About the New Horizons Band of Austin, Texas
We’ve Got the Beat!
New Horizons Band of Austin is proud to include members from all walks of life. Our common bond is a desire to maintain, rekindle, or discover the joy of participating in a musical ensemble. All skill levels are welcome and no audition is required.
Our membership is primarily composed of musicians age 50 and older, reflecting our commitment to lifelong music-making. At the same time, we welcome adult players of all ages who share our enthusiasm for community and collaboration.
The band rehearses year round, on a weekly basis, and performs several concerts per year. Our concerts also provide an opportunity for members to perform as soloists or with small ensembles at the discretion of the director.
Our Origins
Glenn Richter, our music director, established Austin’s chapter of New Horizons Band in 1998. It began with four members and was sponsored by The University of Texas at Austin’s Butler School of Music. By the end of that year membership had increased to 20 musicians, many of whom had not taken their instruments out of their cases in at least 30 years!
By 2010, the band had grown to 60 members and was rehearsing on a weekly basis. Activities were halted for two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the band persevered and now has more than 60 members.
We are affiliated with the New Horizons International Music Association, a global movement dedicated to inclusive music-making for adults. The organization was founded in 1991 by Dr. Roy Ernst, Professor Emeritus at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York and currently has 215 affiliates in the United States, Canada, Australia and Ireland.
Our Music Director and Principal Conductor
Glenn Richter
Glenn Richter, Professor Emeritus at UT Austin, retired in 2015 after 44 years of teaching music. He came to UT Austin in 1980 as the Director of Longhorn Bands, a post that he held for 15 years. His final appointment was as Director of the Butler School of Music. Earlier in his career, Mr. Richter was Conductor of the University of Michigan Marching Band and Director of Bands at the University of Cincinnati.
In 1983 Mr. Richter coordinated the donation of the music rights to The Eyes of Texas, a gift from Arthur Gurwitz of Southern Music Company. In 2012 he secured the rights to Texas Fight on behalf of UT Austin before they became public domain. The rights to both well-known school songs now fund scholarships for Longhorn Band members.
