New Horizons Band of Las Cruces |
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Summer Band Camp 2011The Las Cruces New Horizons Band held its 11th annual summer band camp at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, N.M. this past June 5 through June 10, 2011. It culminated with a concert on the 10th at New Mexico State University’s Music Center Recital Hall. The band camp consisted of instruction for various sections of the band and full band rehearsals starting at about 9:30 a.m. and ending around at 5:00 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday; with a concert Friday night. The Las Cruces New Horizons Band is comprised of senior citizens most of whom are over the age of 50 and who have either played an instrument in their youth and laid it aside to have a family and career or those who, because of family or career, did not have the opportunity to pursue music prior to retirement. There are some members who are accomplished musicians and elected to learn a new instrument. The first New Horizons Band was formed by Dr. Roy Ernst of the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York. He found enough interest in senior citizens of the area to justify the organization of a local band in 1991. From its inception, the band was successful far beyond the expectations of Dr. Ernst and his associates. The word was spread by articles in various publications such as the New York Times and a featured spot on the NBC Today show. As a result of this exposure, interested people in other areas contacted Dr. Ernst about starting a band in their area. Thus the New Horizons Band movement was formed and started to grow. There are now about 178 music organizations in the United States and Canada with many more in the planning phase or in the process of forming and organizing. The movement is currently supported by a grant from NAMM International Music Association and the National Association of Band Instrument Manufacturers (NABIM) for publicizing and expanding the movement. Local bands are affiliated with the movement but are independent and are self supporting. The Las Cruces Band was formed in January of 1995. It is jointly sponsored by the New Mexico State University Music Department where Dr. William D. Clark was the department head, and Mike White of White’s Music Box, a local Las Cruces music retailer with stores in Las Cruces and El Paso. The band director is Mr. John Schutz who is retired from the Las Cruces Public Schools where he was the Preforming Arts Director. The co-sponsorship by White’s Music Box is a great help to maintaining the band and expanding its membership. The Las Cruces group was the 12th New Horizons Band formed in the United States and is currently the only New Horizons band in New Mexico. Its premier performance was in April 1995 with l8 local senior members. The band now has over 70 members and has played many events in Las Cruces, Hatch, Sunland Park and White Sands Missile Range. The band was featured as the opening performing group at the New Mexico Music Educators annual convention in Albuquerque in January 1998. As a result, the band was invited to play at a musical festival in Chicago and the Texas Band Masters Convention in San Antonio, Texas. The band is certified as a non-profit and charitable organization with contributions tax deductible. The band continues to expand its repertoire as it grows, both in musical proficiency and in numbers. The upcoming camp in June has becoming an annual event (took a break last year) and has been expanded by inviting members of other New Horizons Bands to participate. Interest has been expressed by members of other bands around the nation. Participation will be restricted only by the capacity of the facility and the availability of directors and instructors. The concert presented at the close of the camp this year was well attended with enthusiastic responses from individuals attending the concert. New Horizons Band Camp for this year will be June 3 - 8, 2012. Information will be coming soon to this web site. |