Darin Sorley - horn builder
Growing up in Indianapolis, a horn by
the great builder Carl Geyer of Chicago
was always around. I marveled at how they sounded and played when I got the
chance to try a teacher’s horn. Eventually, I bought my first Geyer which was
originally made for David Krehbiel c.1959. I later sold the horn back to Krehbiel in 1999 and then bought my second Geyer from Dr. Jack Dressler in 2001.
My second Geyer horn was made for Philip Farkas in 1933 and used in the Chicago
Symphony for many years.
In the summer of 2000, I was fortunate to learn the basics of horn building
through the great natural horn builder Richard Seraphinoff of Bloomington,
Indiana. That summer, I built a natural horn with crooks and not only took home
a useable instrument, but also an experience that would last a lifetime.
I slowly acquired the tools needed and moved to a house with a larger work area
to begin doing repairs on trumpets and horns. With the purchase of my second
Geyer in 2001, I decided it was time to build a double horn.
I completed the first horn in August 2004 and have recently
completed my 22nd horn.
In addition to horn building and repairing, I am an active horn player in and
around the Indianapolis, Indiana area. Groups with whom I have performed include
the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra and Fort
Wayne Philharmonic. I currently serve as principal horn of the Richmond (IN)
Symphony Orchestra (www.richmondsymphony.org) and
formerly was Conductor of the Indianapolis Chamber Winds. I have degrees from Butler University (BME), The Cleveland
Institute of Music (MM in horn performance) and have completed coursework for
the DM in Brass Pedagogy from Indiana University. My teachers have included: Philip Farkas, Michael Hatfield, Richard Seraphinoff (natural horn), Richard Solis and
Jerry Montgomery.
