Big band blows into town

By Tania Martin
MUSICIANS young and old took to the stage recently to form a 60-member orchestra.
Dandenong Ranges Music Council’s (DRMC) New Horizons Concert Band joined students from Lilydale and Healesville high schools for a day of musical thrills.
New Horizons is an adult community band and has been playing together for more than two years.
DRMC’s Bev McAlister said the New Horizons program was a first for Victoria and was gaining in popularity.
It is open to adult beginners over 50 years old or lapsed musicians and they learn to play an instrument in an ensemble.
The band is directed by Lilydale’s Brian Hogg and Kate McAlister of The Patch.
The students joined representatives from the band to form a 60-member orchestra to learn three new musical scores, including Bohemian Rhapsody.
New Horizons band manager Peter Bos said the event on 25 March was magnificent.
He said it was a great learning curve for both the adult and the students.
“We got a lot out of it and I’m sure they did too,” Mr Bos said.
“It was a great opportunity to exchange our music with the school kids… it was also good to play some of their music.”