My first task for this newsletter was deleting all of the 2023 events from the December issue. It was nice to see so many concerts. I'd like to say "post-COVID" but I'm not sure we're there yet. Now it's time to look ahead to the new events this spring. Please note the soon to close application period for Zenith. Coppers Classic registration is open, as well as Siskiyou Summit Handbell Conference.

On a different "Out with the Old" note, I am stepping down as the Communications Chair of Area 10 in a couple months. If you think you would like to contribute your skills to Area 10 in this capacity, please reach out to the Area 10 Chair, Shelley Giaier. I am not going anywhere and will be available as a reference source.

Applications are now open for Zenith 2024! If you'd like to be a part of the ensemble next year, please fill out this application by January 15, 2024! If you have any questions, you can email us at zenithhbinfo@gmail.com (notice the double "h", it's Zenith HB Info). We're so excited to see where we can go in our second year, and we hope you'll consider applying to be a part of it!

https://forms.gle/xZsDa58XNvXk7uQk6

If you are on Facebook, search for Zenith Handbell.

Shortly after I learned about the handbell cruises put on by Bells of the Cascades, COVID hit. I have been waiting somewhat impatiently for their return. THEY ARE BACK! Check out the website for all the good scoop. 2025: A Whale of a Cruise

Come and join many other handbell musicians ringing six great pieces under the direction of Michael Joy. The pieces are level 2-3 incorporating various music styles, techniques, and seasons. The weekend begins with set-up Friday, February 10 in the late afternoon with the opening rehearsal at 6:30 pm. It continues Saturday beginning at 9:00 am and concludes with a concert for the community at 6:30 pm.

Cost is $55 per person postmarked on or before December 15, 2023 and $65 after December 15. This includes all conference activities plus snacks on Saturday. A $10 discount is offered for 2 or more from the same immediate family. The first family member pays full price; each additional person from the family is $10 less.

Information *** Registration *** Repertoire

This event is sponsored by Handbell Musicians of America.

Scholarships. We have scholarships for Area 10 musicians! More than two!! Our alum feels so strongly that we should have access for musicians regardless of finances that they give to create opportunities. Because there is such a great opportunity for musical and technical growth, we want everyone to be able to experience this event at least once. Be sure to apply.

Registration is open! https://coppersclassic.com

Questions? Contact our event coordinator at : eventcoordinatorcoppersclassic@gmail.com.

This event is endorsed by Handbell Musicians of America.

2024 is the 70^th Anniversary of the Guild. Let’s celebrate the guild and what it has done for our chosen instrument, the Handbell, over the years. The repertoire spans the last forty years from when techniques for our instrument were being developed and employed by adventurous advocates for the art of Handbell Ringing in their composing and arranging for bells. We’ll start with some of the early pioneers in the development of our Musical Art Form—Betty Garee and Don Allured; moving on to composers who continued to move our art form forward: Arnold Sherman and Cynthia Dobrinski in the middle years; with final selections from some of the newest contributors to the repertoire and the development of our art form: Brenda Austin, Mitchell Eithun and Matthew Compton. For a bit of history on Betty and Donald:

Betty Garee began directing youth and adult handbell choirs in 1972 at the New Hackensack Reformed Church in Wappingers Falls, NY where she developed a multi-choir program including her Klokken Ringers which concertized widely in the United States and Canada and for whom she wrote original compositions and arrangements for handbells. In the handbell world Betty became a renowned composer/arranger of music for handbell choirs.

Donald E. Allured has been called the "Father of Handbell Ringing in America", His many contributions include developing ringing techniques that brought out the artistry of a handbell choir and composing/arranging musically interesting pieces for handbells. He started working with handbell choirs in 1963 and in 1976 he was working full time in the handbell world leading workshops and festivals establishing a standard of excellence for handbell choirs.  He authored the methods and resource book Mastering Musicianship in Handbells and founded The Bay View Week of Handbells in 1978 to teach handbell techniques and musicality to ringers and directors from around the country. Don was a faculty member of Westminster Choir College, from 1979-1988, where he developed a full curriculum in handbell Training and Leadership, founding the Westminster Concert Bell Choir.

Ellie Hodder will be conducting the Bronze Conference Choir—participation in BCC is by application. For this group to be successful a minimum of 11 Advanced/Intermediate Advanced ringers (very comfortable ringing Level 4 music) are required. The two pieces selected for this group are: Laudation by Arnold Sherman (Vintage) and an arrangement of the Waltz from Swan Lake by Hyosang Park (Vouge). This group will rehearse Friday afternoon May 3, 4-6pm; Saturday morning May 4, 8-9am and during the class sessions of the Coppers Plus group (you can ring with your home choir). Participants are required to purchase their music ahead of time and learn their part prior to arrival in Ashland.

Updated Schedule *** Updated Repertoire

Registration opened January 1, 2024. Registration Form, BCC Application Form

Contact Diane Barnes at dkbarnes@jeffnet.org if you have any questions.

This event is sponsored by Handbell Musicians of America.