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Message from the Chair -
Scott Leggett
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Happy Spring! I am writing this column a day after your Area 12 board completed their spring board meeting and we left Long Beach with high energy and ideas for the coming months and next year. This was the first board meeting after our most recent Area 12 elections and appointments and I was impressed with all the new ideas and enlightened conversations that were generated over our two days together.
We had a new addition to the board, Gail Berg, who was appointed secretary after Michele Meenk unfortunately needed to resign her position. We wish all the best to Michele and are grateful to Gail in accepting the position.
Over two days, the board discussed ways to reach out to our membership, brainstormed new event ideas, and spent much time planning for our Vegas 2020 conference next summer. Please be on the lookout for information on the conference in this and future newsletters.
If you haven't yet, please review the event calendar for Spring Rings and concerts and if you know of an event that isn't listed, please submit it! The process is easy with just a few clicks on our new and improved web site.
Your board wants to hear from you, support you, and grow our membership, so please reach out to anyone on the board and your voice will be heard.
'til next time,
Scott Leggett
Chair
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Red, White, & Bells Las Vegas 2020
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Southern California - Michèle Sharik
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Hi there, SoCal!
This month, I had the honor and pleasure to participate in a performance of a new major work for handbells, harp, and choir-
Voyaging by Christian Guebert. It was performed Saturday, March 23, at Anaheim First Presbyterian Church by the amazing Choral Arts Initiative with Gretchen Sheetz on harp and a 7-octave handbell group including members of St. John's Lutheran Church handbell groups and Timbré Ensemble. Using poems of the seafaring soul from Walt Whitman's "Leaves of Grass," the 10-movement work received a vigorous standing ovation from a capacity audience, many of whom had never before heard handbells. Christian is working on his PhD in music composition at UCLA and I was honored to be a part of this milestone event.
rehearsing for Christian Guebert's
V
oyaging
In other news, I have received several registrations for the SoCal Spring Ring and will be processing them soon. Even though the Early Bird deadline has passed, discounts are still available for Youth and for Guild Members, so if you haven't yet sent in your registration, please do so soon to make sure you get a primo spot on the ringing floor.
May 17-18
featuring
Alex Guebert and Elizabeth Mays
This event is
sponsored by Handbell Musicians of America
Looking forward to seeing you all in May at St. Thomas More Church in Oceanside!
Michèle Sharik
For information on Southern California's concerts,
events,
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San Fransisco Bay Area - Marquise Usher
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Last week in rehearsal we were looking at our calendars to schedule a Sunday to play in May. As I flipped to June in my master calendar, I learned that we were closer to the end of our season than I expected.
Churches often give their musicians the summer off. But does that mean we stop serving? In what ways can you give back to your church community during the summer months?
Directors, have you identified those handbell musicians in your ensembles who need an extra challenge? Guide them through solo or small ensemble ringing. Perhaps it's your moment to shine from behind the table! I picked one new solo to learn and a repeat from a long time ago to share this summer.
Joshua, arranged by Nancy Hascall, and
O How I Love Jesus, arranged by Brian Childers.
Ringers, have you approached your directors about opportunities to grow your skills? Maybe you rock at mallets but want to grow your technique. Let's go from horizontal to vertical with a bell tree solo! Or maybe it's time you gave conducting a try! Ask your director if they would give you an opportunity to grow these skills. I'm sure they'll say yes or find a way to make it happen.
If you find that you can't quite get what you need with your home choir, reach out to me or any of the Area 12 Board Members and we will help you. And make sure you attend
Friday and Saturday
May 3-4, 2019
featuring
Nick Hanson
This event is
endorsed by Handbell Musicians of America
If you can't make Spring Ring, look out for other opportunities in your area!
Are you preparing any spring or summer concerts?
Email me with your concert information so it can be added to the Area 12 Calendar, or better yet,
submit it here
.
For information on San Francisco
Bay Area's concerts, events,
and other opportunities,
click here
.
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Northern Nevada - Barb Walsh
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Howdy!
Come join us for our 17th Annual
May 18, 2019
South Reno United Methodist
200 De Spain Ln, Reno, NV
In addition to massed ringing (
Peace by Joshua Kramer, Lorenz, AG35339 and
Triumpant Spirit by Nick Hanson, Choristers Guild, CGB842), you have the opportunity to take some of the following classes taught by members of Tintabulations:
Healthy Ringing
Bell Repair
When You Hit the Wall
Hit the Note on the Head
Bob and Weave
Connect 4-in-Hand
Operation Cooperation
Malleting Fitness
Into the Great Unknown
We will also have a "sharing" time at 3:00 for whole groups, small ensembles, duets, solos, etc. All this for the low price of $15 per ringer! We welcome individuals, partial groups, and whole ensembles. Please contact me with questions. We hope to see you there!
For information on Northern Nevada's concerts, events,
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Los Angeles Metro - Sharon Guilliams
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Last month I spoke about March Madness and that it was a very, very busy month. UC Irvine made it to the NCAA Basketball Tournament for the second time and actually won a game beating Kansas State. The second game against Oregon was not as good. In honor of UCI being at The Big Dance, Aloysius Anteater made an appearance at the Area 12 board meeting.
I had gone to the board meeting with much trepidation, being the rookie on the board and feeling like I don't have the credentials to even be there. But what I found was a fantastic group of people that want to help everyone in Area 12 be successful. They welcomed my ideas and perspective. So, to the board: THANK YOU! I promise I will get my action items done.
I tell you this to encourage all those in LA Metro to feel comfortable sharing their ideas and comments with me regarding what we can help you with, what you would like to see, etc.
One of the action items each regional coordinator received was to personally call the members in their area and make a connection. So, if you receive a call/message from me, please make contact! I will have a few questions for you, but I want to listen to what you have to say.
Remember to send in your registration for:
June 1, 2019
First Christian Church of Whittier
6355 Greenleaf Ave
Whittier, CA 90601
This is a Handbell Musicians of America sponsored event.
$25 HMA Members
$30 Non-HMA Members
(Lunch Provided)
Erik Der, Ruben Mendoza, and Greg Ellis will be leading the reading sessions. Cyndi Tully and Scott and Carol Pickford will be teaching our classes. These folks are all from our region and are great people to learn from. Carol Pickford assists my community choir periodically and the musicians have been heard to say "We just ring better when Carol is around." Come find out why.
Things to put on your calendar:
- LA Metro: Vegas Repertoire Reading Session in early September
- LA Metro: Spring Ring on March 20-21, 2020 at Red Hill Lutheran Church. Current plans are that the spring board meeting will be held in conjunction with the Spring Ring, so you will have an opportunity to see and meet all the great people on the Area 12 board.
- LA Metro: Vegas music prep session (purely optional but will enhance your Vegas experience) in late spring 2020
For information on LA Metro's concerts, events,
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Central California - Christine Anderson
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Greetings, CenCal!
The Spring Ring on February 23 in Paso Robles, organized by Shirley Werner, was a very successful day! Barb Walsh was the guest conductor. If you attended and have thoughts or pictures to share, please send them my way!
Unfortunately, Spring Ring in Bakersfield was canceled for low registration. That spring ring has always been a fun day of learning and ringing. What needs to be different? Are we not offering a day filled with what you want or need? Is everyone too busy? I'd really like to hear from you on how we can better serve the ringers and directors in Central California.
One idea I've heard is that we need to offer more basic classes and have less emphasis on ringing a concert at the end of the day. Thoughts?
By the time you read this newsletter, I will have gone to Galveston and back to attend a handbell weekend (on the beach!) put on by Stevie Berryman. I hope to return with ideas for a similar weekend here in California. Stay tuned!
With a joyful ring,
For information on Central California's concerts, events,
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Southern Nevada - Alison Pruett
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Alison Pruett
For information on Southern Nevada's concerts, events,
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Northern California - Sandi Walker-Tansley
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For information on Northern California's concerts, events,
and other opportunities,
click here.
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