Submitted Photo SUNY Fredonia’s Harry A. King Concert Hall will be the setting Wednesday for the fall concert of New Horizons Band of Western New York.

The 75-member New Horizons Band of Western New York will present their fall concert at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 6. The free concert will be held in the Harry A. King Concert Hall on the SUNY Fredonia Campus.

Music Director Dr. Katherine M. Levy will start with the conducting of the “Star Spangled Banner” harmonized by John Stafford Smith and arranged by Jack Stamp.

“Hail to the Spirit of Liberty” march was composed by John Philip Sousa and performed by him and his professional band for the unveiling of a new Lafayette Monument depicting Lafayette offering his sword to the American cause in the Revolutionary War will be conducted by Dr. Levy.

Next on the program is a song commissioned by and dedicated to West Winds, band of the Bukit Batok Community Club, Singapore, for their 25th Anniversary Celebration in 2018. “The Gift of Friendship” is a tribute to the bond between friends.

“Legends and Heroes, American Folk Song Suite No. 1” is comprised of three songs. The song, “Patrick on the Railway,” originated in the 1840s, and refers to the Irish immigrants who faced discrimination and could only find menial jobs as common laborers. “Sweet Betsy from Pike” is a composed song published in 1858. It was popular with the “49ers” who set out for California during the gold rush days. “Little David Play On!” is based on the African-American spiritual, “Little David, Play on Your Harp.” Drums suggest the impending battle as Little David, portrayed by the small Eb clarinet, enters cautiously, yet confidently. In short order, David ends Goliath’s fighting days with a single stone from his sling and all rejoice and sing “Hallelu, hallelu!”

David Golando, will conduct “Adagio” by Tomaso Albinoni and arranged by Jacob de Haan.

The first half of the concert will end with John Krestic conducting “Man of La Mancha” selection for band. Songs include ‘Little Bird, Little Bird,” ‘Dulcinea,’ ‘Man of La Mancha,’ and ‘The Impossible Dream.’

The New Horizons Jazz Band of Western New York will start the second half of the program under the direction of David Golando and Fredonia SUNY Student Assistants Samantha Zimmerman and Annabelle Kedley. Their first song will be “Blues” by Five Red Garland and arranged by John Berry, followed with “Bridge Over Troubled Water” by Paul Simon and arranged by Paul Baker. Their next piece will be “Blue Moon” by Lorenz Hart and Richard Rodgers and arranged by Victor Lopez. Debora Tobio will be the vocal soloist. The last piece by the New Horizons Jazz Band will be “Jumpin’ at the Woodside” by Count Basie and arranged by Richie DeRosa.

The New Horizons Band of Western New York will start their second half under the direction of Katherine M. Levy, Music Director, conducting “Jingo Jango” by Bert Kaempfert and Herbert Rebbein and arranged by Jerry Nowak.

Rev. Molly Golando will take the stage to conduct “Russian Christmas Music” by Alfred Reed and arranged by Michael Story. Next on the program is “On a Hymnsong of Lowell Mason” by David Holsinger and conducted by Donald Keddie.

Conductor John Krestic will finish off the evening’s performance with “Curtain Call” by John Wasson. It is a fun, adventurous, “everything including the kitchen sink” composition. It is modeled upon music from the vaudeville stage, known for “wacky” instrumentation, virtuoso singing, and rapid complex dancing. The music is characterized by cartoon-like melodies, sudden shifts in dynamics and orchestration, and plenty of humorous percussion tricks.

Advanced music education students in the School of Music provide group lesson instruction. The Fall 2019 Fredonia Student New Horizons coaches are: Meganne Brenon, Marissa Caputo, Olivia Davie, Jade Hoch, Annabelle Kedley, Allison DiMauro, Katelyn Hale, William Jenney, Margaret Mariotti, Chris Oriani, James Philippy, Ryan Potter, Gail Sharpe, Alyssa Smith, Misael Villa, Kathrine Wimmers and Samantha Zimmerman.

New Horizons Band member coaches are: Pauline Emilson, Dixieland Band; Mary Margaret Fogarty; Dick Gilman, Fiddling; Sarah Marchitelli and Jacob Swanson, Saxtette; and Linda Phillips, Piano Class; and Ralph Rassmusson, Woodwind Ensemble.

The New Horizons Band Steering Committee members are: Wendy Ohnmeiss, Chair; Ellen Cornell, Vice-Chair; Nancy Larson, Secretary; John Krestic, Treasurer; Carol Corcoran; Bill Loftus; Linda Phillips; Marti Potter; and James Wilcox. Janet Stout is the liaison/contact person for New Horizons Band of WNY to the New Horizons International Music Association.

Members of The New Horizons Band of Western New York live in the following communities: Angola, Brocton, Cassadaga, Chautauqua, Collins, Derby, Dunkirk, Forestville, Fredonia, Gerry, Gowanda, Hamburg, Irving, Jamestown, Lakewood, Lily Dale, Mayville, Perrysburg, Portland, Ripley, Sheridan, Silver Creek, Sinclairville, South Dayton, and Westfield.

The band, under the direction of Levy, was launched by the SUNY Fredonia School of Music 14 years ago, and is living 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 SUNY Fredonia’s Mason Hall. The band has an enrollment of 75 musicians. The average band member’s age is 68. Band members’ ages range from the early 50s to the mid-80s.

The New Horizons Band of Western New York will rehearse Wednesdays and Fridays 3 to 4:30 p.m. from Jan. 3 and through Jan. 17 under the direction of Donald Keddie. Lessons and band will start up the spring semester on Jan. 22 and continue through April 17 with Music Director, Katherine M. Levy and a fleet of outstanding retired music teachers/conductors and Fredonia music student instructors. New Horizons Band meets during the spring semester on Wednesdays from 3 to 4:45 p.m. and Fridays from 3 to 5:30 p.m.

Dr. Levy, conductor and education coordinator of the New Horizons Band of Western New York, is an Associate Professor of Music Education and head of the music education area at SUNY Fredonia. She is an internationally recognized mentor and conductor of New Horizons Bands.

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 she founded a New Horizons Band in Hagerstown, Maryland.

“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.”

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 New Horizons Band of Western New York (NHBWNY) is part of the Musical Journeys Program, a community outreach project offered in the Fredonia School of Music.

The band reflects the New Horizons International Music Association philosophy that music can provide challenging intellectual activity, social involvement, and “the opportunity to develop one’s musical potential to the level that will be personally rewarding.”

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.asp or by contacting Janet Stout at 549-3386 or emailing her at 354janet@gmail.com. Information about the International New Horizons project is available at www.newhorizonsmusic.org.