ian has been drawn more towards the orchestral life and he has been the principal trumpet for the Wolsey Orchestra since 1995. He can be seen performing regularly with many of the best orchestras and choral societies in East Anglia. Over the years Ian has performed on both television and radio and has been recorded on vinyl and CD. When his work and musical commitments allow, Ian's hobbies range from squash and cycling to the more sedentary enjoyment of fine wines in the comfort of his garden hammock.

John was born in Ipswich and began playing the Cornet at the age of twelve under the supervision of Chas Pelling. During school John was introduced to many styles of music especially Jazz, which was drummed into him by Chas and Adrian "Slim" Hopgood. It was during this time he began to arrange music. When he was 15 he changed teacher to be taught by George Reynolds. After school he went to study at the Colchester Institute School of Music under George Reynolds and Michael Clack. During that time he performed many types of different music from small jazz groups to large brass ensembles as well as many orchestral concerts both at the college and outside. In this time he played in Occasional Brass. This was the first brass quintet he enjoyed playing in. The group were forced to play at all college official functions, which meant that lots of bottles of Champagne and pineapples were acquired by the group. As well as fruit and alcohol stealing they were fortunate to work with William Mathias (Summer Dances) and Alan Bullard (Essay for Brass Quintet) on their own works. From the age of 16, John was also a member of the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain working under the direction of James Watson, Richard Evans, James Scott, Elgar Howarth, Roy Newsome and Sir Charles Groves. This also led to performances at The Royal Albert Hall (in the proms), The Barbican, The Royal Festival Hall, The Queen Elizabeth Hall and many recordings on radio and television. He's also been a member of the Essex Youth Orchestra Brass Ensemble and became a founder member of the Anglia Brass Academy as well as playing in Suffolk Youth Orchestra. He was also a member of The Clacton-On-Sea Co-operative band, holding both Soprano cornet and Principal cornet chairs in the 8 years he was there. Since leaving college John has worked as a Peripatetic brass teacher in both the private sector and now for the Suffolk County Music Service as well as being sought after by many different ensembles for his trumpet playing and arranging skills. Very often you will hear him in the local Pit orchestras for many Amateur Dramatic Musicals and with the Ipswich Musicians Union Big Band as well as being the director of the West Suffolk Youth Jazz Orchestra. He has been a Concerto soloist with the Colchester Orchestra, The Wolsey Orchestra, Lavenham Sinfonia and The Colne Philharmonic Orchestra and will be performing the Shostakovitch Concerto for Piano, Trumpet & Strings with John Stafford and Lavenham Sinfonia on July 4th 2010. At the time of writing this he has arranged over 350 pieces of music for brass quintet and other ensembles, but does has a life (he's just very quick!).

Job Titles:

• Member of the Essex Youth Orchestra under the Direction of Denis Wick

Kay's interest in brass playing started at a very early age listening to her father play soprano cornet with Aveley Brass Band. Although starting on the cornet, when told at her local music school there were no more spaces for cornets but there were for the French horn and generally only boys played the instrument she took up the challenge! At 14 Kay became a member of the Essex Youth Orchestra under the direction of Denis Wick. During her time in the orchestra she was principle horn and soloist performing both Mozart 4th and Strauss 1st Horn concertos. She was also a member of the Essex Youth Brass Ensemble under the direction of George Reynolds. Kay went on to study the French horn at the Royal College of Music studying with Julian Baker and Simon Rayner. During her time there she was a founder member of the Beaufort Wind Ensemble with whom she performed the Mozart Sinfonia Concertante with the RCM Sinfonietta as well as giving a recital for wind and piano at the Wigmore Hall. Outside of college she was a member of the Young Musicians Symphony Orchestra with whom she played both French horn and Wagner tuba, the orchestra gave her the opportunity to play in all of the major London concert halls.

Neil started playing the trombone aged 10. A product if the Essex Youth Orchestras organisation, Neil played with EYO Orchestras, Brass Ensemble and Jazz band including tours to the Edinburgh fringe festival and pre-revolution Romania. Neil is involved in music locally and plays regularly with The Sinfonia of Cambridge Orchestra and Prime Brass a 10 piece brass ensemble recently featured on Classic FM and also played for many years with the Ipswich MU Big Band. By day a qualified Chartered Accountant Neil is a finance director in a manufacturing business. Married to Cerian with daughter Alys hobbies include walking and skiing.