The Newsletter of Area 1 Handbell Musicians of America | Vol. XXXIX No. 6 | December 2024 | |
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IN THIS EDITION:
- Report from the Board Chair
- Notice of next Area 1 Board Meeting
- Shurcliff Leadership Award Nominations Due December 31
- Winter Workshop 2025 Early Bird Registration Ends December 22
- Totally Tins Workshop Coming March 8
- FC 25 News: Bronze/Tins Mentor Program Details
- Notes from State and Regional Chairs
- Please be sure to scroll down/click "view entire message" to see - and support - our advertisers
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IMPORTANT READABILITY NOTICE: There's lots of great things happening in Area 1! So much so that Gmail can't show you everything in one email. Many Gmail users have noticed (and perhaps some of you haven't noticed) that our newsletter gets cut off at the bottom. You must click "view entire message" at the bottom of this email in order to read the full newsletter. Also, regardless of your email platform, you must enable "external images" in order to see all graphics and activate hot links. If you want to see the photos embedded in the newsletter at a larger view, simply cilck on each photo. Sorry for all the extra steps, but you really don't want to miss out! | |
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“But that’s “MY” position.” “I can only play well if I can play my notes.” “I don’t ever play those notes, so I can’t.”
While some techniques change based on the size of the bell and the safety of performing the technique, most bell techniques are pretty universally applied across the instrument. A lovely stroke is completed in the treble, battery, and bass bells in much the same way. Strike each bell with the mallet where the clapper would hit. Give the bell more momentum and it will play louder. For most positions, the note to the left side of my body is a space note, and to the right is a line.
It is very much a part of human nature to want to settle in where we’re most comfortable. We’re pulled to that place at the table where the livin’ is easy - where the motions feel good, the notes are easy to find, and the bells seem to do whatever we ask them to do. We gladly leave those other bells to the other musicians in our group. Naturally, our bodies will also set some very real limits for each of us as we ring.
However, we’re born as humans to adapt and to grow with changes in our environment. While challenges are uncomfortable to us in the short term, they lead to growth in the long term. The times I’ve grown the most as a handbell musician are the times I’ve been thrown (or assigned) into a new position where my comfort level was low or nonexistent. In those moments, the quick observations and reflections come flooding in. “Oops that was too loud!” ”Ack, I’ve gotten twisted up!” “How am I supposed to do this?” “She makes it look much easier than this!” “I hope Karen didn’t hear that…” These have all led to extra practice, inquisitions of the neighbors, and solutions that I can use in the future. I challenge you to push the borders of your comfort zone, and recommend taking advantage of the many classes or workshops Area 1 has to offer!
Happy Ringing,
Jenn Stack
Area 1 Chair
chair.area1@handbellmusicians.org
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Editor's Note: Area 1 is grateful to Handbell Services for allowing us to use their handbell silhouette artwork featured in our 'Report from the Chair' header. | |
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Notice of next Area 1 Board Meeting
Area 1 Board Meetings are open to all members of the Guild and held three times a year, usually in January, May and September. Our next regular Board Meeting is January 11, 2025 and will be held virtually. Considering a board position? Just want to hear about all the cool stuff happening here? If you are interested in attending, please email Jenn Stack, Area 1 Chair.
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Shurcliff Award Nominations Due December 31
Do you know someone special who tirelessly promotes handbells and The Guild for Area 1? Perhaps a teacher or director who had the patience and took the extra time to get you and your handbell group up to speed? Just how much do they love and promote handbells? Please consider nominating that person for the Margaret H. Shurcliff Leadership Award!
To be considered for the Margaret Shurcliff Leadership Award, nominees must have been a member of Handbell Musicians of America (also known as The Guild, formerly American Guild of English Handbell Ringers) Area 1, in good standing, for at least five continuous years prior to nomination. Persons not currently a member of Area 1 (for reasons of age, and/or retirement, or change of address out of Area 1) will be considered, as long as the five-year continuous prior membership requirement is met.
As a present, former, or deceased Handbell Musicians of America member, your nominee has made noteworthy and lasting contributions to Area 1, in one or more of the following areas:
- teaching effectively
- promoting healthy handbell ringing practices
- organizing and promoting local, statewide or Area 1 ringing events
- mentoring new choirs and ringers
- upholding The Guild motto – “Uniting people through a musical art.”
Don't delay! Please download the Nomination Form, enlist friends and fellow ringers to help complete the nomination, and return the completed nomination to Area 1 secretary , Harriet Forman, secretary.area1@handbellmusicians.org, by December 31, 2024.
Winner(s) will be announced at Area 1 Festival Conference 2025 in Worcester this coming June. For future consideration, Shurcliff Leadership Award Nominations are always due by December 31 of the year just prior to Area 1 Festival Conference.
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Winter Workshop is January 24-25, 2025 Early Bird Registration Closes December 22
Area 1 returns to UMass Amherst for our popular Winter Workshop weekend, featuring two different ringing tracks and ten different workshop opportunities. The Distinctly New England track will be directed by Jason Krug, and Beyond Basics, Before Bronze will be directed by Pete Larson and Samantha Beschta.
Repertoire for Distinctly New England:
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Prelude and Fugue on Noel Nouvelet – Fred Gramann, From the Top Publishing, MFM20783/5-7 octaves handbells and handchimes/Level 5
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Hallelujah – Matthew Compton, Grassy Meadow Music, GMH350016/3-6 octaves handbells and handchimes/Level 3+
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Pale Blue Dot – Jason Krug, Jeffers Publishing, JHS9605/5-8 octaves handbells/Level 5
Repertoire for Beyond Basics, Before Bronze:
(Both pieces are also Massed pieces in the Festival Conference 2025 Repertoire)
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Fanfare and Intrada - Jason Krug, Beckenhorst Publishing, MBEHB777/3-6 octaves handbells/Level 3
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Recollection – Tim Waugh, Choristers Guild, MCGB973 /3-5 octaves handbells/Level 2+
The early bird price is $195 and registration is available through December 22. After December 22, registration will be $225. This price includes Friday Dinner, Breakfast, and Lunch on Saturday.
| Please join us for an opportunity to meet other handbell ringers and directors, hone your ringing skills, and spend time ringing with some wonderful people. Would your group like to advertise in the Winter Workshop program booklet? Space deadline is January 10, 2025. Contact Suzanne Neafus, ct.area1@handbellmusicians.org, for all the details. | |
Totally Tins: A Workshop for Emerging Handbell Musicians
Join fellow ringers from throughout New England for Totally Tins: A Workshop for Emerging Handbell Musicians. This event is designed to get even the most beginning ringers focused on creating a broad palette of musical sounds. Clinician Kimberlee Strepka will introduce participants to concepts from Laban Movement Theory that can be applied to their ringing technique. We will work on two pieces of music, which will be accessible for choirs of all sizes but also provide rich opportunity for musical expression.
Full choirs, partial choirs, and individual ringers are all welcome to attend. Participants are encouraged to bring their own bells, mallets, and foam. If you wish to attend but do not have access to equipment, please indicate this fact on the registration form. (Individuals in this situation may need to offer increased flexibility about which position they'll be ringing.) Participants should also plan to purchase the repertoire in advance, so that they can mark their parts in whatever ways are most helpful to them.
Full details are as follows:
What: Totally Tins: A Workshop for Emerging Handbell Musicians
When: Saturday, March 8, 10 AM to 3 PM
Where: Village Congregational Church, 5 Church Street, Whitinsville, MA
Clinician: Dr. Kimberlee Strepka
Registration: $15 per person
Repertoire:
More information and registration coming soon; watch your email!
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Abby Schoppe
Chair, Greater Boston MA & NH Region
Area 1, Handbell Musicians of America
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Something new for Festival Conference 2025:
Bronze/Tins Ringer Mentor Program
TINS RINGERS: Have you ever wondered how the Bronze Ringers do all that and make it look so easy?
BRONZE RINGERS: Would you like to share your knowledge and experience with new ringers, but don’t want to teach a class to do it?
Let's make this happen! For those who request it, we’ll assign bronze "ringing buddies" to tins ringers.
They will stand side-by-side, ringing the same part for all tins and massed selections. Bronze mentors can share their knowledge and help tins ringers grow their skills. No extra cost to you! If you have questions, contact Lisa at events.area1@handbellmusicians.org. Otherwise, just sign up at the link below.
Tins Ringers must be:
- comfortable ringing next to a different ringer than usual.
- willing to accept helpful pointers and corrections.
Bronze Mentors must be:
- friendly, approachable and easy to talk to.
- able to offer aid and corrections without coming off as critical.
- willing to ring the bronze selections with extra bells on the tables and tins tingers sitting behind you.
- willing to be assigned to the same position for all songs.
- prepared ahead of time, noting possible spots to review with your mentee.
- If you regularly ring with a bronze choir that is on the ringing floor as a group, you must give up your spot with that group to an independent (orphan) bronze ringer - and your director must agree!
Complete the Sign-Up Form to reserve your spot early. Space and position choices are limited, so signing up is no guarantee of acceptance, but we’ll try to accommodate as many as we can.
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We anticipate that Festival Conference registration will be live in early 2025. Visit https://area1.handbellmusicians.org/festival-conference/ for details as they emerge.
Stay connected as we look forward to another amazing time in Worcester!
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Notes from CONNECTICUT
Suzanne Neafus, Connecticut State Chair
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Greetings and welcome to the holiday season, where bell concerts and performances are everywhere. I have listed a few below, but please read this newsletter for others.
There are many Area 1 sponsored events in 2025, starting with the Winter Workshop in January and many local events leading up to Festival Conference in June. You can find information on these events in this newsletter and on the Area 1 website.
Why not challenge yourself in 2025 to attend an event and introduce yourself to other bell ringers? I have met some fascinating and amazing people through bell ringing and just talking to others, and I would highly recommend you try it, too.
Another opportunity in 2025: Steven Mazeau is seeking volunteers for an Introduction to Handbell Ringing session for the New England Folk Festival Association (NEFFA) in April 2025. Reach out to him at steven.mazeau@gmail.com for more information.
For those who celebrate, I wish you a blessed Advent and Christmas season, and for others, tidings of great joy, best wishes and sending vibes of peace and joy for the new year.
Keep on Ringing!
Suzanne Neafus
Connecticut State Chair
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Annual Candlelight Christmas Concert
Sunday December 15, 2024 at 4:00 p.m. at First Church of Middletown
190 Court St. Middletown, Connecticut
All are invited to attend the Annual Candlelight Christmas Concert at First Church, Middletown. Seasonal music will be provided by the First Church Faith Ringers, Heart in Hand Bells, vocal groups and musicians, as well as Christmas readings and carols. This event is free. Donations will be accepted to benefit the music program at the church. All are invited to the large reception that follows. The church is handicapped accessible. For information call 860-346-6657 or email firstchurchucc@sbcglobal.net.
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Chime In! Music with a Mission Events
Christmas Bells & Apple Crisp
Concert at 1 p.m. on Saturday, December 14
First Church of Bethlehem, 21 Main Street South, Bethlehem, CT
Apple Crisp ($5) provided by First Church Missions Committee during their Christmas Bazaar from 10 am to 3 pm. Breakfast sandwiches, soup, holiday crafts, and more…
Candlelight & Christmas Bells
Join us during the Christmas Town Festival
Friday, December 6 for Two Concerts at 7 & 8 p.m.
Christ Episcopal Church, Main Street, Bethlehem
Parking at the Bethlehem Fairgrounds with bus service to the center of town.
Christmas Café & Holiday Handbells
Join Us during the Woodbury Christmas Festival
Saturday, December 7 for Three Mini-Concerts at 2:00, 2:45, 3:15 p.m.
Woodbury United Methodist Church, 4 Church Street, Woodbury, Connecticut
Extra Parking at North Congregational Church at the corner of Main Street North and
Washington Ave
Ring In the New Year: Dessert & Bells
Saturday, January 18, 2025 at 7:00 p.m.
First Church of Bethlehem, 21 Main Street South, Bethlehem, CT
More information at www.ChimeInMusic.org
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Notes from MAINE
Dana Humphreys, Maine State Chair
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Hello Maine Ringers!
This fall, I’ve had the great fun of visiting three handbell choirs around Maine and ring with them as they rehearsed their Thanksgiving and Christmas music.
During peak foliage season, I visited the Lovell United Church of Christ, located in the foothills of the White Mountains, and was hosted by ringer Elsa Newhouse. While all choirs have had to adapt to changes in membership, Lovell has the unusual situation of having more ringers during the summer than the winter due to the summer folk vacationing in Lovell. But they, like many choirs, have adapted well and changed their repertoire to fit the ringers they have. Elsa attended this year’s Maine Spring Ring concert and saw a handy chime rack used by another choir. She described it to a church member who constructed one from materials he had on hand, and it works great! (See the photo below.)
In early November, I headed north to visit two choirs who (I believe) are Maine’s northern-most HMA members. I first visited with Kalina Young and her ringers at the Hampden Highlands United Methodist Church, just south of Bangor. Next was a rehearsal with Terri Coolong and members of the Claire E. Thompson Ringers at the First Congregational Church in Lincoln, about an hour north of Hampden Highlands. I mention these two choirs in the same paragraph because they are an excellent example of cooperation and collaboration even though they are an hour from each other. Both choirs are regular attendees at Maine Spring Ring and share a table together. One ringer is a member of both choirs. And ringers from both choirs came together to perform a Christmas concert at a Bangor area senior living community. As I mentioned to both choirs, they are fulfilling the mission statement of HMA by “…advancing the musical art of handbell/handchime ringing through education, community and communication.”
Finally, I want to acknowledge the handbell choir at the United Methodist Church of Auburn. They performed a moving tribute to one of their long-time and beloved ringers, Becky Skilling, who passed away at age 58 after a battle with cancer. Soon after Becky’s death, Bill Buzza, handbell director, and Kim Visbaras, long-time ringer and known throughout Area 1, worked together to compose a piece in honor and remembrance of Becky, entitled “Becky’s Going Home.” The arrangement drew musical themes from two popular songs, Dire Strait’s “Going Home” and Dvorak’s “Goin’ Home” movement from his New World Symphony. The choir performed the piece in church on All Saints Day, with many of Becky’s family members in attendance. Members of the congregation spoke of how moving and healing the arrangement was. Even a young grandchild from Becky’s family, normally restless during church, was held in rapt attention, holding the hands of his grandparents while the choir played.
At all levels, those of us who perform handbell music bring joy, awe, contemplation and healing to both ringers and listeners. May this spirit of music be with you during the holiday season.
Dana Humphreys
Maine State Chair
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Happy December, Handbell Friends!
At this time of year, most of you are very busy with performances, whether in your churches or in the broader community. But I hope you can take the time to also go hear another bell choir perform during this holiday season. There’s nothing like observing other handbell musicians (especially advanced ones) to inform and inspire one’s own ringing or conducting! Check out our local community choirs’ concert schedules: the Back Bay Ringers, Granite State Ringers, Merrimack Valley Ringers, or New England Ringers are likely to be performing near you soon!
Looking farther ahead, I’m excited to announce that Marilyn Becker will be the clinician for the 2025 Massachusetts Spring Ring. Marilyn directs a robust, multi-choir handbell program at Hancock Church in Lexington, MA. She also served as the clinician for the 2021 Area 1 Ringer Reunion, the virtual Spring Ring that was offered during Covidtide. We’re confident that ringers will enjoy making music under her direction.
MA Spring Ring will be held on April 5, at our usual location at Tewksbury Memorial High School. As usual, registration will be $15 per ringer, and repertoire is as follows:
Massed (optional for Tins):
Massed (optional for Coppers):
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Brenda Austin's Morning Glory, 2-3 octaves handbells with optional rainstick, Level 2-, AGEHR Publishing AG23056. Note that this piece was originally supposed to be the Tins piece for the 2020 MA Spring Ring (which never happened), so you may already own this one!
Coppers:
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Arnold Sherman's Come, Christians, Join to Sing. 3-5 octaves handbells with optional flute and percussion, Level 3+, Hope Publishing HP2863 (ringer’s score) and HP2863D (full score and instrumental parts).
We hope to get the event webpage up soon, and registration will open in early January; I’ll send out an email when that happens. Looking forward to seeing many of you in Tewksbury in April – or perhaps at another Area 1 event even sooner!
Abby Schoppe
Chair, Greater Boston MA/NH Region
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Happy December, Cape Cod Musicians!
It was great to be with many of you on November 16 at the Skill-Building Workshop in Orleans. Looking ahead, we are excited for the 2025 Cape Cod Spring Ring! Details are as follows:
Date: Saturday, March 22, 9 AM to 3:30 PM
Location: Harwich Community Center, 100 Oak Street, Harwich, MA
Clinician: Cheryl Townsend, Artistic Director of the New England Ringers
Registration: $15
Repertoire:
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Jason Krug’s Inception, 2-5 octaves handbells, Level 2, Lorenz LC202020L (3-5 oct.) and LC202021L (2-3 oct.)
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Brenda Austin's Hashivenu (Rise up and Sing), 2-6 octaves handbells with optional 2-5 octaves handchimes, Level 2, Hope HP3208 (3-6 oct.) and HP3047 (2-3 oct.)
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Arnold Sherman’s Song of Gladness, 2-6 octaves handbells with optional 3 octaves handchimes, Level 2+, Red River Music RRHB0064
I will email directors to let them know as soon as registration opens. In the meantime, it’s never too soon to start rehearsing the repertoire!
Lastly, the New England Ringers will be performing in Sandwich this holiday season, at 4 PM on Dec. 8 at First UCC of Sandwich. It’s always inspiring to hear a bronze-level community choir, so I hope many of you will be able to attend!
Looking forward to seeing many of you in March!
Abby Schoppe
Chair, Cape Cod & Islands Region
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Hello Western Mass – Let’s welcome in December!
Wait! It’s December… already?!? Before we dive into the holiday ring of things, let me just share a few highlights from our last Western Mass workshop, Fall Tune-up (“TUNE”-up… get it?). What a huge success! With a full morning of multi-level classes and an afternoon filled with joyful ringing, it was a perfect day. More than 40 ringers from Massachusetts and Connecticut came together to learn, ring and have a good time. And a shout out to the many amazing people that I had only had the pleasure of “seeing” through emails.
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And now we are cruising into the holiday season. Baby it’s cold outside, so why not be warm inside ringing or taking in a concert (or two)? This time of year, there are many handbell concerts all over Massachusetts. I hope you can find one near you. There is even a local event happening today that you might be able to take in. Come “Ring in the Season” at the Wilbraham United Church at 3:00 pm on Sunday, December 1st. You will hear a dozen or so handbell pieces from this mighty 3 octave choir. So, start off your holiday season here in Western Mass at the Wilbraham United Church, 500 Main Street, Wilbraham (there’s plenty of parking for reindeer). And don't worry if you can’t make this one, there are plenty more around, so take a look at the links and schedules for the other areas and at the bottom of this newsletter. I’m sure there is a handbell holiday concert near you!
It truly is the most wonderful time of the year! However, it can also be one of the busiest times of the year, so remember to pause and soak up some of the holiday magic that will be happening all around you.
Looking forward, I hope to see many of you again in January at Winter Workshop at UMass Amherst. Registration is open! If you hurry, you can still get in under the early bird discount. Winter Workshop - Area 1 Handbell Musicians of America
Best wishes, and I look forward to ringing with you all in 2025.
Audrey Pierce
Western Mass Chair
westernma.area1@handbellmusicians.org
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Hello from RI!
I hope this finds you well as I am sure your choirs are preparing for the upcoming festive season! There are so many great workshops and events coming up to keep you ringing into and well past the holidays!
First, there is a concert happening on December 1, at the Chepachet Baptist Church in Chepachet, RI entitled “Holy is the Night: Christmas Carols from Southern Europe.” This performance will feature many talented musicians, including the Greenville Baptist Church Bell Ringers, directed by Elizabeth Gates. This sounds like a wonderful event!
Second, there are several ringing events happening after the holidays and into the spring. Please see the list below. Most of these events are fairly close to us and are highly recommended. Check out the Area 1 events page at https://area1.handbellmusicians.org/events/ for details and registration.
Lastly, if you are an intermediate to more advanced ringer in the Blackstone Valley area, I’d like to connect with you! I have started a more advanced (approaching Coppers) level choir with about 6 ringers at my church, Slatersville Congregational. My intention is to invite others from the area to join us to ring as a community choir, and I’d like to perform at places around the state. Would you like to try it out? Send me an email: ri.area1@handbellmusicians.org Let’s see where this group goes!
Mark your calendars! Upcoming events:
- Holy is the Night: Christmas Carols from Southern Europe: Sunday, December 1, 2024, 2:30pm, at the Chepachet Baptist Church, Chepachet, RI
- Area 1 Winter Workshop at UMass, January 24-25, 2025
- Totally Tins: A Workshop for Emerging Handbell Musicians, Saturday, March 8, 2025
- RI Spring Ring: Saturday, April 26, 2025, at Dunns Corners Community Church in Westerly, RI, led by Jane Nolan
Happy ringing and happy holidays!!
Jill Boday
Rhode Island State Chair
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Happy Holidays from Vermont!
As we approach the holiday season and the New Year, I would like to take this issue to highlight Vermont’s own Northern Bronze handbell ensemble under the direction of Jodie Auer-Johnson. On December 21 at 7:30 pm at the Waterbury Congregational Church, and on December 22 at 4:00 pm at College Street Congregational Church in Burlington, Northern Bronze will perform concerts titled, “A Joyful Sound.” They will be joined that weekend by Solaris Vocal Ensemble, an inspiring and engaging choral group of 24-30 auditioned singers led by Artistic Director, Dr. Dawn Willis. “Solaris performs a wide variety of choral literature ranging from the Renaissance to the twenty-first century, and they involve a “variety of instrumental forces.”
Then on January 11 at 7:00 pm at Faith United Methodist Church in South Burlington, and on January 12 at 3:00 pm at College Street Congregational Church, Northern Bronze will present “Christmastide,” a handbell concert featuring holiday and classical pieces. This will be Jodie’s second season as the ensemble’s director following the retirement of Jerilyn Bergdahl, the group’s founder, more than two decades ago. Please join them for one of their concerts if you are in the area. Vermont is very proud of this ensemble — its legacy and its future — and wishes them a wonderful concert season!
Kimberlee Strepka
Vermont State Chair
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