Al and Heidi Rochlin Alan Rochlin received a degree in music education from Temple University in Philadelphia, and his graduate degree in trumpet performance from The University of the Arts. Alan has been an active freelancer in the Philadelphia region for over 30 years and has performed behind many top performers such as Johnny Mathis, Frankie Valle, Natalie Cole, The Temptations and the Four Tops. He is a member in several community bands and theaters and especially enjoys performing with his wife, Heidi, and their five musical children! Alan is the Director of the Ringgold New Horizons Band in Reading, PA. He has conducted at the Cincinnati NHIMA Music Event in 2023 and 2024 and will be there in 2025. He will also conduct at the NHIMA Mt. Tremblant Music Camp in 2025. Heidi Rochlin comes from a very musical family. She received her Master of Science at Temple University for Secondary Mathematics Education. She has been teaching math, science and music for many years. Her administrative work included curriculum supervisor for grades K-12 in Math, Science and Music, superintendent of the Antietam School District and Executive Director of the Allentown School District. Al and Heidi share their love for music and their passion to teach music to all age groups. If you would like to find out more about the Ringgold New Horizons Band, please, go to www.ringgoldband.com

Susan Schirmer- holds a BS degree in Music Education & Theory Composition from Indiana State University, and a Masters of Music in Music Theory & Composition from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale. Susan's music career spans more than 30 years of music education in the public school system in the Lakota district in Ohio. Her career includes teaching elementary through high school students. She has conducted both student and faculty musicals at Lakota High, as well as musicals for other groups and churches. She has performed in the Cincinnati Park Band Concerts as a member of the Cincinnati Musicians Union. She has played clarinet with the Southwest Ohio Symphonic Band, Seven Hills Sinfonietta and Cincinnati Metropolitan Orchestra. About 20 years ago she founded the West Chester Symphony, and has been its conductor ever since. She has worked with the New Horizons Band of Cincinnati since 2012, beginning as the clarinet instructor and currently as one of 3 conductors of the group. Susan was co-director of the New Horizons Cincinnati Music Camp in 2023 and 2024. Susan shared her love for music and music education during this interview at the NHIMA Cincinnati Music Camp in June 2024. If you would like to find out more about Susan’s New Horizons Band of Cincinnati, please, go to https://newhorizonsbandcincinnati.org

Jack has been a music educator for 33 years at elementary and high school level including serving as band director in Cincinnati, OH at Moeller and Badin High School. He also taught band, jazz band, choir and other music courses in the Lakota School District. He was a member of the Ohio Music Education Association during his teaching career. Jack has been a trombone performer for over 45 yrs in swing bands in the Cincinnati area including the Blue Chip City Big Band, the Oscar Gamby Big Band and the Jump and Jive Show Band. He has also performed with several Dixieland Bands. Jack was one of the organisers and music directors of the Cincinnati New Horizons Music Camps in 2023 and 2024. Jack tells his story about his rich music upbringing, his career, his love for swing music and his enjoyment teaching New Horizons musicians.If you would like to find out more about Jack’s New Horizons Band of Cincinnati, please, go to https://newhorizonsbandcincinnati.org

Katie Thiel is the spouse of Norman Thiel, the current President of the Board of Directors of NHIMA. Katie and Norm live in Jerseyville, IL and Norm plays in the Godfrey New Horizons Band. Katie joins Norm at the NHIMA music camps and tells her story what it takes to have a great time as a joining spouse or significant other during camp. One of the hilarious things she participates in is the “Kazoo Choir” at the Cincinnati NHIMA Music Camps for spouses and friends of players. Katie tells her story and describes her support for Norm’s local New Horizons group and as a spouse at music camps. This interview was done at the 2024 NHIMA Cincinnati Music Camp. I would like to thank Katie Thiel from Illinois for this interview. If you would like to find out more about Norm Thiel's New Horizon's Band, please visit their FaceBook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100004576819441&utm_source=riverbender&utm_medium=article_link

This interview is with Tyrone and Joanne Paterson in London, ON, Canada in May 2024. They are better known as Ty and Jo. Ty is one of Canada’s leading opera conductors. He currently serves as Music Advisor and Principal Conductor for Manitoba Opera. He has appeared with most of Canada’s professional companies and as a Guest Conductor with numerous professional companies throughout the United States, Asia and Europe. Ty held the position of Artistic Director and Principal Conductor for Opera Lyra Ottawa for 16 seasons (performing at the National Arts Centre). Ty is also an experienced educator having led student productions at Western University, University of Calgary, and UBC. Early in his career, Ty served as Music Director for the Calgary Youth Orchestra. He made his professional conducting debut with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra at the age of 25. Looking ahead to retirement, Ty is focussing on jazz and is learning to play trombone in the New Horizons Band together with his wife, Jo. He has recently launched a new jazz combo, Second Act Combo, playing keyboard.Jo Paterson is a Research & Scholarly Communication Librarian at Western Libraries of Western University in London, ON. She currently specialises in scholarly publishing and digital scholarship. She draws on her background in musicology and the humanities to support digital projects. Jo holds degrees in Music History and Literature, General Humanities and Musicology with a special interest in genealogy. Jo plays trumpet and euphonium in the New Horizons Band at Western University. Like her husband Ty, she plays in many community, swing and jazz bands in the city..If you would like to find out more about the New Horizons Band at Western University, London, ON, Canada, please go to https://music.uwo.ca/outreach/new-horizons-band.html

Diane Muffitt is a retired Middle School Band Director, now devoting her time to Sudbury Valley New Horizons Music, which she and her wife, Linda Murdock, created back in 2008. Passionate about teaching and bringing music to those who thought they’d never be able to play or to play again, she worked with New England Music Camp (Snow Pond) to create New England Adult Music Camp. When not teaching and practicing, she and Linda love to canoe, go birding and travel in their 1991 Volkswagen Camper Van.Linda Murdock had a multidirectional career, including musician, lawyer, teacher, and school principal. For most of her life, the horn was her primary instrument, until she fell in love with the tuba a few years ago.She conducts, arranges music for the band and other ensembles, and manages the group’s financial affairs. During the pandemic period, she learned to do video and audio editing and created many of the 24 virtual performances posted on the group’s YouTube channel. She also conducts and arranges music for her church’s bell choir.Both Diane and Linda describe their passion for teaching and strongly believe that it is never too late to begin playing music.If you would like to find out more about Sudbury Valley New Horizons Music, please go to their website: https://svnhb.org

Mary Gillard graduated from Western University, in London, ON with a Bachelor of Music, Honours in Education. She retired in June of 2014 after 31 years of teaching music in London at Clarke Road Secondary School. She introduced a classical guitar program and built a highly successful four-year program. Mary also taught vocal and instrumental music and was vocal director and keyboard player for 15 school shows. Mary sang with The Gerald Fagan singers in London, ON and continues to sing in a community choir in St. Thomas, ON. Mary started conducting for the NHB program in London, Ontario in 2000. Mary has conducted in many New Horizons music camps including St. Catherines, ON, Chautauqua, NY, Cincinnati, OH and Mt. Tremblant, QC. She also travels to Europe with the London ON, New Horizons Band. In this interview Mary gives insight in how music has impacted her life and how she loves giving the gift of music making to others. This interview was done in May 2024 in London, ON, Canada. If you want to find out more about the New Horizons Band in London, ON, go to https://music.uwo.ca and click on the New Horizons Band tab.

Diane Scholfield was introduced to music when her parents bought her a piano at age 4. She thought then that she and her piano had a special language and that she was the only one who could understand it. Since then she has tried a long list of other instruments including the flute, percussion, acoustic guitar, trombone and French horn. She spent many years as a vocalist singing a cappella and caroling in San Diego including at the famous Hotel del Coronado. After a decades long career as a writer and editor she heard about the New Horizons Band of Carlsbad and decided to join. Diane tells a delightful story of her journey of music throughout life, her discovery of NHIMA on-line programming and live band camps and her desire to possibly play a violin, cello or saxophone in the future. This interview was done by Zoom in March 2024. I would like to thank Diane for giving this interview. If you would like to find out more about Diane Scholfield’s New Horizons Band in Carlsbad, CA, please go to https://www.museumofmakingmusic.org and look for the New Horizons Band under their Education tab.

Mark Goodrum grew up in Boston and area. His father was a drum player. Mark was introduced to playing music himself during his junior high school years. Mark tells his heartfelt story how he ended up as a music major at Grambling University in Louisiana. After a detour through Florida, he was hired to become a music educator in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he still lives. Mark became a professional saxophone player, which is still his main instrument. After more than 3 decades of teaching, Mark joined the New Horizons Band of Rio Rancho, NM. Mark Goodrum’s passion for music and connections with musicians can be heard on his own podcast “OTP, On the Podium” which you can access through your favourite podcast platform.If you would like to find out more about Mark’s New Horizons Band of Rio Rancho, please go to http://www.nhbrr.org

Michelle Skomars plays clarinet in the New Horizons Orchestra of Spokane, Washington.She was introduced to music at a young age by her parents. She gives us a tour of her music interests throughout life. Michelle had a career as a pilot, joined the US Army and worked for many years in air traffic control for the Federal Government in Spokane. She was introduced to the New Horizons Orchestra of Spokane by an old acquaintance while playing hockey. She has never looked back. Michelle joined the NHIMA Events Committee as a non-board director in order to assist NHIMA in developing ongoing programming for its members. Michelle is a true believer that “Music is meant to be shared….period.”If you would like to find out more about Michelle’s New Horizons group please, go to their FaceBook page by looking up New Horizons Orchestra of Spokane: https://www.facebook.com/new.horizons.orchestra.spokane/?locale=hi_IN

Linda Hartley is a retired Professor of Music at the University of Dayton (UD) where she coordinated the undergraduate and graduate music education degree program for 24 years. She then served the UD School of Education and Health Sciences as Associate Dean for Education. Linda has taught a variety of music education and performance courses, founded several university bands. She received outstanding faculty teaching awards from the University of Dayton and its College of Arts and Sciences. The Honorary Band Service Sorority, presented Linda with the Outstanding Service to Music-Award to honor her research and publications in the area of gender and ethnicity in instrumental music conductors. Linda is the founder and music director for the University of Dayton New Horizons Music Program which celebrates its 25th year in 2024-25! She is one of the conductors at the NHIMA Lakeside Chautauqua, Ohio Band Camp in August 2024. If you like to find out more about Linda Hartley’s New Horizons Music Program go to udayton.edu and look for the New Horizons Music Program.

Ron Berry is the founder of the NHB of Northern New York. Jim Cubberly is an active member of the Saline NHB in Michigan. Both Ron and Jim will be the NHIMA Band Camp Co-Directors in Lakeside Chautauqua, Ohio in August 2024. Ron and Jim had technical careers, Ron as a structural engineer and Jim as an hydraulics specialist. Ron plays tuba and Jim plays trumpet. They share their musical journey, their love for the New Horizons organization and give a detailed description of the upcoming NHIMA band camp in Lakeside Chautauqua, Ohio in August 2024. To find out more about Ron Berry’s New Horizons Band of Northern New York go to https://www.newhorizonsbandsnny.org. To find out more about Jim Cubberly’s Saline New Horizons Band go to https://www.nhbsaline.org

Steve Garone is a trumpet player and original member of the Sudbury Valley New Horizons Band in Massachussetts. He also plays many other instruments including guitar, bass guitar and ukulele.  He shares how music creates a good balance in his life and how his New Horizons group provides many opportunities to socialize and make new friends.Steve’s career has spanned a number of disciplines, including engineering, marketing, competitive intelligence and market research. Steve is currently the founder and chief analyst at Lake Shore Analytics, where he focuses on helping organizations execute content strategies to help them grow their businesses. He joined the NHIMA Board of Directors in 2024. We met via Zoom in January 2024. To find out more about Steve’s New Horizons Group, please, go to https://svnhb.org

Florence Buschke plays bassoon in the New Horizons Band at the Third Street Settlement Music School in Manhattan. Music was in her life from the moment she was born. She shares her family’s musical journey and her love for the bassoon and many moments of serendipity in her life that got her involved in New Horizons Music. We met at the New England Adult Music Camp in Maine in August 2023. To find out more about Florence’s New Horizons Band go to www.thirdstreet.nyc/newhorizons

Paula Sousa is a flute and piccolo player in the Eastman-Rochester NHB in Rochester New York. She has been active at an administrative level of her band and joined the Board of Directors of NHIMA in 2022. Paula shares her love for music and her involvement in New Horizons programming, including the ‘Play it Forward’ program that was started by members of the Eastman-Rochester NHB to support young talented children in their community. She describes the origins of the New Horizons movement in Rochester. Paula and I met at the 2023 Cincinnati NHIMA camp. To find out more about Paula’s New Horizons Band, please go to www.rocnewhorizons.org

Carol and Alex Neubert are retired educators from Northampton, Massachusetts. They became musically active in retirement when they joined the New Horizons Band of Northern New York in Potsdam. After several years they moved to Northampton, Massachusetts where they started the Pioneer Village New Horizons Band at the Northampton Community Music Centre. Carol joined the NHIMA Board of Directors in 2020 and assisted in building NHIMA’s new format which includes virtual programming, broader communication among members and educators and an interactive website. She was the NHIMA Events Committee Chair for 2 years. The interview took place at the Snowbound New England Adult Music Camp in August 2023. Carol and Alex explain how the New Horizons Music mantra ‘Your Best is Good Enough’ works so well for them and their band members. Information about their band can be found here: https://www.ncmc.net/programs/new-horizons-band

Norman Thiel is the Assistant Director for the New Horizons Band of Godfrey, IL. He is also the 2023 and 2024 President of NHIMA. Norm shares his story about his music education, his interest in directing bands and choirs while working as a business man and farmer. He is also known as the 'trumpet farmer'. This interview was done at the Cincinnati New Horizons Music Camp in July 2023.

Russ Rosen is a clarinet player in the Cincinnati New Horizons Band. He is the president of the Board of Directors of that band. Russ is the program director for the Cincinnati New Horizons Music Camps in 2023 and 2024. He currently is an active Director of the Board for the New Horizons International Music Association or NHIMA, assisting new groups to create their own New Horizons Bands or Orchestras. Russ describes the importance of music in his life and how he seeks to share his passion with others so they can create their own love for music. Russ and I met in July 2023 during the NHIMA Cincinnati New Horizons Band Camp. To find out more about the New Horizons Band of Cincinnati, click here

Donna Morse is the founder and director of the Monadnock New Horizons Band in Keene, NH. She is also the director for the Nelson New Hampshire Town Band. She plays all genres of music with a specific interest in jazz. Donna describes how music was always part of her life growing up in Florida and eventually moving to New Hampshire. Donna is the current the Events Committee Chair of NHIMA. Together with husband Dave, she travels to many music events, including New Horizons Band Camps where Donna has been conducting. Dave always joins her with his multiple musical instruments. Donna and I met in August 2023 at the Snow Pond New England Adult Music Camp. Monadnock NHB: http://www.mnhband.org