On Dec. 16, beloved band conductor Beth Newell led her final winter concert at Harvey Green Elementary, appreciated by students and parents.
Growing up in Berkeley, Newell has been teaching in the Bay Area since 2017, when she began conducting with Fremont Education Foundation’s afterschool band program. While that program ended during the Covid pandemic, Newell stayed involved as a PTA volunteer at Harvey Green. She has taught beginning and intermediate band there for seven years.
Although Newell’s journey with music began early—with piano lessons at age seven—the path hasn’t been smooth. In 1990, a head injury permanently affected her coordination, leaving her unable to play both hands of piano and stringed instruments. Newell taught psychology at CSU Fresno for 33 years, before moving to Oregon with her husband. There she joined the Pacific Coast Wind Ensemble.
Her band motto is “practice makes progress.”
A Harvey Green parent shared how his son started playing alto saxophone under her instruction in 2019, continuing with outdoor practices during the pandemic. Now an 11th grader, the student has just made California All-State Band. He returned to play soprano saxophone for this December’s farewell concert.
Although Newell’s time at Harvey Green has come to an end, she will continue to lead band at Niles Elementary.
