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Dynamic Duo: Twin brothers share love of music, Air Force

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Jerome S. Tayborn
  • Pacific Air Forces Public Affairs
JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR HICKAM, Hawaii (AFNS) --  Audience members attending a recent performance by U.S. Air Forces Band of the Pacific-Hawaii "Hana Hou" may have felt like they experienced double vision.

A closer look revealed the two identical men on the stage held different instruments.

Tech. Sgt. Brian Hornbuckle, a trumpet player, joined his twin brother, Tech. Sgt. Michael Hornbuckle a trombone player, as a member of the band.

"We started music lessons at the age of 14, when we were trying to get out of some other class," Sergeant Brian said. "So our mother gave us an ultimatum. Either take the class we wanted to avoid, or sign up for music."

After high school, the brothers attended college together, where they both eventually changed their original majors and earned their masters' degrees in music performance.

Two years after graduation, the twins performed at a civilian concert, where they reunited with a friend, Airman 1st Class Tom Money, an Air Force bandsman, who immediately noticed the twins' talents.

"He was the one who persuaded us to audition for the Air Force Band," Sergeant Brian said.

Sergeant Michael auditioned at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., for the trombone position, while Sergeant Brian auditioned for the trumpet position at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. The two were immediately selected and left their hometown of Huntington, W.Va., and joined the Air Force together Aug. 28, 2000.

This is the brothers' second time being stationed together and they continue to share a love for music, especially jazz.

"My favorite musician is a jazz trombone player named Curtis Fuller, while Brian's favorite is a trumpet player named Clark Terry," Sergeant Michael said.

The brothers not only share a love for music, but bowling and golfing as well.

Although they look alike, "Brian is more people oriented and a little more outgoing than I am," Sergeant Michael said.

Confusing others has been a part of their lives in the Air Force, the twins said.

Once, Michael was in town visiting Brian at Wright-Patterson, AFB. The two admit to taking turns repeatedly walking past Brian's former band secretary's desk. She had no clue she was dealing with twins that day, but stared confusingly as Brian kept reappearing mysteriously. Eventually she figured out the joke.

The duo has a difference of opinion about what it means to each of them to be a member of the band.

"I enjoy helping the band through its new transformations and I am grateful that the band is receiving more opportunities to play more jazz," said Sergeant Michael. "(Chief Master Sgt. Larry) MacTaggart knows how to empower his (NCOs), which makes me love coming to work every day," he said.

Sergeant Brian has his own opinion.

"I enjoy the opportunity to be at a different location, having been at Wright-Patterson for the last nine years of my career," Sergeant Brian said.

Chief MacTaggart, the Hana Hou band director and the twins' supervisor, is a twin himself.

"I also have a twin sister and I know how fun it is to be able to be near your best friend," he said. "They are absolute gems to work with. Both are the complete package; stellar musicians, superb Airmen and thoughtful people who really take care of business. Michael and Brian really complement each other perfectly and help make our entire unit better. We are fortunate to have them on our team."