NHB Fall Session 2026
New Horizons Band Fall Session 2026
August 12 – December 9, 2026
A Concert Band experience for adult learners.
The New Horizons Band program serves adult learners of concert band instruments: flute, oboe, bassoon, clarinet, bass clarinet, alto sax, tenor sax, bari sax, trumpet, french horn, trombone, baritone, tuba, and percussion. The New Horizons Bands provide a wonderful opportunity to play your concert band instrument with a group of like-minded musicians! The bands bring together adults who never had the chance to learn a concert band instrument, those who played in school and have taken a substantial break from playing, or for those who have been playing all along! The bands are conducted by Nicole Mlynczak.
Rehearsals happen at the Museum of Making Music in Carlsbad. For background on the national program, see our New Horizons Band page.
☆ Museum members receive a 10% discount.
☆ Dual band enrollment $50 discount code: FALL2026
Fall 2026 Offerings
Beginning Band
Wednesdays, 4:00pm – 5:15pm
The New Horizons Beginning Band is designed as an entry point for adults who have never learned a concert band instrument or for those who have taken a substantial break since they last played! Participants will learn to read music and play a concert band instrument in an encouraging group setting.
For this band, we use the book Accent on Achievement, Book One by John O’Reilly and Mark Williams. Beginning Band is best taken as a full-year course, spanning both Fall 2026 and Spring 2027.
☆ Museum members receive a 10% discount. ☆ Dual band enrollment $50 discount code: FALL2026 ☆
Intermediate Band
Wednesdays, 5:30pm – 6:45pm
The intermediate band is an opportunity to strengthen fundamental skills in a supportive environment. The intermediate band welcomes adult musicians who have played their concert band instruments for at least one year. No audition is necessary.
For this band, we use the book Accent on Achievement, Book Two by John O’Reilly and Mark Williams.
☆ Museum members receive a 10% discount. ☆ Dual band enrollment $50 discount code: FALL2026 ☆
Advanced Band
Wednesdays, 7:00pm – 8:30pm
The concert band welcomes adult musicians who are comfortable playing a more advanced level of music.
☆ Museum members receive a 10% discount. ☆ Dual band enrollment $50 discount code: FALL2026 ☆
Jazz Band
Mondays, 5:30pm – 7:00pm
The jazz band is a subset of our larger band program.
* There are currently no openings for the jazz band
To be added to the wait list, please email nicolem@museumofmakingmusic.org
☆ Museum members receive a 10% discount. ☆ Dual band enrollment $50 discount code: FALL2026 ☆
About the Conductor
Nicole Izzo Mlynczak (she/her) is a music educator, conductor, performer, and arts administrator committed to creating empathetic and supportive spaces where people can connect, create, collaborate, and learn. She spent over a decade as a band director, private instructor, and performer in Baton Rouge, LA, before serving as Director of Career Education and Experiential Programs at Berklee College of Music and The Boston Conservatory in Boston, MA. At Berklee, she led curricular, programmatic, and professional development initiatives, working with students, alumni, faculty, and staff leadership to connect classroom learning to real-world opportunities in the music and performing arts industries.
Nicole currently serves as Director of Programming and Media at Salt Lick Incubator, a nonprofit supporting emerging independent artists through grants, showcases, recording sessions, and artist development programming. She also consults and presents on career readiness, workforce development, and the value of arts education for students, educators, and arts leaders.
She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in clarinet performance and music education, specializing in wind conducting, from Louisiana State University, and is a member of NAfME and the Recording Academy. She’s excited to bring her experience and enthusiasm for community-based music-making to the North Coastal New Horizons Bands.