The Hagerstown Community College New Horizons Band, now under the direction of Carl Rowe, continues. Rowe, trumpeter with The President's Own U.S. Marine Band for 22 years and principal trumpet for 19 of those, also teaches at Shenandoah University and gives private lessons. He's a substitute player for the Harrisburg and Maryland Symphony orchestras, and he plays with the Hagerstown Municipal Band and a slew of other ensembles.
His challenge is trying to find music that is challenging and interesting to his New Horizons Band, and he said his players really enjoy their participation. "They have a good time."
"We make some pretty music," said Lillian Gilbert of Hagerstown, who's played French horn - properly called horn, she said - in the band for nearly three years.
Gilbert, 70, and a few other horn players, including Jeanne Nidecker, 74, of Frederick, Md., traveled to a New Horizons Band camp at the University of Delaware last week.
The days were long.
"It's hard work, but it's fun," Nidecker said.
She had played piano as a kid, and took up the horn at age 60. It has become an important part of her life. Gilbert agreed.
"Music is the bread of my soul," Gilbert said. "It soothes your spirit. It lightens your life."
Wetterer, 75, enjoys learning and playing with the other New Horizons musicians, many of whom have become friends.
"I just enjoy music," he said.
If you go
New Horizons Band
7 p.m. Sunday, June 27
Shafer Memorial Park
Boonsboro
Free
The next session of New Horizons Band begins with Hagerstown Community College's fall semester. New members are welcome.
For information, call Anne Myers, program manager for Lifelong Learning, at 301-790-2800, ext. 582.
