Note: This event is open to adults of all ages.
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Two local groups are teaming up in an effort to light or re-ignite the community’s musical fire within.
New Horizons Band Guelph and Guelph-Wellington Seniors Association are set to host an instrument petting zone later this month, giving people an opportunity to try an instrument they’ve never played before or test out their muscle memory from years gone by.
“A lot of our band members played in high school and then didn't play for decades or many, many years and then re-entered the music world through our program,” said Jackie Brouwers, the band’s past-president. “We’re hoping for a big turnout.”
The event is set for Aug. 27 at the Evergreen Seniors Centre on Woolwich Street, near Riverside Park. It begins at 10 a.m. and is slated to run until 1 p.m.
There is no advanced registration, access to the instruments will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.
People will have a chance to check out several instruments such as trombone, tuba, flute, trumpet, saxophone, various drums and more.
The instrument petting zoo will be open to adults of all ages.
“We're not a seniors band, but we happen to have a number of seniors in our band,” said Brouwers, noting a collaboration with the seniors association makes sense. “We thought there was a really good connection between the two organizations. We serve a lot of the same people.”
New Horizons Band Guelph members will be on-hand to answer questions about the group’s programs, with representatives from a music store around to field questions about instrument rentals.
“Of course, we'll have health and safety protocols in place so that it's safe to try instruments in a group setting,” said Brouwers.
Live performances from New Horizons Band Guelph members are also expected.
Brouwers joined the band just before the pandemic hit, picking up bass guitar after trying several instruments in a mini-instrument petting zoo held by the group’s music director.
“I had no music experience when I joined the band,” she said, adding she got into it “much more heavily” after in-person gatherings resumed in 2022 and now takes private lessons in addition to participating in band events.
“This (instrument petting zoo) is on a much larger scale because we're hoping to attract people from Guelph-Wellington Seniors Association as well as other individuals,” Brouwers continued.
For more information about New Horizons Band Guelph and its programs, click here.
Click here for more information about the Guelph-Wellington Seniors Association.
