Your board is hard at work! | |
Your board is hard at work! The Area 12 board met February 23-24. (see photo below) One of our primary topics was the two upcoming Area 12 conferences, Go Nuts with Area 12 in Modesto (“Go Nuts”) and Bellz! The Next Generation (“Bellz”). We are really excited that we will have a national board member at each of these events. Lynn Atkins is slated to teach the Director’s Seminar at Go Nuts, and Greig Ashurst will be the conductor for Bellz. In addition, we will have Barbara Meinke as the conductor for Go Nuts. The committees for both of these conferences have been meeting on nearly a weekly basis to prepare these exciting events for both the adults and the youth in our area. | |
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Another topic that was discussed among our regional coordinators was locating and identifying handbell groups that we may not know about. They also are working on creating lists of churches and schools that have bells that are not being used currently.
A fun part of these meetings is hearing about all of the events happening in each of the regions. We are really quite an active area! To help the area see what is going on and know how to register for events, the appointed officers worked on an avenue for helping our social media, communications, and webmaster officers promote the various events with engaging content and thorough information.
Finally, we spent quite a bit of time visioning about the future of Area 12 events. We are excited about offering more “boutique-style” conferences, youth conferences, solo/ensemble events, director workshop events, and reading sessions in the coming years.
These meetings reminded me once again of the incredible talent that we have on the board. If you feel you have a desire to serve on the board in any capacity, please reach out and let us know! It’s a great group of people to work with who have a passion for the art of handbell and handchime ringing and promoting it throughout California, Nevada, and Hawaii.
As always, this board is here for you! If you have any questions or need help with anything in your programs, we are here for you. Please reach out. Our contact information is at the bottom of this newsletter.
Happy Ringing!
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Nominations for Area 12 Elected Positions
Every two years, three Area 12 Executive Committee officers are elected: Chair-Elect (six-year term, two as Chair-Elect, two as Chair and two as Past-Chair), Secretary (two-year term, with possible re-election for second subsequent term) and Treasurer (two-year term, with possible re-election for second subsequent term).
To be eligible to be considered as a candidate for one of these offices, potential candidates must be a voting member in good standing of the Handbell Musicians of America and reside in Area 12 (California, Hawaii, Nevada and US Pacific Islands).
Such eligible persons may self nominate, or nominate others who are eligible and willing to serve if elected.
More information about these offices and requirement for eligibility can be found on our website here.
Questions? Please contact the Past-Chair.
To nominate an individual, please contact the Past-Chair (Chair of the Nominating Committee) with the candidate’s name, contact information, office being nominated for, why this candidate should be considered for that office, and name and contact information of one or two character references (e.g., Area 12 Board members, church pastor, school principal).
Nominations must be submitted by April 15, 2024.
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Go Nuts with Area 12
in Modesto
June 20-22, 2024
Director: Barbara Meinke
Director Seminar: Lynn Atkins
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We are pleased to announce that the Director Seminar classes on Thursday, June 20 will be led by Lynn Atkins. Again, these classes, although aimed at directors, will be valuable for all attendees. Check out Lynn's bio on the website.
Volunteers needed!
Volunteering is a great way to give back to Area 12 with a limited time commitment. We will need people to do all sorts of things - moving equipment and assisting clinicians and teachers to name two. Maybe you can even think of something unique YOU can do for us. Please fill out the Volunteer Interest form and let us know we can count on you. Click here to volunteer!
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Ringing opportunities for Mixed Nuts (massed),
Almonds & Pistachios (divisional ringing)
Classes and repertoire TBA
Registration cost: $175/person; $150/person for groups of 8 or more
EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT - register by April 24, 2024 to receive a $25/person discount.
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Youth Ringing Conference
Friday and Saturday | September 27/28, 2024
Concordia University, Irvine
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Hello friends!
Last February, I had the opportunity to attend the CASMEC (California All State Music Educators Conference) in Sacramento, CA. This is always a wonderful opportunity to connect with music educators in California and introduce handbells to both students and teachers. We set up a small handbell playground so people could get hands on with our instrument and learn all about the resources of Handbell Musicians of America. I was thrilled to learn that more schools have been getting their bells and chimes out of the closet and using them in the classroom.
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One of the best things about attending these types of events is being able to share our upcoming events with these music educators. I hope a lot of the teachers will come to Go Nuts in June. I also hope to see many of the youth handbell musicians at
Bellz! The Next Generation
Area 12 Youth Conference
September 27 - 28, 2024 in Irvine, California
Clinician: Greig Ashurst
Registration is opening on April 1st and space is limited, so sign up quickly for an amazing weekend of handbell music at Concordia University Irvine.
https://area12.handbellmusicians.org/bellztng-2024/
I look forward to seeing you all at both events!
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2024 Composition Contest Winner! | |
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Area 12 is happy to announce that the winner of our 2024 Composition Contest is "Retrofuture" by Ron Mallory. This winning composition will be published and be included in the repertoire list for the 2024 Area 12 Youth Conference, Bellz: The Next Generation, September 27-28 at Concordia University Irvine, CA. Congratulations to Ron!
We had a total of 13 submissions from 12 composers - all excellent submissions. As chair of the committee, I was very excited to see so many pieces submitted for our consideration. I truly encourage all of these composers to keep writing, and get their pieces to publishers - I want to play those pieces!
Tessique Houston
Chair, Area 12 2024 Composition Contest
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Next Area 12 Board Meeting: June 8, 2024 | Virtual | |
Secretary's Report
Much of our Spring board meeting on February 23 and 24 was focused on our two area conferences coming up this year, and our goals for future conferences. This year’s conferences include Go Nuts in Modesto in June (registration is open), and our youth event Bellz, the Next Generation in September (registration coming soon). The summer sounds so far away, and yet will be here before we know it. Information is available on our website, and will continue to be updated as we get closer to our events.
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Area 12 is always grateful for volunteers. If you have ever considered being a volunteer, whether it’s for a short time, such as an event (planning or helping at the event), being on a committee such as our election committee, or a longer term, such as being on the board, as an all-volunteer organization we would love to have you.
Our next board meeting will be June 8, details to follow. As always, if you have something you would like to present to or discuss with the board, please reach out to any one of us.
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to submit YOUR event!
(and get a social media push!)
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Check out all the membership options and benefits for Handbell Musicians of America HERE.
Current Area 12
Member Count:
188
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Want to place
a classified ad?
Click on the
WANTED sign and
fill out the form!
Check out our
Classified Ads
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Take advantage of the Area 12 website to publicize your group. Click here to list your group or soloist. (Looking for a community group or soloist to play for an event, see the list here.)
Have an upcoming concert? Submit it here or use the calendar link above.
Need a ringer? Need a director? Have extra equipment; need equipment? Submit it here or use the wanted link above.
Questions? Please contact the webmaster.
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It's Time to Renew!
March is the month when most of our memberships are due to be renewed! There are several kinds of memberships available! Here’s just a few:
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- Group Membership: If your choir/organization is a member, all members of the choir are considered members of HMA.
- Individuals who are part of member organizations can get their own “Sub-Membership” for $10 a year! Sub-membership gives you access to many online resources with your own individual log in, and member-only rates for events.
- There are also memberships for retired directors, students, business memberships and upper-level memberships. CHECK IT OUT!
We currently have 188 members in Area 12. Being a member of Handbell Musicians of America has many benefits. Check out the benefits, types of memberships available and costs here: https://handbellmusicians.org/get-involved/become-a-member/
We hope you will renew your membership and hope to see you at a conference, concert, or event soon
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Northern California
I am always happy to hear from bell directors in Northern California and hearing what is happening with you and your bell choir. Recently Janine Dexter, director of Faithful Ringers of Meadow Vista, reached out to me. She had this to say: “ My bell group is from Faith Lutheran Church so I think of us as the Faithful Ringers, but honestly, we just say Bell Choir. We are a church group and presently are rehearsing music for Palm Sunday and Easter. We mainly play Sundays however we recently played for a memorial service of Barbara Cowan who was a ringer (and she attended the Redding Festival the two years we went). Barbara also purchased a set of chimes for the church.
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In the past we’ve participated in an annual community concert called “Music for Humanity” to help raise funds for the Auburn Food Closet as a representative of Faith Lutheran, but not since COVID. We have 14 ringers but they aren’t always available at the same time, so we “Go with the Goers” on any given Bell Sunday and related rehearsals. They are a faithful bunch!!
Hope to hear from other bell directors so that I can spread the word about ringing in your community. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if I heard from every bell group in the Sacramento area! If you have a workshop or concert coming up please let me know so that I can post it to our Area 12 calendar. I am here to help you in any way that I can so please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Happy Ringing,
Cindy Ksiazek
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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
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For information on Northern Nevada concerts, events, and other opportunities, click here.
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Sierra Spring Ring is back! Come on May 11th from 9:00-3:30 and have fun ringing massed music, participating in classes, and of course fellowship and food with your fellow ringers! All this for only $20!
TINTABULATIONS
presents the
22nd ANNUAL SIERRA SPRING RING
Saturday, May 11, 2024
Sparks United Methodist Church,
1231 Pyramid Way, Sparks, NV
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Massed Pieces:
Danza by T. Susato, arr. Kevin McChesney, pub. Jeffers, 2-3 oct. JHS9228, 4-6 oct. JHS9422
Hashivenu arr. Brenda Austin, pub. Agape/Hope, 2-5 oct. 3047
We’ll also learn a short processional during the event.
Solos: We encourage choirs, ensembles and soloists to favor us with a piece during our public sharing time. There will be substitutes available if needed.
Classes:
Articulations Quest: Journey through the different textures and sounds of handbells as we learn how to quickly identify and correctly play different handbell articulations.
1,000 Measure Tune Up: Give your body and bell ringing technique a top up and refresh. In this class, we'll consider stretches, body placement and healthy ringing technique with multiple bells and styles to keep us ringing the next 1,000 measures.
Beyond the Music Stand: Eyeing the Applause: Unleash your inner musician and mesmerize your audience by actually interacting with them instead of just staring at your music. In this class, we’ll use a short piece to learn how to “know” one’s music without necessarily memorizing the whole thing so that we can play it without relying on the page.
Rhythm: It’s All About the Groove: Learn techniques to quickly identify and perform rhythm patterns. Find out how to use your intuitive sense of rhythm to connect with the ensemble groove.
4-in-Hand: Learn the basics of the 4-in-hand technique, which truly means just two bells per hand (its inventor wanted to sound really impressive!)
The Showstopper Showdown: Playing for the Prize: In this follow up to Beyond the Music Stand, get ready to steal the show! We’ll be working with the same piece (so you likely want to attend that first), and now that we know it, we’ll be focusing on how to command the attention of the audience and leave a lasting impression.
We’ll be doing a session of quick recordings that we’ll analyze for style and to understand what the audience actually sees. There will even be a prize for the biggest performance, so come and compete to be the best of them all!
To register: Go to www.tintabulations.com.
Questions: email Barb at barbagehr@att.net.
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For information on Southern California concerts, events, and other opportunities, click here.
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The SoCal Spring Ring is sponsored by Handbell Musicians of America, dedicated to uniting people through the musical art of handbell and handchime ringing. www.handbellmusicians.org
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The Information & Registration forms are now available for the 2024 SoCal Sping Ring! You can download the PDF packet here: http://area12.handbellmusicians.org/events/regional-events/southern-california/
Let me know if you have any questions.
See you in May!
-Michèle
Friday May 3 & Saturday May 4, 2024
SoCal Spring Ring & Bronze Vision
with Elizabeth Mays Loebig, clinician
St. Thomas More Church, Oceanside
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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:
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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:
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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.
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Elected Officers
Chair
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Chair Elect
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Past Chair
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Treasurer
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Secretary
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Appointed Officers
Communications
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Education
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Historian
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Membership
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Social Media
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Webmaster
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Vendor Liaison
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Regional Coordinators
Central California
Position Open
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Far Northern California Liaison
Nancy Schmitt
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Hawaii
Karen Carlisle
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Los Angeles Metro
Erik Der
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Northern California
Cindy Ksiazek
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Northern Nevada
Barbara Walsh
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San Francisco Bay Area
Marquise Usher
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Southern California
Position Open
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Southern Nevada
Alison Pruett
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