My Nonprofit Reviews

I have been a member of Band of the Hills from the first month of rehearsals 26+ years ago as it has grown from 25 players to over 100. I also play in the Band of the Hills Clarinet Choir which is a much smaller ensemble performing in a wider variety of venues.

The joy of making music with a community of like-minded folks of all ages would be hard to surpass. As a semi-retired engineer, the aesthetic, social, and cognitive are valuable to me. We know the greater Leander-Cedar Park-Austin community enjoys our performances and benefits from the presentation of a different kind of "live music" as well.

I have played clarinet with Band of the Hills during their entire 25 season history. The band provides many benefits to both it's members and the community.

The band performs seasonal music at civic events (Christmas Festivals or Library fund raisers) and presents community concerts through out the year. Sub-units of the band, such as the Band of the Hills Clarinet Choir, perform in smaller venues entertaining residents of retirement homes and civic groups such as retired teachers. Audiences for the band's performances range from the youngest children to the oldest retirees. It seems that after every concert we have youngsters coming up to ask about the various instruments and how they are played and sound. When the community comes together to enjoy such concerts, social bonds are strengthened.

The cognitive benefits of learning to play an instrument and playing music are well documented (for example see https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6447697/). Band of the Hills is a large musical organization with over 100 members. As such, it also conveys the benefits of social contact and interaction, not just among the members but extended to the families and friends who support the band and enjoy its performances. Members of the band range from middle and high school age players to retirees encouraging cross-age group social interaction. As a no-audition organization, it supports a friendly, less competitive social environment than other community bands.

For the reasons outlined above, Band of the Hills is an important asset to the community it serves.

Band of the Hills and the smaller ensembles (flute quartet, clarinet ensemble, etc.) provide entertainment to large and small groups in the Travis/Williamson county area of Texas. Nursing home visits during the holidays are particularly well regarded. For a participant, it is a chance to build social ties and to participate in a fulfilling music-making experience.

Band of the Hills enables other non-profits by bringing music to their events. It is a force multiplier for the Williamson/Travis counties society. In addition, it provides education (to audiences and members) and entertainment. As a member of both the Band of the Hills and the affiliated Clarinet Choir, I find it an excellent respite from my daily concerns. It is also well known that playing music has positive cognitive benefits. This is particularly important for older members.

Band of the Hills is a large community wind/percussion band that encourages participation across a wide range of ages (middle school to retirees) and skills (music education professionals and those returning to their instruments many years after school). It brings value to the community through the participation of over 80 performers as well as the entertainment from performances by the entire band and several sub-groups (clarinet choir, piccolo duet, flute quartet). The cognitive benefits of performing and listening to good music are well established. In addition, the band adds to the social capital of the greater Leander, Cedar Park, Austin and Georgetown communities through the rehearsals and performances.

Band of the Hills provides an environment for musicians of all ages - middle school to retirees - to come together and make music. The band supports many community activities like holiday tree lighting, library fundraisers, assisted living facility concerts, church concerts, and music festivals.