Two Grace Brethren pastors were featured yesterday in an article about their involvement in the music scene in Hagerstown, Md. The Herald-Mail told how Larry Weber, who formerly retired in 2014 as pastor of the Grace Brethren Church in Waynesboro, Pa., and Dan Thornton, current pastor at Maranatha Brethren Church in Hagerstown, are helping lead a band that encourages older musicians to develop and showcase their skills. A portion of the story appears below. Click here for the complete article.
Making music keeps New Horizons Band members ‘young’
Making music is something people can do through all stages of life.
And that is the point of New Horizons Band, to offer an outlet for musicians 50 and older to continue developing and showcasing their musical skills.
“We enjoy the opportunity to make music until we can’t breathe anymore,” said Lawrence “Larry” Weber, director of the Hagerstown New Horizons Band.
“I said as long as my body and mind and spirit holds out, I can do that,” said Weber, who has been with the band about three years.
A 1957 North Hagerstown High School graduate who played trumpet in the marching band and was student director, Weber never followed through on plans to go to a music conservatory.
Instead, he stayed involved in music by directing a variety of choirs and orchestras, while working in fundraising, higher education and as a pastor.
Dan Thornton, who plays trombone, agreed to serve as assistant director and started in the position in March.
Click here for the complete article.