What's Happening

New, Seasoned or 'rusty' players can register NOW for the 2024-2025 season. Contact us at pnhb.music@gmail.com or go to Contact Us to register. Instrument rental options are available. Rehearsals are on Monday for beginners and on Wednesdays for all other levels, during day time hours. Our main season is September to May. Go to the members page for actual dates & times. Here is our pamphlet explaining PNHB

Stay tuned for our Spring concert May 30 2025 at Calvary Church. All 5 of our concert bands will be performing. Tickets are $15 (children 10 and under free). Purchase tickets from band members or at the door (cash only).

Thank you to all of the businesses that advertised in the 2024 Fall concert program. Click here for the concert program

Watch for these events on our Facebook page click here

Peterborough New Horizon Band is a registered charity. Please donate here

Introduction

We are more than 175 music-and-fun-loving members of all ages who play together in five concert bands. We play a wide variety of music on brass, woodwind and percussion instruments.

We welcome newcomers with whatever level of musical experience they have, and even those who have never read a musical note or played any instrument. There is a place for everyone and we will find it for you.

Our green band welcomes those with little or no musical experience, those whose musical skills are a little rusty and those who would like to learn to play a new instrument. Graduates of Green Band and those with prior musical experience are members of one (or more) of our other four bands.

Each band is led by one or two of our five fun loving and experienced conductors. As well, coaches work with our members in smaller groups, usually once every two weeks - more often with Green Band members.

All bands perform in concerts in May and December.

Smaller groups (ensembles) perform at community events, in residential homes and in schools. We encourage new ensembles to form around a particular interest: there is something for everyone.

Check out the Music Making page for more information on the bands and conductors.

Rehearsals

We rehearse at the Living Hope Church 1 Consumers Pl, Peterborough (on Lansdowne), typically between 9am-4pm. See the members page for the current schedule for each band and events. Wheelchairs and pushers are available for those who need help.

Social events

Though our raison d'être is to play music together. We also like to relax, eat and enjoy each other's company.

Our Social Committee organizes many fun events, like pot luck lunches, often with entertainment by our own musical groups, picnics at the zoo and other group events.

About every two years, we form a holiday band - the "Sunshine Band". The band rehearses through Summer and Fall to prepare a concert for a winter holiday destination. So far, these fun adventures have included a cruise and two trips to Cuba.

Also we have band exchanges with other New Horizons Bands. At these special performances, we come together to share our musical experiences,

To get a better feel for our social activities, please check out the archives and members sections of this website.

Organization

PNHB is a non-profit organization administered by a member volunteer Board of Directors, which is responsible for all aspects of the operation of the bands. Other PNHB members have volunteered and taken responsibility for organizing many functions and activities including roles such as: music librarian, social coordinator, concert band manager, email coordinator, green band manager, treasurer (a Board position), and membership dues collector.

Each ensemble is self-governing and has a treasurer responsible for collecting fees.

Our five merry conductors and our coaches are paid contractors.

Our History

The New Horizons Bands program was conceived by Dr. Roy Ernst, then a professor at the Eastman School of Music, Rochester University. He believed that anybody can learn to play a musical instrument, and at any age. The first New Horizons Band was formed in Rochester New York in 1991 and to-day, there are more than 100 similar programs in the United States, Canada, Australia and Ireland.

The program aims to provide instruction to adults wishing to learn how to play wind, brass or percussion instruments. It is also for individuals who might have played in high school but put it aside for many years. Membership in a New Horizons Band can fill your life with music, new friends, fun and accomplishment.

The Peterborough, Ontario, Canada New Horizons Bands (PNHB) was formed in the spring of 2002 with 52 new members. PNHB now has almost 200 members: it is one of the fastest growing and largest of all New Horizons organizations.

PNHB continues to be a member of New Horizons International Association.

Administration of the Bands

An elected volunteer Board of Directors (BOD) oversees the operation of the PNHB. Without the BOD the bands could not function. Their many responsibilities include hiring our conductors and coaches, renting rehearsal space, organising performances, insurance, organising social events, setting fees, publicity, controlling our assets (especially instruments and music).

Board of Directors with Portfolios see directory for contact info

• Audrey Keitel - President - Dialogue and Personnel Committee, Music Library Liaison, Fundraising Liaison
• Beverly Murphy - VP - Budget, Concert Liaison, Treasurer Liaison, Membership Liaison
• Lisa Witherington - Board Secretary
• Pat Wade - Dialogue and Nominations Committee, Publicity Liaison
• Rieta Weaver - Social Committee Liaison, Property Liaison
• Kelly Gravelle
• Philip Pellat

Officers

• Treasurer: Cindy Babcock

Administrators

• Administrative Assistant: Bev Murphy
• Communications Manager: James Burrett, backup-Bev Murphy
• Historian: Debbie Duff
• Members Manager: Suzanne Gagne, backup-Bev Murphy
• Webmaster: James Burrett, backup-Bev Murphy

Committees These committees are vital to our organization and we value the volunteers who help. Please contact the chairperson below for the committee you can assist.

• Concert: Concert Manager-Bev Murphy, Concert Manager backup-Glenn Baker, Advertising Coordinator-Bev Murphy, Program creator-Maria Castiglione, Artist-Wayne Mutton, Ticket Sales Coordinator-Glenn Baker, Moving Coordinator-John Topic, Stage Coordinator-Bev Murphy, Welcome desk Coordinator-Pat Wade
• Fundraising: Chair-TBD, Bingo Liaison-Gary Graham, Bingo Volunteer Coordinator-Jenny Ruddell
• Membership: Chair-TBD
• Music Library: Head Music Librarian-Meeta Ellison
• Property: Property Manager-Quentin Day
• Publicity: Chair-Pat Wade
• Social: Chair-Vedra Hill

Band Representatives

• Green-Helen Riddell
• Jubilee-Margaret Allen
• Allegro-Linda Guilfoil
• Skylark-Sue MacLellan
• Odyssey-Heather Thompson
• Summer Band-James Burrett

Ensemble Band Representatives

• Swing Set-Cindy Babcock (By invitation) They currently have openings for a clarinet and trombone player. Contact Cindy or Justin Hiscox if interested.
• Dynamics-Susan Mellow (By invitation) Contact Susan or Mark Hiscox if interested.
• Music Works-Jenny Ruddel and Martha Gooderham (Open) Contact Ben Jackson
• Fundamentals-Sue MacLellan (Open) Contact Mark Hiscox if interested.
• The Flute Gang-Jenny Ruddel (Open) Contact Ben Jackson
• Flutissimo-Christine Annett (Open) Contact Christine

Links to our other sites

History and technical documentation of the PNHB website.