Davenport, Iowa - It was 1995. Jeri Leinen Moeller approached a retired music teacher, Bob Gaston, to start a band for senior citizens. With no equipment or music library, he recruited six musicians to help put the word of the bands inception into the music community. What started as an opportunity for older musicians to gather and play their instruments, soon became only the second band in Iowa to become a part of the International New Horizons Band movement.
Fast forward 20 years, that small group of six has grown to more than 60 musicians with a full concert band instrumentation. The steady growth in membership and reputation is due largely to the twenty years of voluntary and able leadership from Bob Gaston. And the band is still going strong celebrating their 20th Anniversary, Thursday, September 10th with a special Anniversary performance at CASI, 1035 West Kimberly Road in Davenport.
"Health benefits for seniors who partake in musical activities are many. Our New Horizons Band is just one of several events happening during National Senior Center Month at CASI," said Laura Kopp, CASI President/CEO. "The New Horizons Band, CASI's Musical ambassadors, share their instrumental talents throughout the community. They gather each week on Thursday afternoons filling CASI's Celebration Hall with incredible music", added Kopp.
CASI's New Horizons Band performs concerts and programs each year throughout the Quad Cities area. Performing as far away as Des Moines and Chicago, local venues include the National Cemetery, Bettendorf Park Band Shell summer concert series and Red, White and Boom for Davenport One, to name just a few. A few songs to be performed at the 20th Anniversary Celebration include the Star Spangled Banner and God Bless America.
CASI's New Horizons Band 20th Anniversary Celebration Concert is a free concert withrefreshments following a toe tapping performance. Join us Thursday, September 10, 2015 from 7:00pm to 9:00pm at CASI-The Center for Active Seniors, Inc., 1035 West Kimberly Road Davenport, Iowa.
CASI - The Center For Active Seniors, Inc., established in 1973, serves the needs of older adults by providing a variety of events and daily activities keeping older Quad Citians socially, mentally and physically engaged. As 10,000 baby boomers turn age 65 every day, "senior citizen" is being redefined as is the senior lifestyle. CASI's multi -pronged approach to helping seniors age successfully includes health and wellness initiatives, social engagement opportunities, lifelong learning and volunteer opportunities to keep the older adult active and involved with our Quad Cities community.
Senior Advocacy programs at CASI help older adults, their families, and caregivers with needs assessment helping partner them with other area agencies and programs keeping them in their own home for as long as is safely possible.
CASI's Jane's Place, the only adult day services center in Eastern Iowa, provides a comfortable, homelike atmosphere for adults who need supervised care during the day due to stroke recovery, Alzheimer's and dementia. Jane's Place provides just the right amount of personal care allowing maximum independence while at Jane's Place Day Service Center.
For more information about the programs and services offered through CASI, Jane's Place and/or Senior Advocacy, visit www.CASISeniors.org or call 563.386.7477.
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