The New Horizons Band of Western New York will present a spring concert at 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 24, in King Concert Hall. The event is free and the public is invited to attend.
Dr. Katherine Levy will conduct, “Rookie of the Year: Main Title March” by Bill Conti and arranged by Larry Daehn; “A Renaissance Pageant, Movement I” by Michael Praetorius, adapted and arranged by L.C. Harnsberger; “Turkish March” from “The Ruins of Athens” by Ludwig van Beethoven, and arranged by Philip Gordon; “Chanson de Matin” by Edward Elgar and arranged by Albert O. Davis; “Alegre” by Tania Leon; and “Someone to Watch Over Me” (1926) by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin and arranged by Warren Barker, with band member Debora Tobio as soloist. The last song conducted by Dr. Levy will be, “A Little Bit Country, A Little Bit Rock ‘n Roll,” by Marty Cooper and arranged by Warren Barker.
“Liberty Loan March” by John Philip Sousa will be conducted by John Krestic; Donald Keddie will conduct “On a Hymnsong of Philip Bliss” by David Holsinger; Pauline Emilson will conduct “The Light of Dawn” by James Swearingen; and “Children of the Shrine” by James Swearingen will be conducted by Karen Boyd.
The New Horizons Jazz Band will perform “St. Louis Blues” by W. C. Handy; “Almost Like Being In Love” by Frederick Loewe and Alan Jay Lerner; and, “That’s Aplenty” by Lew Pollack. The jazz band is under the direction of SUNY Fredonia student conductors Juan Herrera and Christopher Zatorski.
There will be a cookie reception following the concert in the Cathy and Jesse Marion Art Gallery.
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 SUNY Fredonia School of Music eight years ago. 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.
“Music making is just too much fun to leave only to younger folks,” Dr. Levy said. “Almost anyone can enjoy learning to play a musical nstrument when good instruction, a friendly environment, and lots of helping hands are available.”
The band program includes two weekly group lessons on an instrument and two weekly band rehearsals at SUNY Fredonia’s Mason Hall. The band has an enrollment of more than 60 musicians, and the average band member age is 63. Advanced music education students in the School of Music provide group lesson instruction. Special New Horizons Band-only sessions are held during the months of January and July. No lessons are offered during the special sessions. The summer session concludes with concerts in local venues.
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 at www.fredonia.edu/music/community/newhorizons or call 716-673-4628. Those who are not sure what instrument to play may contact Dr. Levy at 716-673-3401 to schedule an appointment to try various wind, brass and percussion instruments.
For a complete list of upcoming events in the School of Music, visit www.fredonia.edu/music.
