Have played Tenor Horn for 40 years. Was principle horn with Fodens band for six years four of which under Howard Snell. Played for Fairies Band Stockport. Sellers band Huddersfield. Ransomes band Newark and was chairman for four years. Moved to Cambridge from the midlands in 2007 took up French horn at RAF Wyton wind band. In 2009 I left to become an orchestral horn player in Cambridge. I am a founder member of Corona Brass Quintet and we have just completed our second cd recording due to be released this Autumn. I am principal horn withe the CCSO and 3rd horn in the CPO both in Cambridge. I also play tenor horn with the Desford band and competed in the British Open this September and were placed sixth. I am not classically trained nor studied at college however my banding skills and experience show through the professional level at which I perform on a regular basis. I am reliable on the concert platform and I am always learning something new whilst playing French horn.
Testimonial of George Thackray by Tony Catterick, retired professional horn player after 48 years,(1966-2014) and 2nd Horn of the London Mozart Players for 38 years,(1974-2012). My impression of George is not only one of a good friend, but a fine horn player, producing many different colours of tone and volume, who has the great gift of going way beyond just playing the right notes, but is especially musical and has a confident, experienced ability to lead a section and raise the bar, resulting in an especially exciting pleasure for the audience. He is a strong, accurate, intelligent and emotional musician, who showed very special ability in tackling the Principal Horn role in Gustav Mahler's hugely demanding Fifth Symphony earlier this year, with The City of Cambridge Symphony Orchestra. The Scherzo of this work is a remarkable workout for the 1st Horn and George earned a huge personal moment of appreciation from the full house. The whole horn section were a group of heroes, with George gracefully sharing the loud applause with his section. As the coach for the horn section, I was very proud to be in the audience and I highly recommend him to you. Tony Catterick.
