Desert Hills Community School of Music

Celebrate our country’s 250th anniversary with music from the cultures that have come together to make America what it is today! With musical selections from Spain, Germany, England, Ireland, India, and more, the Desert Hills Community Band will take your ears through the streets of the major origins of immigration to the United States. Save the date so you don’t forget to join us in April!

Desert Hills Community Saxophone Ensemble will present “Let’s March!”, a concert celebrating all things wonderful about the month of March featuring music to boost your St. Patrick’s Day mood and get your feet stomping alongside roaring, clucking, and baa-ing creatures. Come ready with your March trivia knowledge for an interactive concert program game. This 1-hour program is sure to have you marching the aisle by the end of the concert!

Desert Hills Community Saxophone Ensemble is an intergenerational group of 16 saxophonists with musicians in elementary, middle and high school as well as someone in his 80s and every decade in between!

This concert will also feature performances by The Desert Hills Youth Saxophone Quartet and the Fountain Hills Saxophone Quartet.

When: Sunday, March 22 at 4:00PM

Where: Desert Hills Presbyterian Church (main sanctuary)

Cost: Free!

Tomorrow take a midday coffee break with a FREE mini concert!

Greg Hamilton, cello, and David Oliver, piano, come together to bring our audience a most loved pairing. The evocative and dream-like Brahms E minor sonata will be featured on this program. This music is perfect for our autumnal weather, marking the end of winter and will include a lively discussion from our performers. Venue: The Fellowship Hall at Desert Hills Presbyterian Church 34605 N. Tom Darlington Rd. Scottsdale, AZ 85266

We welcome internationally respected pianist Robert Hamilton and his daughter, Bryn Cannon, viola performer, composer, and educator. Featuring the music of Kalliwoda, CPE Bach, and one of today’s performers, this program explores the connections between musicians and composers and the effects of growing up in a musical family. Take a midday break with us an enjoy a cup of coffee with some EXCELLENT music. We will see you there at noon. Venue: The Fellowship Hall at Desert Hills Presbyterian Church 34605 N. Tom Darlington Rd. Scottsdale, AZ 85266.

To help our community in a different way, Jocelyn Obermeyer, our harp instructor, has offered to run a 7-session class using her expertise as a Therapeutic Harp Practitioner. Participants can come in and use music to process past experiences that may be preventing them from thriving in life. Each participant will have a hands-on experience of getting to play the harp at each session while working through their own life stories. With each session we hope you find more comfort and reduced anxiety in your days. Join us starting February. More information and registration on our website: www.deserthillsmusic.org/ensembles

Do you play the flute? Next week we start meeting for Flute Choir! Flutists of all levels and all ages are invited to join us for this community ensemble. In a few rehearsals you’ll prepare an engaging concert with other flute lovers. Doesn’t matter if you play flute in band right now or haven’t touched a flute in 20 years, come join us! Register on your website and we will see you on Tuesday evening! https://www.deserthillsmusic.org/ensembles

This is your invitation to walk down the hall, open that closet door, and pull out your instrument that’s been collecting dust for years. Then join us for one of the Spring 2026 ensembles! Our all-ages Saxophone Ensemble had their first rehearsal yesterday, but if you still want to join, contact us immediately and we will see what we can do. All-ages Flute Choir starts next week on Tuesday. No set theme for the concert yet because Mikaela Hannon will choose pieces based on the participants’ interests! And our third ensemble is Community Band with rehearsals starting February 15 and is waiting for any adult woodwinds, brass, or percussion players. These ensembles give you a fabulous experience playing great music with fellow music lovers. Visit our website to register and we look forward to seeing you in one of our ensembles… with your shiny, freshly dusted-off instrument of course. 😊 https://www.deserthillsmusic.org/ensembles

Soak in the welcoming tones of Italy. Move through a swirling melody from Spain. Crescendo into the bold spirit of Russia. For many, traveling out of the country might be a far off dream. But through music, you can experience the essence of other countries with your own musical instrument! This semester, Desert Hills Community Band will be presenting music from AROUND THE WORLD and we need YOU to bring the music to life. If you play a woodwind, brass, or percussion instrument — or if you have fond memories of playing one in high school/college and have been thinking about getting it back out and playing again — the Desert Hills Community Band is for you! The band is open to adults of all levels. The six rehearsals to prepare the concert all happen on Sundays so it’s easy to fit into a busy schedule. Registration is open now on the website. https://www.deserthillsmusic.org/ensembles Register before the first rehearsal on February 15. See you then!

Calling all flutists! The Desert Hills Flute Choir is a group of flutists of all ages and ability levels who share a love of playing the flute. The group includes piccolos, C flutes, alto flutes, and bass flutes. We want you to join us and be a part of this flute community! Learn music with other flute lovers. Flute Choir performances are tailored to the level and interests of the group. Our director, Mikaela Hannon, is currently the Secretary of the Arizona Flute Society and a Teaching Artist for the Phoenix Symphony, bringing a wealth of experience to the DHCSM Flute Choir. Register on our website now. www.deserthillsmusic.org/ensembles Rehearsals begin January 27 so don’t delay!

Calling all saxophone players of all ages! Whether you’re a current saxophone player or your horn has accumulated some years of dust, come out and play fun music with a group of saxophone players from all over the Valley. The Desert Hills Community Saxophone Ensemble welcomes saxophonists of all ages (we have had players from ages 11 - 84!) and all ability levels. In six Sunday rehearsals you will prepare a fun and engaging concert. What is the theme this session? March! Players will learn marches and music relating to the word March (St. Patrick’s Day music anyone?) Do not wait! Rehearsal begin this Sunday. Register on our website and we will see you in 3 days. www.deserthillsmusic.org/ensembles

Ever wanted to learn how to professionally record yourself or others? Thanks to a generous grant from the Kiwanis Club of Carefree, DHCSM has a portable Recording Studio. Taught by Berklee instructor and world-renowned guitarist Phillip Sheeran, this 8-week course covers the fundamentals of digital recording, editing, mixing, and mastering, utilizing the Digital Audio Workstation - Avid Pro Tools.

Recording Studio Lab will be offered this Spring, 2026 by Phil Sheeran. Classes start soon (day and time determined by participant availability).

ABOUT THE LAB
Recording Studio Lab (RSL) is a weekly one-hour hands-on class that teaches the fundamentals of using a DAW (digital audio workstation) recording, editing, mixing, and basic mastering. Over 8 weeks, students will work on multiple projects in class and at home.

Congratulations to DHCSM cello instructor, Dr. Gregory Hamilton, who assumes the role of Director of Administration today. Greg takes over from Heather Baldwin, who has served in that position since the school's inception in 2022.

Prior to joining the DHCSM faculty two years ago, Greg spent 15 years as associate professor of cello and bass at Concordia College, Moorhead, MN. Before that, he was the Executant Senior Lecturer of Cello at the University of Otago in New Zealand. Greg has performed worldwide and released a solo CD, "The Hollywood Cello."

Greg is looking forward to continue growing DHCSM and providing the Carefree, Cave Creek and North Scottsdale areas with the world-class music instruction for which the school is known.