The Newsletter of Area 1 Handbell Musicians of America | Vol. XXXIX No. 3 | June 2024 | |
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IN THIS EDITION:
- Report from the Board Chair
- Notice of next Area 1 Board Meeting
- Feature Article: Building Bridges with Handbells
- Last Call for Friends and Family Handbell Camp
- Festival Conference 2025: Repertoire theme announced!
- Notes from State and Regional Chairs
- Please be sure to scroll down to see - and support - our advertisers
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IMPORTANT READABILITY NOTICE: There's lots of great things happening in Area 1! So much so that Gmail can't show you everything in one email. Many Gmail users have noticed (and perhaps some of you haven't noticed) that our newsletter gets cut off at the bottom. You must click "view entire message" at the bottom of this email in order to read the full newsletter. Also, regardless of your email platform, you must enable "external images" in order to see all graphics and activate hot links. Sorry for all the extra steps, but you really don't want to miss out! | |
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“Music engages your brain’s reward system, releasing a feel good neurotransmitter called dopamine – the same chemical that is released when we taste delicious food, see something beautiful or fall in love.”
– Alex Doman, Music and Brain Expert
This afternoon, I asked ChatGPT (a web interface designed to mimic human conversation) to write about handbells, and what follows is the offering I received:
“At its heart, handbell ringing is about more than just making music—it's about building connections and fostering a sense of community. Whether you're a seasoned ringer or a newcomer to the art form, there's a place for everyone in the handbell world. From rehearsals and workshops to festivals and performances, handbell enthusiasts come together to share their love of music and forge lasting friendships along the way. It's a vibrant and welcoming community where people of all ages and backgrounds can come together to create something beautiful.
In a world filled with noise and chaos, handbells offer a welcome respite—a chance to slow down, connect with others, and make beautiful music together. So, whether you're drawn to the precision of the performance, the camaraderie of the ensemble, or simply the sheer joy of ringing bells, why not give handbell ringing a try? Who knows? You might just discover a new passion that brings harmony and beauty into your life.”
ChatGPT has developed more abilities in the last year thanks to the users and feedback they generate. If even ChatGPT knows what makes being part of a handbell choir so special, how is it possible there are still people in the world who haven’t heard of handbells?
Here’s the challenge -- talk about handbells with your friends and acquaintances, and not just in the “I can’t, I have handbells” way! Invite them to a concert, or to try a rehearsal with your choir. Who knows what love of handbells you might spark in someone you know, therefore making a new handbell friend. We all know handbell friends are the best kind!
Jenn Stack
Area 1 Chair
chair.area1@handbellmusicians.org
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Editor's Note: Area 1 is grateful to Handbell Services for allowing us to use their handbell silhouette artwork featured in our 'Report from the Chair' header. | |
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Notice of next Area 1 Board Meeting - and a Ringing Opportunity!
Area 1 Board Meetings are open to all members of the Guild and held three times a year, usually in January, May and September. Our next regular Board Meeting is September 14, which will be held in person in a Massachusetts location to be determined. Join us for a fun ringing session following the meeting. Considering a board position? Just want to hear about all the cool stuff happening here? If you are interested in attending, please email Jenn Stack, Area 1 Chair.
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Feature Article by Steven Mazeau
With this issue we are pleased to offer an article written by Area 1 SnagASub Coordinator, Steven Mazeau. His experience proves that you never know what bridges you might be building through our musical art. Thank you, Steve! For more information about SnagASub, visit our SnagASub webpage.
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Building Bridges with Handbells
Many of us are familiar with the story of Margaret Shurcliff and her Beacon Hill Ringers. Having created the New England Guild of English Handbell Ringers (NEGEHR) in 1937, Margaret was also responsible for establishing in 1954 the American Guild of English Handbell Ringers (AGEHR) and the first American Handbell Festival, which took place at Castle Hill in Ipswich, Massachusetts. The Guild and the festival were formed for the purpose of “spreading new ideas and exchanging music, techniques and information”. This month AGEHR, now recognized as Handbell Musicians of America, celebrates 70 years.
But did you also know that here in New England, in the summer of 1944, Grace Palmer and Mary Gillette, who were affiliated with the YWCA, and Ralph Page, a square dance caller from New Hampshire, conceptualized and organized a New England Folk Festival? First held at the Boston YWCA in October, 1944, approximately 200 attendees enjoyed performances of local ethnic dance groups. This event evolved into today’s New England Folk Festival Association (NEFFA), a non-profit educational and cultural organization whose mission is “to encourage, sponsor, and preserve the traditional folk arts in New England and beyond.”
Naturally, English handbell ringing fits the bill as a traditional folk art, and on Saturday, April 20, 2024, Area 1 SnagASub Coordinator Steven Mazeau and four active members - Diane Burke and Wendy Davis from Marlborough, MA; David Olson from North Easton, MA; and Lana Salisbury from Putnam, CT - staged a hands-on “Introduction to English Handbell Ringing” workshop at NEFFA’s 80th Anniversary celebration in Marlborough.
Continue reading the complete article.
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Friends and Family Handbell Camp
is June 21-23 at Camp Griswold
** Register by June 9 **
One last opportunity to sign up to ring by the lake in Griswold, Connecticut this summer, as Family and Friends Handbell Camp returns to Area 1, June 21 through June 23.
Ringing tracks are available for Bronze (led by Andy Wallace), Coppers (led by Dan Moore), Tins (led by Gina Williams), and Never Rungs/Companions (led by Jenn Stack). All tracks will feature two pieces to polish and ring for the concert - there's no music to learn ahead of time.
It's everything summer camp should be - sunshine, swimming, s'mores, and of course, handbells!
Registration closed on June 9th - we still have openings in all tracks. You DEFINITELY don't want to miss the fun and fellowship! Details are found on the Area 1 Friends and Family Handbell Camp webpage.
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Notes from CONNECTICUT
Suzanne Neafus, Connecticut State Chair
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Hello Connecticut handbell ringers!
How is it June already? The year is just flying by. We had a wonderful time at the Connecticut Spring Ring on April 20. It was great seeing everyone who rang all day or attended the Closing Concert. Below is a recap of this event and a photo. There is also information about local upcoming concerts. Please consider attending to support your fellow musicians. In the words of one of the CT Spring Ring helpers, " I would strongly recommend and encourage anyone who has not yet attended a bell concert to do so. You will truly be entertained."
Shari Lucas, Minister of Music from First Church in Middletown reached out with some information about the new CT Paid Leave program. Shari was recently on an 8-week medical leave for a hip replacement. The church used substitute musicians, including Nancy Rigdon of Niantic, who served as director of the church's two bell choirs. Shari's salary was covered under the new CT Paid Leave plan, a testament to the security and support it provides. This plan greatly helped the church have the funds to cover substitute musicians for rehearsals and services. She strongly urges all people in similar situations to research the option, as it was a great help to her and her congregation, and it could be to you, too.
Shari also shared that The Faith Ringers and the Heart in Hand Bells played at First Church on May 20th for the United Church of Christ Middlesex Association Annual Meeting.
Connecticut Spring Ring Recap
What a great day. There were 33 participants, and over 50 people attended the closing concert. Thank you again to Samantha Beschta, who did a fantastic job as the clinician.
The following is from Judy Salamacha, a member of the host church who helped at the event.
"When asked if I could help out the day of the Connecticut Spring Ring, I was thrilled and looked forward to the experience. I had never attended a bell concert previously and only recently joined the Bell Choir at the Wethersfield United Methodist Church. I was excited by the prospect of learning other techniques and listening to various musical arrangements offered. The day did not disappoint! The tones made by the numerous bells played were absolutely beautiful. The members who participated were all extremely friendly, and one could tell their dedication to ringing was unsurpassed by their enjoyment, enthusiasm, and feeling of playing together. I especially enjoyed the youth member of one of the groups, who was such a joy to watch.“
Thank you all who attended, encouraged, supported and helped out at this event.
I want to wish everyone a restful and enjoyable summer. As always, reach out at any time. It could be event suggestions, photos of gatherings and concerts, or news and information for upcoming Fundamental Tone articles.
Keep on Ringing -
Suzanne Neafus
Connecticut State Chair
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Upcoming Connecticut Concerts
Shoreline Ringers
June 2 – 4 PM - Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Old Saybrook, CT
June 15 - 7 PM – Dunn’s Corner Community Church Presbyterian, Westerly, RI
The June 15 concert will include some additional features and surprises, including some music by the Shoreline Minnows!
Chime In! Music With a Mission
Sunday, June 9 - 3:00 PM
Bells & Berries - Handbell Concert & Strawberry Shortcake
First Church of Bethlehem, CT
St. Luke’s Lutheran Church
Sunday, June 9 - 3:00 PM
Hallelujah for Handbells, "Let's Dance" featuring the bell choirs of St. Luke's , Gales Ferry, CT
Handbell Musicians of America National Seminar
Just a reminder all concerts for the HMA National Seminar are free and open to the public. The event is being held at the Connecticut Convention Center, in Hartford, July 9 – 13. Click on the National Seminar concerts page for a list of performing groups, dates and times.
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Notes from MAINE
Dana Humphreys, Maine State Chair
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Hello Maine Ringers!
Maine hosted a very successful Maine Spring Ring on April 27 in Auburn. We had 120 ringers from Bangor to York, Rangeley to Somesville, and many towns around New England. Our clinicians, Michael Joy and Joy Toll-Chandler, were patient and encouraging as they pulled together many individuals into one big choir. In addition to rehearsing up to seven pieces of music, attendees attended workshops on developing rhythmic feeling, basic bell techniques, playing African drums, and – as a breather from all the music – learning how to fold an origami German bell. Breakfast burritos, fresh fruit and Church Ladies Cookies kept up our energy for the day!
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Over 200 family, friends and the just-curious attended our public concert at the end of the day and they were a terrific audience. We heard such comments as, “magical,” “calming,” “amazing music,” and “I’ve never been to a handbell concert, I didn’t know what to expect, and it was great fun!”
In addition to sharing our love of handbells together, we also raised funds to benefit the Maine Resiliency Center, a Lewiston-based organization which provides financial and emotional support to the victims of the October 2023 Lewiston mass shooting. The generosity of our concert audience and event sponsors allowed us to make a donation of $637.50 to this critical support service.
A photojournalist and a reporter from the Lewiston Sun Journal visited us during our morning rehearsal. Through terrific photos and collected stories from ringers about their handbell experience, their article was featured on the front page of the Sunday edition the following day.
I hope you all have a wonderful summer full of music, fun, relaxation and hopefully ringing a handbell!
All my best,
Dana Humphreys
Maine State Chair
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Happy Summer, Everyone!
…Well, almost. The end of the program year for most bell choirs is in sight, but before we get there, all of our local community groups have concerts to share! Please consider attending a performance by one of the following choirs (their performance schedules can be found at the links provided):
Back Bay Ringers
Granite State Ringers
Merrimack Valley Ringers
Back Bay Ringers and Merrimack Valley Ringers are also both among the featured performers at National Seminar, which will occur this July in Hartford, CT. How exciting that two of the featured choirs are not just from Area 1 but from our own region! I hope many of you seize the opportunity to hear these amazing groups, whether locally during June or in Connecticut during July.
I am also busily planning ahead to provide workshops throughout our region this fall. I can already tell you that the very popular Skill-Building and Holiday Rep-Reading Sessions, held annually at St. Matthew’s United Methodist Church in Acton, will be back on September 28, 2024. Save the date now, but much more information will be available in the August Fundamental Tone! If you don’t live near Acton, though, is there programming that you’d like to see provided in your area? Please don’t hesitate to drop me a note at ma.area1@handbellmusicians.org or nh.area1@handbellmusicians.org, and let’s talk about how Area 1 can help to meet your choir’s needs!
I hope to see you all soon at an upcoming concert or skill-building event. Until then, happy ringing!
Abby Schoppe
Chair, Greater Boston, MA & New Hampshire Chair
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Greetings, Cape Cod!
It may only be June, but we already have information to share about the 2025 Cape Cod Spring Ring! Details are as follows:
Date: Saturday, March 22, 9 AM-3:30 PM
Location: Harwich Community Center, 100 Oak Street, Harwich, MA
Clinician: Cheryl Townsend, Artistic Director of the New England Ringers
Registration: $15 per person
Repertoire: TBD
We anticipate being able to share repertoire information late in the summer.
It’s also my hope to offer another skill-building event on the Cape this fall, perhaps this time covering topics such as weaving and 4-in-hand; more info on this should also be available in a few months, but in the meantime, don’t hesitate to reach out if you are interested in hosting or if you have specific requests for topics you would like a workshop to cover.
I look forward to seeing you all soon; until then, happy ringing!
Abby Schoppe
Cape Cod & Islands Chair
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Greetings from the West…
Hello everyone… I hope this finds you well. This spring has been a busy time for us out here in Western Mass. On April 27th we held our first workshop of 2024, the Spring Zinger, at the Wilbraham United Church (photo below). Twenty-one beginner and intermediate ringers came together for this fellowship event. Led by Jane Nolan, we were able to learn, laugh and ring our way through more than the basics. We explored several pieces working on techniques and even had some fun with sightreading. It was wonderful to see and hear the group improve as the day progressed. Several ringers commented on how they wished we could do these events more often. Many thanks again to Wilbraham United and the people that
helped put this wonderful event together. We are already in the planning stages for our next event. The bells will ring in Hadley this fall. Date to be determined… so keep your eyes open for the details, coming soon.
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On May 16th, western Mass commemorated the 150th anniversary of the Mill River Flood Disaster. As part of the events, the “Cascade of Bells”, a relay of church bells tolling from Williamsburg to Holyoke, marked the timeline and path of this horrific happening. Each church tolled their bell 19 times for a total of 139, once for each flood victim taken that day. During this event, Smith College Handbell Ensemble directed by Anita Anderson-Cooper premiered her original composition “Cascade,” written specifically for this event. It was a rainy day but that didn’t stop the people from gathering to enjoy this short performance.
I hope you have a great summer! If you know of any ringing happenings in our area, please reach out so I can help spread the word and the joy of handbells.
Audrey Pierce
Western MA Chair
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June is upon us!
With that comes an exciting handbell-filled summer for Area 1! National Seminar, Handbell Camp, and prepping repertoire and workshops for next year will keep us all busy, yet happy! As you read this article, Merrimack Valley Ringers are performing at the Slatersville Congregational Church on June 1 at 7pm. This is their first concert of the season, preceded by a wonderful workshop for regional and local choirs. I am very thankful for MVR and Karen Leonard for their willingness to share their knowledge and talents with us!
The RI Ring-a-Palooza was a success! A big thank you to Dunn’s Corner Community Church in Westerly for hosting our small but mighty workshop, led by Jane Nolan! Thank you, Jane!! Also, a shout out to Suzanne Neafus for spearheading this workshop and easing me into a leadership role. It was a great day of ringing, bouncing balls, and tapping cups. Everyone had fun learning and reviewing basics. People rang out of their comfort zone, and even processed around the sanctuary while ringing a memorized passage! It was a good day. I look forward to planning the next one!
Over the summer I will be doing a “deep dive” into my records of active RI handbell choirs. If you know of a choir that is still actively ringing and think I need to know, please reach out to me! If you know of a church or school that has bells collecting dust in a closet, please reach out so I can help resurrect interest in this awesome artform. Let’s keep Little Rhody ringing!
Happy Summer!!
Jill Boday
Rhode Island State Chair
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 |  | Hello, from the Green Mountain State, and more specifically, from Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom! It’s an honor to serve as Vermont’s new State Chair and to join an amazing team of handbell advocates to further our art form within New England and beyond. For more than 40 years, Vermont has been providing learning opportunities for handbell musicians, not only within our own state, but for those from Massachusetts, New York, New Hampshire, and the province of Quebec, Canada. My hope is to build on the good work done by our former State Chair, Pat Pranger, and to strengthen Vermont’s contribution to Area 1’s mission, vision, and values. I’ve been on the job for less than a week, so there will be more to share in the next issue. For now, we hope to see you at National Seminar in Hartford, CT this July to celebrate the 70th Anniversary of the Handbell Musicians of America. This is a great opportunity for New Englanders to attend a national event right in our own backyard. Hope to see you there!
Kimberlee Strepka
Vermont State Chair
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