Things are Happening!
Finally, finally, finally... Things are starting to happen again. I'm afraid to get too hopeful or optimistic that we are putting COVID in the rear-view mirror, but I'm glad to share with you the ringing opportunities that are starting to open up. Full details are under Area 10 Events below.
First up, this month is making lemonade out of lemons. As a gift to Coppers Classic alumni who suffered the third year of cancellation, Pamela "PL" Grove is hosting a virtual workshop titled "To Weave or Not to Weave, When is the Question - or - When Left is Right". Everyone is invited to join in.
I had the pleasure of ringing at the Snake River Handbell Conference in Nampa, ID the first weekend in February. Snake River was the last in-person event I attended in February of 2020 and the first as we (fingers crossed) come out of COVID in 2022.
I spoke with Tomi Kent, organizer of the Big Sky Handbell Festival, and she informed me that registration numbers are strong enough that the event is a GO! My little local choir was practicing hard in 2020 to attend. We resumed practices this past Monday - about 2 years and 2 weeks later. We moved into a new practice area where we have room to spread out, semi-socially distanced, and leave all our equipment set up from week to week. Hooray!
Don't forget to check out events hosted by our neighbors. Area 12 is holding a big event in Las Vegas over 4th of July. Check out their ad below.
The International Handbell Symposium occurs every 2 years, hosted on a rotating schedule by 6 regions of the globe. This year it's being held in Nashville, TN. You have to wait another 12 years for it to return to the USA. I've never been to an International Symposium before, so I'm excited. There is a LOT of massed ringing built into the program with conductors from around the world. Area 10, under Ellie Hodder, is organizing an Ad Hoc Choir to practice and prepare the massed ringing pieces. You can sign up for the choir below.
This year brings the election of officers for Area 10. We will elect a chair-elect and a treasurer. Please consider stepping forward to help with the administration of Area 10.
Preparations are already in progress for Area 10's 2023 Biennial Handbell Conference, in the Spokane Valley of Washington. Please continue to watch as new information comes out in this newsletter and on the
Area 10 website.
Joann Wallenburn
Communications Chair