Remembering and celebrating 20 years of New Horizons Band
Barbara Belbeck (pictured middle, front row) was looking to take a singing course when she came across an ad in Western’s Continuing Education brochure announcing the start of the New Horizons Band.
When she called to inquire in January 1999, she was told all the spots were full but to come the first day in case someone didn’t show. Belbeck was in line to register when the person ahead of her was handed the final instrument available.
Fortunately, he refused because he already had one that belonged to his granddaughter.
“They handed me the remaining clarinet,” she recalled with a smile. “The New Horizons Band experience has been a life highlight in the past 20 years.”
Belbeck is one of nine original members who are still playing in the band as it gets ready to celebrate its 20th anniversary with a concert on Dec. 1 at Western’s Paul Davenport Theatre. Dr. Roy Ernst, LLD'09, New Horizons founder, will be on hand to conduct Beyond The Horizon, a piece by London composer Jeff Smallman commissioned for this anniversary year.
Read full article (via Western News, November 27, 2019)
Pictured are eight of the nine original members of the New Horizons Band still playing in the ensemble: seated from left, Annick Deakin, Barbara Belbeck and Trudy Rose; standing, from left Merrill Edmonds, Dale Inder, Stan Deakin, Gerry Fenwick and Raymond Chan (missing from photo is original member Barb Edmonds).
Related links
New Horizons Band program - Don Wright Faculty of Music
Concert to celebrate 20 years of New Horizons Band - Sunday, December 1, 1:30 p.m., Paul Davenport Theatre
New Horizons Band celebrates 20 years of making music (CBC article, Nov. 6, 2019)
Dr. Roy Ernst, founder of the New Horizons Band program
