GRAFTON - Community members can enjoy a free concert featuring the local New Horizons Band of Godfrey, a musical group made up of 40 older adults.
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From 2–4 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, Grafton Winery the Vineyards will host the New Horizons Band. This concert is free to attend, and drinks and food will be available for purchase. Band Director Stanley Chytil promises a setlist that includes movie themes, big band music and more favorites. He explained that the band means a lot to him.
“It’s a lot of fun, and it’s nice to see happy people,” he said. “I don’t know how many people from the band have told me that if they didn’t play in the band, they wouldn’t know what to do. At that age, I’ve got a lot of people that are 80-plus years old, so they don’t have any peers from school or any friends. And now this way, they’ve got a group of 40 friends.”
Chytil started the New Horizons Band in 1998. The group practices at the Godfrey KC Hall every Monday. The public is welcome to watch these rehearsals.
Designed as a musical opportunity for senior citizens, the New Horizons Band’s oldest member is 92 years old. They have plenty of musicians in their 70s and 80s, with the youngest member in their 30s.
The group has grown a lot since its inception and now has nearly 40 members who are all very close. Chytil shared that he took the musicians and their spouses to the Czech Republic in 2006 to show them where he grew up. This trip solidified the group’s bond, and they still reminisce about the experience today.
The band regularly offers free concerts sponsored by the Jersey County Arts Council. Chytil and his musicians are eager to return to Grafton Winery the Vineyards for a beautiful afternoon of music. He noted that the venue is perfect for a fall concert, and attendees can enjoy the Vineyards’ food and drink options.
There will be an intermission that will allow the musicians to “mingle” with audience members. The band is focused on connections, and Chytil believes this will encourage more relationships.
The concert will feature music from “Star Trek,” “Music Man,” “James Bond,” and other big band tunes. Chytil is proud of the musicians for their dedication to the band and each other. As the band prepares to celebrate its 30th anniversary, he hopes it will continue to grow.
He encourages anyone who wants to know more about the New Horizons Band to visit their official Facebook page. For more information about the free fall concert on Sept. 27, click here.
“We hope to see you there,” Chytil added.
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