Greetings Handbell Musicians.

     This is my first communication to everyone in Area 10 as Chair, and I look forward to working with the rest of the Board and with many of you as we strive to advance handbell musicianship in our area.  I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate our recent election winners - Diane Barnes (Chair-Elect) and Cyndy Patterson (Secretary).  Both have previous experience on the board, and it will be an honor for me to work with both them in the coming years.

     One of my primary responsibilities as Chair is to organize the Area 10 Festival Conference in 2014.  A few weeks ago, at our Area 10 Board meeting, I shared some of my initial thoughts and we made a few decisions regarding the event.  We have selected the Yakima Convention Center as the site for our 2014 event.  When we last used this venue in 2008, it proved to be an excellent facility, and I look forward to returning there in 2014.  In addition to event location, we discussed some changes to the conference format.  Our motivation behind the changes is to provide better options to those attending as individuals or partial handbell choirs while continuing to offer a great event for groups attending as a full handbell choir.  I am very excited about the changes we have in mind, and will be sharing them with you in the months ahead as we finalize our plans.

     Another initiative I have planned is to improve the content we have in the Campanologist newsletter.  Phyllis Tincher has done an excellent job publishing the newsletter for the past several years, however, the rest of us on the Board have not done a consistent job of submitting articles.  Many of our recent issues have had little to offer beyond a listing of concerts and events in our area.  To address this, starting with this issue, there will be a minimum of two articles written by someone on the Board.  We have a commitment from every Board member to write at least one article a year and have established a schedule to ensure every issue is covered, plus, I have committed to writing one article each issue for the next two years while I serve my term as Chair.

     In addition to asking the Board to write articles, I want to encourage each of you to contribute and share your handbell related experiences with the rest of us.  To do this, I will occasionally ask for you to share a story based on a specific topic.  As appropriate, I will either incorporate some of these stories into my article, or we will publish them as their own stand-alone article.  Since our next issue will be distributed toward the beginning of December I thought it might be fun to share some of our most memorable handbell moments around the Christmas season.  These stories could be about a specific handbell concert, a church service, a particularly touching or moving event, or even an embarrassing moment.  If you have a handbell related Christmas story you'd be willing to share, please send it to Chair@area10.handbellmusicians.org.

Brian Tervo

  by Diane Hould, Montana Chair

     As many of you may know, Handbell Musicians of America implemented a new membership structure as of October 1, 2012.  This was done to better reflect the organization's rebranding and its future goals.  The new membership options put the emphasis on the fact that we are all handbell musicians, and reflect your level of involvement.  The new membership options are:

• Handbell musician membership - can be an individual or an organization
• Handbell musician sub-membership - an individual member of an organization with a musician membership
• HIC membership - an organization that provides products or services to the handbell community
• Retired musician membership - an individual 65 or over no longer actively involved in a handbell program
• Full-time student membership - a full-time high school or college student

Some important details to keep in mind:

1.    No changes will be made to your membership until your renewal date.  However, you can begin enjoying all the new benefits now.  When your current membership comes up for renewal, you will receive an invoice outlining all of your membership options.

2.    New membership pricing includes a rebate to your area.  This allows the areas to put some focus back on membership service as well as offering events.  It also reflects the increased benefits, resources and services as well as the increased cost of doing business.  One new benefit available is the My Membership Rewards program, which provides periodic discounts and coupons.  A monthly payment option has been added to help spread out any increased expense.

3.    All the new options are fully outlined in the Sept/Oct Overtones or on the Guild website.  For a full description of all the membership options and benefits follow this link:  http://handbellmusicians.org/news/new-membership-options-announced/#options .  You will find a membership grid that outlines and compares all the membership levels, a detailed description of the membership options and access to the member resource center.

4.    Why become a member of the Handbell Musicians of America?  Guild membership offers many benefits that improve the mastery and enjoyment of our instrument.  Just a few are the Overtones monthly publication and e-newsletters; discounted registrations for national, area and local events; area newsletters; members only on-line resources and a network of mentors who can help you or your choir. 

     If you have any questions about the new membership structure, feel free to contact any of your area leaders.  We will be glad to walk you through it!

     Virtual Handbell Ensemble is an exciting new project of the Handbell Musicians of America, in which you will have the opportunity to perform a new work of music via video uploads.

      Misterium, by James Meredith, consists of 135 musical segments to be recorded separately by individuals and small groups of players from around the world over a seven month period and uploaded to the web. All of the segments will be assembled by the editing videographer and the composer into the final work to be premiered online in July, 2013.

     For a video introduction by Mr. Meredith and all the information you need to participate, please visit the project website by clicking the picture above or going to virtual.HandbellMusicians.org.

 Handbell Musicians of America National Seminar moves around the country each summer. In 2013, we are so fortunate to have it in Area 10 in Portland at the Oregon Convention Center. The dates are July 24-27, 2013. Start making plans now to attend this exciting event. Keep watching HandbellMusicians.org for additional information.

April 20, 2013 * Bellevue, WA

     Emerald City Ringers, a community handbell ensemble based in the Seattle area, invites youth handbell choirs from around the Pacific Northwest to the 2013 Youth Handbell Festival. This year will feature three guest clinicians: Marlene Anderson, Ellie Hodder, and Emerald City Ringers Music Director and Area 10 Chair Brian Tervo. Please email colin@emeraldcityringers.org for a registration form.

     We are currently working with the Bellevue Red Lion Hotel for a discounted room block - rooms are anticipated to be $96/night, including free wi-fi and parking. Email for more details.

Fees (includes lunch and dinner): $55 per ringer postmarked by March 1 * $60 after March 1

Adult chaperones: $9 lunch, $12 dinner

Music list: (pdf of list)

Tins

This is My Father's World, Anna Laura Page, L1+, CGB734 (2-3 oct.) or CGB 735 (3-5 oct.)

All Night, All Day, Kathleen Wissinger, L2, CGB718 (3-5 oct bells; 2oct chimes)

Coppers

Festivo in G-Minor, David R Kent, L3+, AG35233 (3-5 oct. + chimes)

Los Peces en el Rio, Matthew Prins, L3, MGIG7940 (3-5 oct.)

Massed

Shepherd's Hymn after the Storm, Ron Mallory, L1+, CGB742 (3-5 oct)

This Little Light of Mine, Barbara Brocker, L2-, TO110 (3-4 oct + Bell Trees)

Email colin@emeraldcityringers.org or call 425-269-8182for more information.

 

     This year our guest clinician is Monica S. McGowan.  She now devotes her time to the Handbell Musicians of America, Coordinator and Faculty for the Week of Handbells at the International Music Camp Summer School of Fine Arts, and the Master Technician at Ringing Restorations. McGowan brings her extensive training, experience, enthusiasm and passion for handbells and handchimes to every forum and venue.

     The repertoire this year is loosely organized around the theme of "Our Journey;" there are some really nice pieces on the repertoire list. Again there will be two groups The Siskiyous and The Cascades along with the Massed group and an opportunity for those ringers who love a challenge and can ring Level 4 and 5 music to ring in the Bronze Conference Choir. Ellie Hodder will once again direct the BCC; remember that you will need to apply to be part of BCC and must learn your ringing position prior to arrival. Rehearsals for the BCC will begin Friday at 4:00 pm.

     Registration materials will be sent out in early January with a March 1^st deadline for application to the Bronze Conference Choir. If you have any questions or would like registration materials sent electronically please contact Diane Barnes at dkbarnes@jeffnet.org. 

Saturday, December 8 - 7:00 pm, Southminster Presbyterian Church, 6500 Overland Road, Boise. The church's handbell choir presents their 2nd annual Christmas concert with guests Phyllis Tincher, handbell soloist, and Sean Rogers, pianist/organist. An offering will be taken for the handbell ministry at the church and Ring Praise Music Ministry. 

 Sunday, December 9 - 4:00 pm, First Baptist Church, 221 E Linden Street, Caldwell. Carols of the Bells concert featuring Treasure Valley Bronze, homeschool choirs under the direction of Ruth Whitley, plus others.

Sunday, December 16 - 4:00 pm, Nampa Civic Center, 311 3rd Street S, Nampa. Bells of Christmas, 7th Annual "Kettle Koncert" for the Nampa Salvation Army. Phyllis Tincher, handbell soloist, and Sean Rogers, pianist, with special guests Treasure Valley Bronze. Free admission, offering will be taken for the Nampa Salvation Army.

Thursday, December 20 - 7:00 pm, United Methodist Church, New Meadows, Christmas Concert by Phyllis Tincher, handbell soloist, and Sean Rogers, pianist. Freewill offering.