The 20th anniversary of the New Horizons Band of Western New York will be celebrated at an April concert.
The event, slated for Tuesday, April 8, at 6:30 p.m. in Harry A. King Concert Hall at SUNY Fredonia is free and open to the public.
The pops concert will feature Broadway, jazz and popular tunes from the 1940s to the 1980s. After opening with Travis Weller's "American Visions," the program will feature music from Broadway's "The Jersey Boys," "The Sound of Music” and "The Music Man," as well as medleys of songs by The Temptations, Barry Manilow and Henry Mancini.
The New Horizons Jazz Band, directed by Jared Reinard, a SUNY Fredonia senior majoring in Music, with a concentration in Strings, and Music Composition, along with a minor in Arts Administration, from Tonawanda, NY, will play a set featuring Frank Needham of Angola, NY, as baritone saxophone soloist on Duke Ellington's "Prelude to a Kiss."
The concert band's jazz numbers include a "Tribute to Count Basie" and "Night Train."
Under the direction of Fredonia School of Music Professor Emeritus Katherine McKay, the band was launched in collaboration with the SUNY Fredonia School of Music 20 years ago and has as its founding principle that it is never too late to play and enjoy music.
Almost anyone can enjoy learning to play a musical instrument when good instruction, a friendly environment and lots of helping hands are available.” - Professor Emeritus Katherine McKay
New Horizons Band members who are at least 50 years old learn to play a band instrument, return to playing a band instrument after a long absence or continue to improve playing an instrument they have long enjoyed.
Dr. McKay has led the band since its founding. The group has an enrollment of more than 60 musicians, ranging in age from the early 50s to early 80s. The band welcomes new members and can provide lessons to beginners.
“Music making is just too much fun to leave only to younger folks,” McKay said. “Almost anyone can enjoy learning to play a musical instrument when good instruction, a friendly environment and lots of helping hands are available.”
More information about New Horizons music efforts and the New Horizons Band of Western New York is available here
