New Horizons Band

NAMM's Museum of Making Music offers musical ensembles designed for adults seeking entry into playing instruments in a group setting. These programs are perfect for those new to music-making and musicians who have played in the past but haven’t picked up their instrument in several years. Regardless of your experience or background, the New Horizons Band and North Coast Strings provide a welcoming, non-intimidating environment where you can explore the joy of making music.

Emiko Araki is a passionate musician and a proud member of the New Horizons Band at NAMM’s Museum of Making Music in Carlsbad, California. Originally from Japan, Emiko’s early love for music took root when she first picked up the recorder in elementary school. Her journey blossomed in middle school with the clarinet and even expanded to playing drums in a rock band during her teenage years. After a long break from the clarinet, her desire to reconnect with her musical side brought her to the New Horizons Band.

Ron Baker has been playing the trombone since the 4th grade. He became an educator and put the instrument down for a few years but in retirement realized he missed playing. Ron is a proud member of the New Horizons Band located at NAMM’s Museum of Making Music. This program was created for people who never had the opportunity to play an instrument or for those that played back in school and want to pick it up again. No matter what your circumstances, New Horizons Music provides a non-intimidating environment for you to begin or to resume making music.  

Jerry Bongard enjoyed playing music since he was a kid. Along the way he became eloquent in his explanation of the benefits of music making and the passion music can add to your life. Jerry took part in the early development of the New Horizon's Band, which rehearses at the NAMM Foundation’s Museum of Making Music in Carlsbad, CA, and soon after signed up to volunteer at the museum. Anyone fortunate to have heard Jerry talk about his love of music were sure to have also learned about the many other benefits of music making.

Aria Boyd grew up immersed in a world of music, with her mother and aunties all playing instruments that filled her life with melody. Inspired by their talent, Aria picked up the flute in middle school, where her music teacher helped instill in her the values of patience, discipline, and self-worth. Although her flute lay silent for over a decade, she eagerly embraced the chance to play again with the New Horizons Band. Aria finds deep joy and fulfillment in being part of this vibrant program at NAMM’s Museum of Making Music, where players of all backgrounds and skill levels can f

Susan Burke started on the clarinet in the 5th grade and in her 20s she was given a bonus at her work so she made a purchase she always dreamed of, she bought a flute. She gravitated towards the flute thanks in large part to the Brazilian Jazz composer Antônio Carlos Jobim. Susan is a proud member of the New Horizons Band located at NAMM’s Museum of Making Music. This program was created for people who never had the opportunity to play an instrument or for those that played back in school and want to pick it up again. No matter what your circumstances, New Horizons Music provides

Dale Dawalt admits he knew little about band instruments being a guitarist when he first joined the team at San Diego County Music Exchange in 1990. He was however, eager to learn and he had a fantastic mentor, Dan Parker. Dan opened the store in 1988 and after selling the store to Dale a few years later went on to establish the Colorado Institute of Musical Instrument Technology. Dan was the perfect person to teach Dale about the business and the instruments. And Dale learned quickly. Over thirty years later Dale has the same passion and commitment to the students and band direct

Bryan Dempsen started played piano and guitar as a kid and trumpet in college. His career developed after school and he played less and less over the years until the pandemic gave him the opportunity to play again. His love of jazz and his musical hero Freddie Hubbard fueled his passion to play. Bryan is a proud member of the New Horizons Band located at NAMM’s Museum of Making Music. This program was created for people who never had the opportunity to play an instrument or for those that played back in school and want to pick it up again.

Steve Eastwood grew up in New Jersey and discovered his love for the trumpet in the fourth grade, playing all the way through high school. In addition to the school band and marching bands, he performed with friends in a local group humorously called The Psychotic Blues Band. While studying engineering at Cornell University, Steve kept music close by performing and attending unforgettable concerts, including seeing Joni Mitchell in the early 1970s.

Roy Ernst is professor emeritus at Eastman School of Music located on the campus of the University of Rochester, the founder of The New Horizons Band program, The Roy Ernst Music Institute, which sponsors music camps as well as the founder of Music for Veterans National Association Inc. Throughout his musical journey, Roy discovered ways to involve people of all ages in the great experience of music making. While teaching at Eastman’s School of Music, Roy designed a program for the 50-plus population who perhaps have not ever played an instrument or have not since childhood.

Colleen Foster grew up in a musical family with her father often playing the organ and piano. She played throughout school in the bands on clarinet and flute. She put playing music aside to focus on her career, however after retiring she looked for an opportunity to play again. Colleen is a proud member of the New Horizons Band located at NAMM’s Museum of Making Music. She joined the band playing her flute but soon realized the band did not have a tuba, so she learned the tuba! The New Horizons Band program was created for people who never had the opportunity to play an instrument

Roark Galloway started playing in elementary school on the clarinet and enjoyed learning to read music.

Lloyd Gonzalez may not have picked up an instrument as a child, but his love for music, especially the soulful sound of the saxophone, has been with him for as long as he can remember. Driven by this lifelong admiration, he sought opportunities to learn and eventually found his place in the New Horizons Band at NAMM’s Museum of Making Music. This supportive and enriching environment has been the perfect stage for Lloyd to realize his musical aspirations. The structured yet welcoming atmosphere has allowed him to progress steadily, building skills he once only dreamed of.

Allison Hargis was teaching middle school in the Poway Unified District when a student’s mother approached Allison about an opening for a band director in nearby Carlsbad. Allison learned about the need for a conductor for the New Horizon Band located at NAMM’s Museum of Making Music.  She was thrilled as she had always enjoyed teaching music to beginners and found educating adults very rewarding. She later joined the museum staff as education manager, a role that has resulted in her many lifelong friends with fellow music lovers.

Barbara Honig found out about the NAMM Foundation’s Museum of Making Music when she joined their New Horizons band - a band that offers learning new instruments and playing in a concert band setting to adults. After playing some percussion in the band, and then switching to the clarinet, Barbara found out about the volunteer program at the museum. Barbara has been giving tours to students and adults since then, and enjoys being around music as much as she can.  She was given the Volunteer of the Year Award in 2016 for her many contributions to the NAMM Foundation’s Museum of Makin

Harry Peacock’s stepfather was a professional jazz musician in San Diego who encouraged Harry and his brother to learn an instrument. For two years his stepfather became Harry’s first music teacher before taking lessons from a retired clarinetist for the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra. Harry played clarinet until he attended college when he put the clarinet down. After he retired, he decided to start playing again. Harry is a proud member of the New Horizons Band located at NAMM’s Museum of Making Music. This program was created for people who never had the opportunity to play an

Janet Rose’s musical journey has been as varied as it is compelling. She first explored the violin as a young child, but the saxophone quickly caught her heart in school, inspiring her to take lessons at local music stores. Over the years, Janet experimented with various instruments but eventually discovered her true calling with the electric bass—a sound that resonated deeply with her soul. A proud member of the New Horizons Band at NAMM’s Museum of Making Music, Janet is an enthusiastic participant in both the orchestra and jazz band, where she shines in ensemble settings.

Carol Sides married into the Robert M. Sides Music Center family in the 1960s and soon became an important part of the company’s educational programs and music therapy activity. She worked long and hard to build up the local community bands and symphony orchestra as well as creating support for the music events in her community. Carol worked along side her husband, Pete, and later their two children, Alysha and Peter, who run the company today.  

Peter Sides is the president and third generation of his family to operate the Robert M. Sides Music Center Pennsylvania. His grandfather opened the store out of his home, selling and repairing pianos in 1937, and later his parents ran the store. Today, Peter and his sister, Alysha, run the company, which has several locations. Peter manages the store in the State College area and has worked hard in recent years to collect and preserve the rich history of his family and their music stores.

Alysha Sides-Greevy grew up in the music store that her grandfather established in 1937 and has enjoyed working in music retail along side her parents and brother. The Robert M. Sides Music Center began in Williamsport, Pennsylvania when her grandfather tuned and sold pianos out of his home. Alysha’s parents ran the store during the late 1960s up until she and her brother became active in the business. She also served on the NAMM Board as the head of NAYMM and has been active with music programs within her community.  

Paula Simmons wanted to create a shop where good quality instruments could be accessible to all those who came in the store.  As a teacher, Paula was very interested in providing lessons for students of all ages.  She tied both needs together when she and her partner, Kevin Smith,opened The Violin Shop in San Diego.  While continuing to perform as a professional musician, Paula somehow squeezed a little more time from her day to become the conductor of the North Coast Strings, which rehearses at the NAMM Foundation’s Museum of Making Music in Carlsbad, California. Her passion can

Rocky Smolin was surrounded by music as a kid and gravitated toward the guitar during the Folk boom of the 1960s. As his career in software development grew, music was set aside for a while until one day he realized he wanted to learn the bass. And so, he did! Rocky is a proud member of the New Horizons Band located at NAMM’s Museum of Making Music. This program was created for people who never had the opportunity to play an instrument or for those who played back in school and want to pick it up again. No matter what your circumstances, New Horizons Music provides a non-intimidat