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New Horizons Band of Toronto welcomes those with and without musical experience to the world of bands and performance – Beach Metro Community News
Member of the New Horizons Band of Toronto play their instruments. Photo: Submitted.
By MATTHEW STEPHENS
Whether you are a musician looking to pick up an instrument again, or a newcomer to the concert band scene, New Horizons Band of Toronto (NHBT) has open positions to play a concert band instrument in a friendly group setting.
“New Horizons Band of Toronto started in 2010, and the idea was to be able to offer adults who have never played a musical concert band instrument before to learn how to play among other adults in a very socially acceptable and comfortable environment,” said Randy Kligerman, President of NHBT.
“Some are brand new, never played before, and some have been playing for many years.”
Located at 662 Victoria Park Ave. (just north of Danforth Avenue), the organization gives aspiring musicians a chance to become part of a welcoming team of instrumentalists and indulge in a wide variety of band classes ranging from beginner to advanced levels, online musicianship and workshop classes, and classes in big-band performance catered to more experienced players; all of which are conducted by experienced, professional music directors.
Regular in-person season classes start in September and run until early June over two terms. Each class holds rehearsals once per week. For those with pre-existing concert band skills, NHBT offers advanced levels of concert band, symphonic band or wind symphony.
NHBT gives members access to train with a variety of concert band instruments such as the flute, oboe, bassoon, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, French horn, euphonium, trombone, tuba, bells, xylophone, drums, and many other percussion instruments – all in a state-of-the-art concert band facility.
“I think we have one of the most advanced band facilities in the city. We have a full production system and a band room that has proper music stands and music chairs –and we live stream all our rehearsals so if you can’t make it, you can still participate in the class virtually,” said Kligerman.
Newcoming members getting a feel for the right instrument can loan and take instruments home to practice with during the first term from September to December. NHBT works closely with each of its members to find the best instrument suitable to them.
“Sometimes you go into a music store, and you don’t know what to rent or what to buy because you’re really new at it – this kind of takes all that pressure off,” said Kligerman.
“People who come in who have never played an instrument before, we bring them into a class we hold that’s like an open house where they try to blow every instrument from a flute to a tuba, and then we match them up.”
Kligerman said an in-depth music training experience, coupled with a strong emphasis on social engagement, is a big part of what makes training at NBHT an all-encompassing concert band experience.
“So, at the beginning of the class, we talk a bit about warmups, then we do some exercises. We do a little bit of music theory that relates to the music that we’re playing, and we talk about not only just the piece, but the composer who wrote it and why they wrote it,” said Kligerman.
“Another big part of what we do is the social aspect of it. During a two-hour practice, we have a coffee and tea break, and we chat with everybody. We have top notch teachers and most of them are retired music teachers, so they know how to talk to adults, and they’re just good with people.”
“Under the seven bands that we have running at the moment at all different levels, we have a seasonal concert in December, and that’s open to the members, and their families and friends,” said Kligerman
“We also have something called Chamber Suites. We put on a performance, and it’s up to the members in the band to form their own ensembles if they want to, and we have a performance for just ensemble play.”
By cultivating an authentic in-person concert band experience, Kligerman hopes to create an atmosphere that simultaneously encourages skill development and social connection through the love of music.
“You can take private lessons, and you can learn through YouTube, but it doesn’t replicate the experience that you would get playing in person,” said Kligerman. “It’s mentally stimulating, it’s physically stimulating, and its spiritually and socially stimulating.”
To learn more about the NHBT, please go online to
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