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 is now comprised of nearly 70 musicians.
We are affiliated with the New Horizons International Music Association (NHIMA), 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 as of early 2026 has grown to over 130 affiliates across the United States, Canada, Australia and Ireland.
Click the button below to learn more about NHIMA. (Page will open in a new window or tab.)
Our Music Director and Principal Conductor
Glenn Richter
“Some of the most meaningful musical growth happens later in life. For anyone returning to an instrument after years or even decades away, there is nothing quite like playing in a community where encouragement and artistic excellence go hand in hand—inspiring us to grow for ourselves and perform with pride for our audience.”
— Glenn Richter | Founder, Director and Principal Conductor
Glenn Richter, Professor Emeritus at the University of Texas at Austin, retired in 2015 after 37 years with UT Austin and earlier conducting appointments at the University of Michigan and University of Cincinnati. After 15 years as director of the UT Longhorn Band he took a sabbatical year in 1995 to design new courses in music business and sound recording. From 1996 to 2015 Glenn taught courses at the UT Butler School of Music and the Plan II Honors Program at UT, while also founding New Horizons Band Austin in 1998 with sponsorship from the UT Butler School.
Other notable accomplishments during his tenure at UT Austin include:
Serving the Butler School as Director/Chair of the Butler School of Music from 2012 to 2014.
Founding the Longhorn Music Label in 2008
Coordinating the donation of the music rights to The Eyes of Texas in 1983, a gift from Arthur Gurwitz of Southern Music Company.
Securing the rights to Texas Fight on behalf of UT Austin in 2010 before they became public domain