This program provides adults ages "50 or better" who have little or no instrumental experience with the opportunity to learn new skills and/or advance their skills and play concert band music in an ensemble of like-minded life-long learners. Students may bring their own instruments or rent from Music & Arts in Riverhead, NY. The New Horizons Band program was founded 25 years ago by Professor Roy Ernst, the Music Education Department Chair at Eastman School of Music, one of the top music schools in the United States. The New Horizons Bands program has grown to over 215 groups, more than 9,000 participants across the world on three continents and sponsors numerous summer band camps in North America. Registration is ongoing.
Cost for Semester: $250 EEA members / $300 non-members

Matthew is a musician, music educator and music director who received his Master of Arts in Music Education and Bachelor of Arts in Music, both from Hunter College in New York.

As a music educator, he believes in using music principles and theories to inspire deep and critical thinking through coding and decoding as well as drawing meaning out of text and musical lines. As a director his vision is one that entwines music and community both inside and outside of school. He feels strongly that music can change lives forever.