New Horizons Band of Las Cruces
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The Las Cruces New Horizons Band will hold its 10th annual summer band camp at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, N.M. June 7 through June 12, 2009. It will culminate with a concert on the 14th at New Mexico State University’s Music Center Recital Hall.
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 organi- zation 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 70 bands in the United States and 2 in 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 and Mike White of White’s Music Box, a local Las Cruces music retailer with stores in Las Cruces and El Paso.
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 is becoming an annual event 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.
