New Horizons Band Christmas Music

    Improve listing Presented by

Christmas music will light up the Betty Strong Encounter Center stage at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 29 when New Horizon’s Band of Siouxland performs popular seasonal tunes under the direction of Dr. Lou Rossman. Admission will be free. A reception will follow

     “Snow Day Celebration,” “Winter Holiday,” “Candlelight Carol” and “Christmas From The ’50s” are among program possibilities.

     “The musical repertoire will include a variety of musical styles,” says Rossman who has been a music educator for more than 50 years, including 15 years as a Morningside College Music Department faculty member.

     The event will be New Horizon’s third appearance at the Encounter Center. The band provides musical opportunities for people older than 45 who have either limited experience or those who have participated in high school or college bands.

     Members of the band are: Flute - Lela Bathurst, Michele McKenna, Bonnie Rossman, Linda Nahra,  and Lori Smith (also oboe); Clarinet – Joyce Bennett, Mary Lou Haindfield, Ida Milligan, Fran O’Tool, Linda Prescott and Chris Olson; Alto Saxophone – Dave Drefke and Jeanie Dunbar; Trumpet – Lynne Baller, Joe Haindfield, Eugene Potter, Sharon Oertel, Art Ashley, and Lynne Orr; Trombone – Geri Day, Lucille Foster,  Dennis Reinert and Terry Orr; Euphonium – James Travis & Henry Witte; Tuba – Marv Crim and David Zirpel;  Percussion – Ben Hoefer, Sally Reinert and Edward Winfrey.

     Music and dancing have a prominent connection to the Lewis & Clark Expedition, according to the explorers’ journals. On Christmas Day 1804, Clark described lively dancing by Corps of Discovery members at the Mandan Indians’ request.

     York, the slave of Clark, astonished Native people with his dancing. Another member of the Corps of Discovery “danced on his head.” Fiddle, tambourine and horn were the musical accompaniment, played by the explorers.

     New Horizon’s Band of Siouxland is one of more than 200 programs that originated in 1991 as the New Horizon’s International Music Association at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y. Ray’s Midbell Music sponsors the New Horizon’s Band of Siouxland.