The Twelfth Tone August News

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Michèle Sharik

Chair

Area 12 at Pinnacle!

Greetings, Area 12 —

I hope you have all been enjoying the summer. As for me, summertime is when I usually travel — often to handbell events! This summer, in addition to teaching for Baylor’s “Alleluia” church music conference, and ringing and playing flute for the Zenith Ensemble, I also attended the national HMA Pinnacle event in Wichita, KS.

Area 12 was very well represented at Pinnacle — just look at the group picture to see how many of us attended! Of course, our numbers were boosted by the Concordia University Irvine Concert Handbells, who presented the closing showcase of the event. Their showcase was exiciting, varied, and interesting, and featured mostly unpublished music (though the pieces were so good, I don’t anticipate them staying unpublished for long). If you missed it, I hope you will take this opportunity to watch the recorded livestream at this link: https://www.youtube.com/live/8klPYtch5Zw?si=Km0vP4rI4GtQteOR

Looking forward, the Conference Committee has been hard at work preparing our 2026 Conference “Neon City Rhythms,” and it’s now time to ask for YOUR help. We welcome anyone who has an idea for a class to please fill out the Class/Faculty Application form, which is available here: https://forms.gle/CkzwiyiC5RGTiHXR7

As always, please never hesitate to contact me (or any board member) if you need help with anything handbell-related. We are here to serve YOU!

Until September,

SO CAL

Carol Pickford

Hello So Cal!

As summer is getting to the high point, I know many of you are getting ready for the ringing season ahead. Although I don’t direct myself, I have had several conversations with directors I work with on what they are planning this coming season. One event that is endorsed by Area 12 and coming up very soon is the workshop organized by South County Community Handbell Choir and their Artistic Director Sharon Guilliams. Response has been overwhelming, so much so that they have now had to start a waiting list.

I asked Sharon to provide an overview: Those of you that attended Bells on the Beach in 2022 will remember how fun and inspiring Stevie Berryman was (Oreos and tulle were involved). Well, she is back. South County Community Handbell Choir has designed a 4-hour workshop that will take place Vista, CA on Saturday, August 16th to get everyone back into the swing of ringing. You will have an opportunity to learn two songs with the intent of your choir being able to ring them in your congregation with a couple rehearsals. In addition, there will be mentors ringing alongside you to answer any questions and demonstrate what Stevie is talking about.

There will be short classes on problem solving, 4-in-hand, and bass ball/battery ringing strategies.

The remarkable thing about this workshop is that there is no music to buy and preparation is not needed. In addition, there will be an opportunity to win ten copies of the two pieces presented ($45 value, each).

Details and the registration link can be found at https://www.schandbell.org/events.html for WAIT LIST ONLY. Questions can be directed to Sharon Guilliams, Artistic Director at schandbell@gmail.com.

It’s wonderful to see so many people who want to kick off their season with this great event.

Please let me know if there is anything Area 12 can do to support you and your handbell organization as we move into the 2025-2026 ringing season.

Blessings,

Carol Pickford

LA METRO

Erik Der

Concordia University

at Pinnacle

Hello LA Metro

Alex Guebert and I spent our time at Pinnacle rehearsing, attending courses, and spending time with our students from Concordia University Irvine. We then performed the closing concert, the final event of the conference! This was a special opportunity for our students, some of whom will go on to teach handbells in their congregations and communities.

The concert video live stream is up for a limited time HERE. I encourage you to give it a listen! All the pieces were written by alumni or current students. I assure you - it's a unique concert.

Save the date for two 2026 handbell youth events in Orange County:

Young Ringers Festival (for middle school handbell ensembles): Sat, March 7 2026
High school handbell invitational: Mon, March 9
Summer Handbell Camp: July 6-10, 2026

Finally, LA-Metro's Alex Guebert co-directed the annual Zenith concert on August 2nd. Livestream can be viewed HERE.

Erik Der

LA Metro Coordinator

Handbell Musicians of America

https://Area12.HandbellMusicians.org

LA Metro is Orange, Ventura, & Los Angeles Counties.

SOUTHERN NEVADA

Alison Pruett

Directors Workshop on September 6!

Harmony Handbells and Faith Lutheran Middle/High School are hosting a handbell directors workshop on September 6. For $25, you get instruction from Barb Walsh (fabulous director of Tintabulations in Reno), lunch, and the opportunity to direct high level ringers to put what you’ve learned into practice and get more feedback. Details and registration are at harmonyhandbells.com/workshop.

I hope to see you there!

Alison Pruett

NORTHERN NEVADA

Barbara Walsh

For information on Northern Nevada concerts, events, and other opportunities,

click here.

Howdy!

It's time to start getting the bells out and refreshing your skills! BellJam is back on September 20th in Sparks, NV. Come join us for free fun, fellowship, and food!

FAR NORTHERN LIAISON

Nancy Schmitt

REDDING HANDBELL FESTIVAL

Saturday, October 18, 2025

9:10a.m. through the final concert 4:30 - 5:30 p.m.

Redding Christian Fellowship

2157 Victor Ave. Redding, CA

The Redding Handbell Festival is endorsed by Handbell Musicians of America, dedicated to uniting people through the musical art of handbell and handchime ringing. www.handbellmusicians.org

REDDING HANDBELL FESTIVAL

Saturday, October 18, 2025

Redding Christian Fellowship

Redding, CA

Registration fee: $40 per person

Full choirs and individuals are welcome.

Massed Director is Matthew Compton, who will use his expertise and patience to help us fine tune the following massed numbers that will be performed at our concert.

Massed music for the festival with director Matthew Compton:

Song of Assurance by Arnold Sherman CGB604

Andante Maestoso arr. by Kevin McChesney HB180A

I’ve Got Peace Like a River arr. by Valerie Stephenson Code 2542

Momentary arr. Matthew Compton

Our very talented and knowledgeable class clinicians will offer great insights in their classes.

Artie Pascual: Mallet Mayhem

Theresa Benedetti: Weaving class

Julie Hunziker: Bell Tree in a Day (Prerequisite: beginning bell tree class)

Lois Nichols: Engaging your Audience

Sam Strasser: MUSESCORE class on free music notation software

Matthew Compton: Revving up for the Red Zone Bronze Choir

For registration forms please visit the Area 12 calendar or e-mail me at schmitt@awwwsome.com

Have a great summer,

Nancy Schmitt

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Area 12 Bell/Chime Loan Program

Teachers: Would you like the use of a three octave set of handbells or handchimes to add interest and a new dimension to your music class?

Area 12 encourages schools and other educational institutions, both public and private, to develop educational programs using handbells and handchimes.

To support the development of such programs, Area 12 has six 3-octave sets of handbells and three 3-octave sets of handchimes for loan.

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