The New Horizons Band of Western New York will present its Spring Concert at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 26, at King Concert Hall at Fredonia.
The public is invited to attend the free concert.
Dr. Katherine M. Levy will conduct “Three Folk Miniatures” “V’la l’bon vent,” “Isabeau s’y promene,” and “Les Raftmen” is arranged by Andre Jutras; “The Genius of Paul Simon” by Paul Simon and arranged by Tom Wallace; ”California Dreamin’– Monday, Monday Medley” arranged by Holcombe; and selections from “Damn Yankees,” by Adler and Ross and arranged by Yoder.
“In A Gentle Rain” from the Willson Suite, by Robert W. Smith will be conducted by band member John Krestic. “Overture to Orpheus in the Underworld” is arranged and conducted by band member Donald Keddie. Mr. Keddie will also be conducting “Two Gaelic Folk Songs” featuring “Molly Malone” and “The Wearing of the Green” arranged by Thomas Tyre. “Terpsichore Suite” featuring “Bransle,” “Philou,” “Gilliard,” “Ballet des Baccanales,” and “Ballet” by Michael Praetorius and arranged by Conrad Ross will be conducted by band member Dave Golando. Band member Pauline Emilson will conduct “African Dreams” by Brant Karrick.
The New Horizons Jazz Band will start the second half of the program with “Mercy, Mercy, Mercy” by Joe Zwainful; “Afro Blue” by Mongo Santamaria, and arranged by Mike Sweeney; and “Hay Burner” by Sammy Nestico. Fredonia Student Directors Frank Valente, Jesse Torres, and Michael Massaro will conduct the New Horizons Jazz Band.
The audience is welcome to “Meet and Greet” with the performers directly after the concert in front of the stage.
Members of The New Horizons Band of Western New York live in Angola, Brocton, Cassadaga, Derby, Dunkirk, Forestville, Fredonia, Lakewood, Lily Dale, Portland, Sheridan, Silver Creek, Sinclairville, Strykersville and Westfield.
The band, under the direction of Dr. Levy, was launched by the Fredonia School of Music 11 years ago, and is proof that, when it comes to learning to play a musical instrument, it truly is “never too late.” 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.
The band program includes two weekly group lessons on an instrument and two weekly band rehearsals at Fredonia’s Mason Hall. The band has an enrollment of more than 60 musicians, with an average age of 63. Band members range from their early 50s to their early 80s.
By popular demand, special New Horizons Band-Only sessions are held during the months of January and July. No lessons are offered during the special sessions.
Levy, an associate professor of music education and head of the Music Education area at Fredonia, is the major conductor of the band. Advanced music education students in the School of Music provide group lesson instruction. Levy was introduced to New Horizons in 1995 when she became the brass instructor for one of the first New Horizons Bands in Iowa City, Iowa. She has conducted New Horizons Bands in Iowa and Georgia, and founded a New Horizons Band in Hagerstown, Md.
“Music making is just too much fun to leave only to younger folks,” Levy said. “Almost anyone can enjoy learning to play a musical instrument when good instruction, a friendly environment, and lots of helping hands are available.”
The New Horizons Band will rehearse Mondays and Wednesdays from 3 to 4:30 p.m. from late throughout July in Fredonia’s School of Music. Former players wishing to “reacquaint” themselves with their instruments can join at any time, and novices should join in the fall term, which will begin in September. A small tuition fee covers the cost of instruction and music. No previous background in music or on an instrument is necessary to join. Members can testify that it is possible to learn to play an instrument as a senior adult!
The band will be performing Saturday, July 15, at 11 a.m. to noon at the Farmer’s Market in Barker Commons in Fredonia; Wednesday, July 26, again at Barker Commons; and, Friday, July 28, at the Chautauqua County Fairgrounds in Dunkirk.
The New Horizons Band of Western New York is part of the Musical Journeys Program, a community outreach project offered in the Fredonia School of Music.
More information about New Horizons music efforts and the New Horizons Band of Western New York is available online or by contacting Janet Stout at 716-549-3386 or emailing her. Information about the International New Horizons project is available at online.
