Corrections have been made to several links. Thank you for your patience! | | |
Distinctly Bronze West
Area 12 had an excellent turn out at this year’s Distinctly Bronze West in Tacoma, WA, including several current and former board members! Board members pictured: Hawaii RC Karen Carlisle, Vendor Liaison Fran Sanders, Chair Michèle Sharik, former Chair Tessique Houston, former Chair Kendra Symonds, NV RC Barb Walsh, CenCal RC Maggie Paton, and Bay Area RC Marquise Usher.
| | |
Greetings, Area 12 —
I’m sure most of you are already knee-deep (or even chin-deep!) in music prep for Advent and Christmas. I’m always curious to know what pieces everybody’s planning to play? I’ll go first:
My church group is playing Kathleen Wissinger’s Hyfrydol (L1+ Lorenz 20/1434L-2), which is an interesting arrangement that explores this beloved melody in different modes. I chose this as a Level 1+ piece so we could spend more rehearsal time on our other pieces, including Derek Hake’s Angels We Have Heard on High (L2+ Beckenhorst HB301-2), in which we are planning to do a “surround sound” processional to open the church’s annual Christmas concert. We are also playing Cathy Moklebust’s What Child Is This? (L2 Chorister’s Guild CGB322), which is not the one that everybody knows! This one is scored for a 3-5 octave handbell choir combined with a 2-3 octave handchime choir (or keyboard, which is what we’re doing). It’s really quite lovely. Finally, I’ve also programmed Cynthia Dobrinski’s lovely O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (L3 Hope Code No. 1399), which incorporates one of my favorite ancient chants Of the Father’s Love Begotten.
Whatever pieces you are planning to play, I hope your rehearsals are going well and your ringers, congregations, and/or audiences will enjoy and be blessed by your music!
Happy Ringing!
| | | |
Nominations for Elected Board Positions
It is that time to prepare for elections. We are looking for nominations for the three elected positions: Chair (6-year cycle), Secretary (2-year cycle), and Treasurer (2-year cycle). We need two candidates to be placed on the ballot for each position. Would you or someone you know be interested in a nomination for the ballot?
In addition, we have openings for the following appointed positions: Events Coordinator, Membership Director, and Member-at-Large.
If you are interested in or know of someone who might be interested in any of these elected or appointed positions, please contact Marci Nuoffer at pastchair.area12@handbellmusicians.org with any nominations.
| | |
Hi CenCal!
I’m pleased to report on the recent event we just held in Modesto, titled “Bells of Blessing: Hands in Concert Bringing Hope.” Nine local ensembles, churches, and individuals featuring over 50 ringers came together for this annual half-day festival and concert. The event began in 2011 anchored by Richard Colla and the Opus Handbell Ensemble. Ringers from teens to nonagenarians hailed from Modesto, Turlock, Escalon, Manteca, Fremont, and more. The group rang three massed pieces under the direction of Lisa Traughber. Individual pieces, small ensembles, and a duet were also shared. Together, participants raised over $5,000 for the Modesto Salvation Army. Much thanks goes to Lisa, Polly V, Deanna H, Burt V, Marilyn H, Melanie H, Bob K, and Carol S for pouring their time, energy, and heart into this special day.
I’m sure you are busy getting ready for the approaching holiday season. I encourage you to visit our website and add your events to the Area calendar!
| | | |
Neon City Rhythms (NCR) NEWS!
Scholarships are available! The Mel Tully Scholarship is available to Directors attending their first conference. Learn more about Mel, the scholarship, and download the application here: https://area12.handbellmusicians.org/mel-tully-memorial-scholarship/
Neon City Rhythms Sponsorship Opportunities:
⭐️ SOLD! The conductor’s podium
⭐️ SOLD! The clinician’s meals
⭐️ SOLD! One class room
Three more class rooms available at $300
One class session for $100
Snacks for the attendees for $300
The massed ring for $500
The Director’s Seminar for $500
Each sponsor will be prominently recognized in the event program, on our website, and in person at the event.
Do you have ideas for classes to be offered? Email Chair Elect Scott McGlasson at chairelect.area12@handbellmusicians.org and share your ideas!
Apply to teach a class: https://forms.gle/CkzwiyiC5RGTiHXR7
Watch Area 12’s Website https://area12.handbellmusicians.org/ncr2026/ and Facebook page for the repertoire list coming soon! https://www.facebook.com/HandbellMusiciansOfAmericaArea12
| |
Concordia University Irvine | | |
Dear Los Angeles, Orange County, and Ventura,
I had a great time substitute directing for an LA Bronze rehearsal last week. They are preparing to perform with the Pasadena Symphony for their annual Christmas concerts on Dec 12 and 13. Due to a unique stage layout, they perform without tables or sheet music - everything is memorized, and they even have some choreography! Learn more and purchase tickets HERE.
I am also looking forward to directing the Concordia University Irvine Concert Handbells on Dec 7 for our annual handbell advent concert. Located at First Presbyterian Church in Venice Beach, this concert is free and will include a wide variety of advent and Christmas handbell music! Learn more HERE. We will also perform at Segerstrom Concert hall on Dec 13, which will include a new arrangement of I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day by Alex Guebert for choir and orchestra that will feature an audience random ring. More info HERE
Finally, the St. John Ltuheran cathedral Bells have their annual Christmas concerts on Dec 5 and 6. Learn more HERE. The concerts include choir, orchestra, and handbells!
| | | |
IMPORTANT ALERT!
HMA national office would like to alert all choirs to the following:
GoFundMe has created 1.4 million fundraising pages for nonprofit organizations using public IRS data, without the permission of the nonprofits.
When utilizing the site's search tool, we found many HMA/AGEHR Area pages and other handbell ensemble pages. These may be pages that the Areas or ensembles created. However, if they are not, you can have the pages removed.
The creation of these pages is problematic on many fronts, including the sizable fees being charged to donors, the optional "tipping" for GoFundMe, directing donors off of nonprofit websites when doing online searches, and the overall lack of control by nonprofits for communicating and engaging our donors.
After being contacted by companies that represent nonprofits, the nonprofits themselves, and the media, GoFundMe is taking steps to rectify the problem. We recommend using using the search tool linked below to see if your Area or organization is listed, and making the choice for your organization as to whether to keep any page on their site.
Follow this link to search, https://www.gofundme.com/charity/claim/search and continue with the prompts.
Here are articles about this issue:
https://thenonprofittimes.com/npt_articles/gofundme-apologizes-for-nonprofit-pages-chaos/
https://nonprofitnewsfeed.com/news/1-4-million-donation-pages-without-permission-created-by-gofundme/
| | |
SOUTHERN NEVADA
Alison Pruett
| | |
Greetings,
It's that time of year again! Time to register for the Twelfth Night Handbell Festival in Boulder City, Nevada.
The extremely talented Brian Childers will be our guest clinician this year. All registration information is available at harmonyhandbells.com/festival.
Early bird registration ends on November 30. Hope to see you all there!
Alison Pruett
| | | |
For information on Northern Nevada concerts, events, and other opportunities,
click here.
| | |
Howdy!
I love going to handbell events! My group gets to hang out together and we get to see old friends and make new ones. We also get to work with some great clinicians, like Matthew Compton at the Redding Festival! Here's a picture of us at Redding celebrating our breast cancer survivors:
I encourage everyone to attend any and all events you're able to in order to connect and collaborate with your handbell community! It's awesome!
| |
|
FAR NORTHERN LIAISON
Nancy Schmitt
| | |
What an awesome festival!
40 ringers had fun ringing at the Redding Handbell Festival held on October 18. The day was filled with ringing, classes, and a concert. Bell choirs and individuals from California, Nevada, and Washington came together to ring under Matthew Compton for the second time in two years. What a delight it was to have Matthew back! His patience and explanations of the songs truly brought out the musicality of the ringers. A brass choir accompanied the song Andante Maestoso and violin and cello accompanied the song Momentary, one of Matthew Comtton’s songs where he reminds us “that all things good and bad are essentially momentary. How we respond to these situations is what helps us grow into better people.”
The concert brought 188 people to hear massed numbers, solos, duets, and small ensembles. The hour of music passed by quickly and compliments flowed freely after the concert. Take a peek at a few of the pictures and start setting your sights at coming next year.
Enjoy your fall ringing!
Nancy Schmitt
| | | |
to submit YOUR event!
(and get a social media push!)
| | |
Check out out all the membership options and benefits for Handbell Musicians of America
| | |
Want to place
a classified ad?
Click on the
WANTED sign and
fill out the form!
Check out our
Classified Ads
for Ringers
for Directors
| | |
A full-service handbell store
with music and accessories:
gloves • gifts
maintenance items
mallets • binders
bell tree items
Malmark products
visit us at
www.heitzhandbells.com
612-208-1741
877-426-3235
heitzhandbells@yahoo.com
7209 Morgan Ave S Richfield, MN 55423
ADVERTISEMENT 6/23
| | |
Our National Organization (click logos to get more info!) | | |
The Twelfth Tone is published on or around the first of each month, except July, by Area 12 of the Handbell Musicians of America (The Guild). The Guild is a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the musical art of handbell/handchime ringing through education, community, and communication. The editor of this publication reserves the right to reject or modify copy.
We have over 1500 contacts, a 40% open rate (17% higher than the industry average) and a 13% click rate. Book your ad NOW!
For advertising types and rates:
| |
Payment is due prior to publication. Submission DEADLINE is the 20th of each month. No issue in July.
Please submit your ads via email to:
| |  |
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.
To learn more about the responsibilities and procedures for participating in this program, click here.
| | | | | |
