So far this year, we've said, "goodbye", to winter, spring & summer. Fall is fighting to stay around, but so far, winter is winning - at least where I live (Rocky Mountains in Montana). Trick or Treaters will be out tonight, and then our sights move to Thanksgiving, a time to reflect on all that we have to be thankful for. This year was a very full year of handbells for me. I attended the Snake River Handbell Conference, Coppers Classic, Big Sky Handbell Festival, Area 10 Handbell Conference, Into the Forest, and Distinctly Bronze West. Whew! I have learned so much this year and met so many new ringer friends. Most surprisingly, this year, both the choir I ring with and the choir I direct have the most ringers we have had in years, welcoming new ringers and returning former ringers. I am thankful for all the new friends I have met through handbells and all of the places I've been able to travel to because of handbells. But at the end of this year, as I look at all of the events we have coming up, I'm thankful to be able to share the beautiful sounds of handbells with my community at this very special time of year. HAPPY HOLIDAYS (editor)

The David Davidson Composition Contest Committee have chosen Matthew Compton as the winner for his work, Soundscapes. The Committee also recognized composer Caleb Onstead with Honorable Mention for his piece, The Crucible.

The Davidson Composition Competition Committee is an anonymous group appointed by the executive director. The Committee reviewed ten entries in this year's competition. The David Davidson Composition Fund was created in October 2009 to encourage the creation of original works for advanced handbell ensembles. Works selected for awards from this fund illustrate the high musical standards embodied by Maestro David Davidson. Davidson was a nationally recognized church music, choral, and handbell clinician, who was instrumental in creating Distinctly Bronze, Handbell Musicians of America's event for highly accomplished handbell musicians to ring advanced literature. 

Previous recipients of the David Davidson Composition Competition are Ron Mallory (2010) for The Stars Await, Anthony Chapman (2011) for Black Belling, David Tiedman (2014) for Cascades, and Robert Riker (2016) for WonderDance. 

Matthew Compton's Soundscapes will be published by AGEHR Publishing, Inc., and performed on March 3, 2024, at Distinctly Bronze East's 25th Anniversary concert in New Bern, North Carolina. This performance will be conducted by Emily Li and livestreamed. Compton will receive a cash prize of $1,500, and transportation/lodging so he may be present for the premiere performance in New Bern.

Compton is a native of Colorado Springs and has been composing, arranging, and conducting music for handbells since 2007 when he was in the eighth grade. He had his first composition published at the age of fifteen, making him one of the youngest published handbell composers. Compton graduated from Concordia University Wisconsin with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music with an emphasis in Composition and Conducting. Now based out of Vancouver, Washington, he is the music director of the Bells of the Cascades in Portland, Oregon, Director of Music Ministries at Salmon Creek Church in Vancouver, and recently has become the new Artistic Director of Pikes Peak Ringers in Colorado Springs, CO. In addition to being a guest clinician at handbell festivals across the country, his music is frequently used at local and national handbell festivals, like the Bay View Week of Handbells and Distinctly Bronze East and West. He has been the recipient of the Donald E. Allured Composition Award.

Come and join many other handbell musicians ringing six great pieces under the direction of Michael Joy. The pieces are level 2-3 incorporating various music styles, techniques, and seasons. The weekend begins with set-up Friday, February 10 in the late afternoon with the opening rehearsal at 6:30 pm. It continues Saturday beginning at 9:00 am and concludes with a concert for the community at 6:30 pm.

Cost is $55 per person postmarked on or before December 15, 2023 and $65 after December 15. This includes all conference activities plus snacks on Saturday. A $10 discount is offered for 2 or more from the same immediate family. The first family member pays full price; each additional person from the family is $10 less.

Information *** Registration *** Repertoire

This event is sponsored by Handbell Musicians of America.

Scholarships. We have scholarships for Area 10 musicians! More than two!! Our alum feels so strongly that we should have access for musicians regardless of finances that they give to create opportunities. Because there is such a great opportunity for musical and technical growth, we want everyone to be able to experience this event at least once. Be sure to apply.

Registration opens soon! https://coppersclassic.com

Questions? Contact our event coordinator at : eventcoordinatorcoppersclassic@gmail.com.

This event is endorsed by Handbell Musicians of America.

The 2024 edition of Siskiyou Summit returns to the Friday evening to Saturday evening event, featuring Massed and Division ringing and classes to help you hone your artistry and ringing techniques. Depending on interest, we will offer a Bronze Conference Choir directed by Ellie Hodder.

Barb Walsh is our guest conductor, she is the Founder and Artistic Director of Tintabulations of Reno, NV. She brings an energy and a keen ear for musicality to the music she conducts.

The chosen repertoire for the event celebrates early pioneers in the development of our Musical Art Form—Betty Garee and Don Allured. We advance on to composers who continued to move our art form forward: Arnold Sherman and Cynthia Dobrinski from the middle years; with final selections from some of the newest contributors to the repertoire and the development of our art form: Brenda Austin, Mitchell Eithun and Matthew Compton.  

Schedule *** Repertoire

Registration opens January 1, 2024 with registration details coming soon. Contact Diane Barnes at dkbarnes@jeffnet.org if you have any questions.

This event is sponsored by Handbell Musicians of America.