Only five weeks into her stint as a fledgling member of the Sudbury Valley New Horizons Band, 71-year-old Samantha White, formerly of Wayland, is fulfilling a lifelong dream.  “I was raised playing the piano,” she recalled last week as she prepared to take the stage for the band’s Winter Concert. “But,” she stresses, “I always wanted to be in a band.”  White is now playing the marimba in the band and the December 5th event was her first concert ever.  “I know I’ll make mistakes but they won’t hear me – there are 67 of us in this band – and if they do hear me, they’ll forgive me. We have fun here,” she said as she looked out at the rapidly filling Wayland Middle School auditorium.

 

White is joined by her husband, Dave Morin, 74, a professional drummer, who’s always longed to learn the vibraphone. “That’s why he joined but they have him playing the drums in this concert. He negotiated so he gets to play the vibes for the next concert,” said White.  As neophytes to their instruments, White and Morin are not atypical members of the band. Its concert program reflects the range of players’ abilities with performances by a Novice Band, Jazz Ensemble, Intermediate Band, and finally a combined band with all members on stage for a lively rendition of Irving Berlin’s “God Bless America,” complete with an audience sing-a-long.

 

Coming from many walks of life and representing a range of ages, the members are retirees, teachers, principals, medical professionals, business people, realtors, college professors, and artists.  Some have never played an instrument before. Others had put aside their instruments for decades as they focused on careers and raising families. But all share a love of music and are enjoying learning under the direction of band founder Diane Muffitt, who is also the Wayland Middle School band director.  And, although the band’s motto is “Your best is good enough,” many add private lessons to their schedules to strengthen their playing ability.

 

Pat Hughes of Wayland is a good example. She joined the band two years ago and has been taking private flute lessons. “I had never played before,” she says. “It’s been so much fun.”  A physician assistant and mother of four grown children, Hughes practices every night after work. “I really believe this helps me think better,” says Hughes. “I find it fun to come home after work and practice for an hour every night.”

 

Joining Hughes on flute is Pat Ng, a Wayland mother of two and a business analyst. Unlike Hughes, she had experience as a player. “I started playing the flute in elementary school and continued through high school, but hadn’t picked it up in 20 years,” she said. Coming back to her instrument has been great and a lot of fun, she says.  “You forget how much fun it is to listen to all the instruments together. Some members have played before and some haven’t. It’s very varied, but the intermediates cheer on the beginners and appreciate what we are doing.”

 

The Winter Concert drew more than 200 people, who were treated to pieces ranging from Symphony No. 7 by Ludwig van Beethoven, the Peter Gunne Theme by Henry Mancini, Highlights from Les Miserables by Claude-Michel Schonberg, a Scott Joplin retrospective and the finale, “God Bless America” played by the Combined Bands.  Muffitt issued a blanket invitation to the crowd to consider joining. “Anyone can do it," she stressed. Reflecting on the event a few days later, she said, “I was very pleased with the concert, and most of all, I was pleased that everyone had fun making music together!  That is what really counts!!”
         

The band has just over 70 members, making it one of the larger New Horizons bands in the area. It is part of an international music movement to encourage musicians of all ages and abilities. The Wayland-based band is hosted by Wayland School Community Programs, part of the Wayland Public Schools. Members come from throughout the region. Rehearsals are Wednesdays from 6:30 pm to 8:15 pm at Wayland Middle School and will start up again in January.  New members are welcome at any time.  Beginners are welcome, too, but should check with Muffitt to see if a beginner program is being offered; usually beginners only start in the fall, but sometimes it is possible to start at other times.

 

Contact Muffitt at 978-261-5065 or muffitt@bandnotes.info or go to the website, www.svnhb.org, for more information.