Strike up the Band

Kathy Krauss (left) and Paula Eggert lead the Peninsula New Horizons Band. Both are band instructors who have also given private music instruction. Eggert is also director of The Peninsula Symphonic Community Band. The New Horizons Band is open to adults with little or no musical experience. The group meets weekly in Sturgeon Bay beginning Sept. 26.

Ken Jeansonne played first trombone in his South Louisiana high school band, but until last year the instrument had been forgotten, tucked away in his home, but he did haul it to Door County when he moved here 26 years ago.

“I hadn’t picked up my trombone since high school. The last time I played I was a senior in high school, so I left it for more than 40 years,” he said.

But last year he heard about a new Door County musical group that didn’t require you to still have your chops. In fact, it offered inexpensive lessons for those who want to learn or re-learn an instrument, the Peninsula New Horizons Band.

“When I heard about this, I broke it out,” Jeansonne said. “The first time I played it, I saw stars. I thought I was going to faint and my lips swelled, but I joined last year and I was amazed to see how things came back, almost like riding a bike. What also was nice, it was nostalgic. You kind of get that high school feeling again. And Paula is an absolute doll as a director. Both of them are.”

He refers to Paula Eggert, director of the Peninsula New Horizons Band, and Kathy Krauss, who assists. Both women are band teachers who have given private lessons. Eggert is also musical director of the Peninsula Symphonic Community Band. Both believe it is never too late to make music.

“I couldn’t imagine not having music in my life, and I know it is never too late to start enjoying the fun, the creativity, as well as the physical and the social benefits of belonging to a musical group,” Eggert said. “The thrill of performing music in a group is so satisfying! I have met such fascinating people through my music, and I am sure I will meet many more through this endeavor!”

Eggert and Krauss held a get acquainted session for new band members on Aug. 29 at the band’s rehearsal hall, Bay View Lutheran Church in Sturgeon Bay. They brought instruments such as clarinet, French horn, trumpet, kettledrum and xylophone for prospective members to try out before renting or buying one of their own. New weekly sessions for the band start on Sept. 26.

Jeansonne showed up at the get acquainted session “just to rub shoulders with new people.” He offered to serve as mentor to new band members.

“My ambition was to make every night they practice. I wanted to be good again,” he said. “We got into some real music. Memories and nostalgia came. Come out of work, pick up the trombone and play. It was just fun.”

The Peninsula New Horizons Band is modeled after a band program for senior adults that was developed in 1991 by a music professor at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y. While the original concept was for adults age 50 and above, the only stipulation today is that a New Horizon band member cannot be attending high school.

“We wouldn’t want to compete with the high schools,” Eggert said.

Last year’s inaugural group of New Horizon Band members got to perform in a 4th of July parade, on a very small float.

“There was no room for my trombone,” Jeansonne said.

But, Eggert said, everyone had so much fun that at the end of the parade, they wanted to do it again.

If you want to see some New Horizon band members perform, check out Florian’s II in downtown Baileys Harbor on Saturday, Sept. 7, when a jam session will be held by New Horizon band members taking part in a popular weekend band camp at Bjorklunden.

The next Peninsula New Horizon session begins Thursday, Sept. 26. Cost for the program is $10 per two-hour session (not including instrument rental). The fall semester will have 10 sessions (September through early December) and the spring semester will have 13 weeks (February through May).

You can learn more and print a registration form at peninsulasymphonicband.org and mail to Peninsula Symphonic Band, PO Box 84, Sturgeon Bay, WI, 54235, or call Paula Eggert at 920.743.7995 (home) or 920.495.3402.