The Fall Concert was a great success and a wonderful musical experience. The New Horizons Jazz Band made its debut under the direction of Dr. Joe Carucci, and Dr. Christine Carucci directed the full band in a salute to the armed forces plus other musical selections.
In the weeks following the concert, a smaller Holiday Ensemble performed at the Veterans Medical Center on Leestown Rd., Lexington, on Dec. 9. Next we played at Mayfair Village in Lexington, Dec. 12. This was sort of a homecoming for the band, because Mayfair Village was our rehearsal venue during our first year, 2007. Our final holiday performance was at the Lexington/Fayette County Senior Center, at its holiday luncheon Dec. 16.
We’re looking forward to opening our 2012 season Saturday, Jan. 14 with rehearsal for current band members at 10 a.m. followed by an open house for prospective new members and friends at 11 a.m. Remember, that Lexington’s New Horizons Band is all about providing an opportunity for adults to learn to play a new band instrument, or to return to playing after a long layoff. Come join the fun! We meet at the School for Creative and Performing Arts (SCAPA) next to Lafayette High School, 401 Reed Lane, Lexington.
Filed under: Uncategorized on December 17th, 2011 | No Comments »
The New Horizons Jazz Band, under the direction of NHB Co-Director Dr. Joe Carucci, will make its debut at our Fall Concert Sunday, Nov. 13, at 3 p.m. in the Recital Hall of Singletary Center for the Arts.
Theme for the concert will be a “Salute to the Armed Forces.” Co-Directors Christine and Joe Carucci along with Assistant Conductor Greg Springer have prepared a program of marches, patriotic music, and other surprises you won’t want to miss.
Filed under: Uncategorized on November 9th, 2011 | No Comments »
The band is hard at work preparing music for its fall concert which will be held Sunday, Nov. 13, at 3 p.m., in the Recital Hall of Singletary Center for the Arts on the University of Kentucky Campus (corner of Euclid and Rose). Save the date on your calendar. More about the program will follow.
There new and exciting changes in the band this year, our fifth year. Taking over as co-directors after a two-year absence, are Drs. Christine and Joe Carucci. Christine was the founder of the band in 2007 when she was a doctoral student at the University of Kentucky. She has worked for the past two years in Minnesota where her husband, Joe, was on the faculty of the University of Minnesota at Morris. She received her Ph.D. this past summer and is now on the music faculty of Eastern Kentucky University.
Cheryl Burgess Amstutz, our director for the past two years, resigned last spring to accept full time empoyment with the Fayette County Public School system and devote more time to family. She was honored by the band last summer with a lifetime membership in the New Horizons Band of Lexington, and plans to play French horn with us when she can.
Dr. David Sogin, our University of Kentucky director, took sabbatical leave from UK to accept a research position at Florida State University, Tallahassee, for 2011-12. Taking his place as our UK director for the year will be Peter Simpson, Professor of Music at UK and principal bassoonist with the Lexington Philharmonic Orchestra.
Filed under: Uncategorized on October 24th, 2011 | No Comments »
The “Bluegrass State Band,” Lexington’s New Horizons Band, is beginning its fifth season Saturday, Aug. 27, with an information meeting for prospective new members at 11 a.m. The meeting will be held at the School for the Creative and Performing Arts (SCAPA), adjacent to Lafayette High School, Lexington.
New Horizons Music programs provide an outlet for adults to learn or relearn a musical instrument. As a member, you will learn musical skills and have opportunities to play with others in an ensemble setting.
Returning members are to report at 10 a.m for a brief rehearsal prior to the informational meeting. For more information, you may also contact Christine Carucci, cacarucci@gmail.com, or Jim Stone, jastone@iglou.com.
Filed under: Uncategorized on August 16th, 2011 | No Comments »
Our Spring Concert will be held Sunday May 1, at 3 p.m. at Saints Peter and Paul School, 423 W. Short Street, in Lexington. Conductor Cheryl Burgess Amstutz and Assistant Conductor Greg Springer have put together a great program. They will be assisted by our able UK School of Music instructors.
The full ensemble will play “Star Spangled Banner,” “All That Jazz,” “Sing, Sing, Sing,” “Highlights from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,” “The Sound of Music,” “Go West!,” “Military Escort,” and “Take Five.”
The Chamber Winds will play “Can Can,” and the Flute Duo will play “Menuett.”
Filed under: Uncategorized on April 17th, 2011 | No Comments »
The band has been invited to play and present a program on adult music education at the 53rd Annual Kentucky Music Educators Association (KMEA) “Professional Development Conference,” Friday, Feb. 11, in Louisville. The band will be performing at !2:30 p.m.
A program of classical and popular music will be performed, followed by a discussion of the New Horizons Music concept of adult music learning. Music teachers, music students, and others from all over the Commonwealth of Kentucky will be attending the conference, being held at the Kentucky International Convention Center, the Hyatt, and the Galt House, Feb. 9-12.
“It is quite an honor for us to be invited to participate in this conference, as well as a new adventure for the band. This will be the first time the band has travelled together for a performance out of town,” said Dr. David Sogin, the band’s University of Kentucky music director. “As far as we know, our band is the first and only New Horizons band in Kentucky. Perhaps other communities will become interested in starting a New Horizons Band as a result of our presentation.”
Conductor Cheryl Burgess Amstutz and Assistant Director Greg Springer will be directing.
Filed under: Uncategorized on January 30th, 2011 | No Comments »
Check out the postings for Lexington’s New Horizons Band on Facebook. We are listed as “Lexington New Horizons Band,” and a lot of the information that is here on our website will be on the fb page. The fb page will have a link to this website, so it will be fun to check both places for the latest news.
Please note that official information for band members will still come through announcements at rehearsals, telephone, or direct e-mails from the band leadership. The purpose of this site and fb will be to provide information about the band to wider audiences.
Filed under: Uncategorized on November 25th, 2010 | No Comments »
After a wonderful concert Sunday, Nov. 21, a large contingent from the band played a few numbers on Tuesday, Nov. 23, for the children at Dixie Elementary School in Lexington. It was really exciting because after the kids were all in the gym and we were ready to play, the school called a lock-down (a drill, thank goodness), and we were delayed about 20 minutes.
But all the players and the kids still had fun. After the band played, a number of children visited with individual members of the band, checked out instruments, and talked about their musical ambitions.
Filed under: Uncategorized on November 25th, 2010 | No Comments »
Our band, Lexington’s New Horizons “Bluegrass State Band,” will present its fall, 2010, concert Sunday, Nov. 21, at 3 p.m., at its home venue, the Fayette County School for Creative and Performing Arts (SCAPA), 400 Lafayette Parkway, Lexington. SCAPA is right next to Lafayette High School. The concert is free and open to the public.
The band will present a variety of classical, seasonal, and popular music under the direction of Conductor Cheryl Amstutz and Assistant Conductor Greg Springer.
Band members should be aware that, in addition to regular rehearsals, there will be a dress rehearsal Saturday (10 a.m.), Nov. 20, at SCAPA
Filed under: Uncategorized on November 7th, 2010 | No Comments »
TV Channel 18 (NBC) featured the New Horizons Band in an interview with Dr. David Sogin Friday, Sept. 17, during the noon news broadcast. Hopefully, some of you were able to catch the action. Dr. Sogin is head of the music education program in the University of Kentucky School of Music which sponsors the Lexington New Horizons band. Our thanks to Jim Stone, trumpet, who arranged the interview with Ch. 18.
Filed under: Uncategorized on September 18th, 2010 | No Comments »