Happy New Year

Alaska * Alberta * British Columbia * Idaho * Montana * Oregon * Saskatchewan * Washington

The Northwest Campanologist

Vol 14. No.9 September 2023

Happy New Year

In Handbell Time

While chatting with a fellow handbell enthusiast yesterday, she told me that she considers September 1 as "New Year", because that's when the handbell world kicks it back into full gear. Who's excited to get back to ringing again?

So Happy New Year everyone. Be sure to send me information about your fall and winter events.

Area 10 Chime Loan Program

Each of the 5 states in Area 10, Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington has a 3 octave set of Malmark Handchimes, along with music and instructional material, to loan to a school, church, or community group to help introduce new people to handchimes, and ultimately handbells. Applications for the loaner chimes were submitted by June 30. The chimes are made available to the groups from September through June - essentially the school year.

The Washington chime loan recipient is Amaree Mattews, who teaches choir at two middle schools in Bremerton, WA. Amaree says, "I am a choir director at two middle schools-- Fairview and Ridgetop Middle Schools in Central Kitsap School District. I would add the hand chimes to our choral music along with chimes-exclusive music-- and a unit to focus on chimes after our Christmas and end of year concerts."

Idaho's Chimes are being loaned to Jonathan Rose, He is the Choir teacher at Hillcrest High School in Idaho Falls, ID He would use the chimes as a new curriculum in the program to add students to the music program

Susane Davis of Lakeview, Or will be the recipient of the chimes in Oregon for 2023-2024. Susane Davis is with A.D. Hay/Fremont Elementary Schools Susane says, "I plan to use these hand chimes I’m various ways. For grades K-1, I would like to use these for ostinatos to accompany singing activities. For grades 2-4, I would like to learn arrangements if well-known songs. For grades 5-6, I would also like to have the students learn arrangements of well-known sings and also use them to accompaniment instruments in our keyboard ensembles. I would plan to use these in the classroom as well as in concerts."

Montana's chimes are being loaned to Allisa Buck with Sunburst Public Schools, Sunburst, MT. Allisa teaches 7-12 Choir and Band Students. Allisa says, "My initial plan is to expose my older students to the art of ringing. My hopes are that we can start with some really basic material in order to start building their toolbox. By Christmas, I hope to be ringing some simpler seasonal music with with a 7-8 Bell choir, 9-12 Bell Choir and Senior Select choir. I believe giving students the opportunity to ring will expose them to a new form of music that they've never really seen. This will benefit students in ear training as well as develop some of their fine motor skills. As an educator, this is a great way for me to expose students to sight reading and rhythm reading. This is an opportunity to further grow my musicians and push them to a new level of musicality that they've never seen!"

Idaho Teens attend Distinctly Teen

Idaho State Chair, Corbin Rasmussen, makes me want to be in high school again - in his handbell choir! These youth are constantly on the go, taking advantage of awesome opportunities to learn and grow. Several attended the Area 10 Conference in Spokane. Then there was mention of a cruise?!!? Here Corbin is pictured with his students who attended Distinctly Teen in Irving, Texas.

The group met up with Area 10 Treasurer, Ellie Hodder.

2000 Distinguished Service Awardee - Marcy Winters

Marcy Winters was the founder of the bell choir which I am a part of. We saw a newspaper article about her bell choir when we first moved to Grants Pass, Oregon and promptly called her. We had both been bell ringers in our previous church before we came to Oregon and were thrilled to find a bell choir we could join.

As she aged and had to give up her bell choir she offered her 4 remaining ringers (who had followed her to the retirement home in Medford) the bells and equipment to which ever of our churches would sponsor the Community Bell Choir. Mine was the only church in a position to do so and we still work together and try to have at least 2 concerts a year and occasionally take our bells to retirement homes to perform for the residents. Shortly after a few of us started practicing at my church three people walked in and asked to join us. All three played bells and Mom, Kerry Goodwill, was a director/composer/arranger who does most of our music to this day. We now have 3 levels. "Generations" which is family groups including children, and two levels of adult ringers. I look forward to our spring concert.

Karen Janssen

Editors Note: If you have a personal experience or story and/or photos to share about any of our Distinguished Service Awardees. please send them to me.

Area 10 Events

Plans are underway for the 41st Big Sky Handbell Festival in Helena, MT (specific location TBD). Dates are April 26-27, 2024 with Sandra Eithun as our clinician. Thanks to Sandra, board members and Diane Hould, the music list is now ready. Enjoy your summer and happy planning!

Ringers have been selected for 2023 Distinctly Bronze West, October 5 - 8, in Vancouver, Washington, under the direction of Hart Morris. These ringers are already hard at work learning their parts. The event concert will be held on October 8th, at the Hilton Vancouver Washington hotel. at 4:00 PM.