New Mexico Spring Ring

★ What is it?

• • It’s New Mexico’s state handbell festival, held annually in the Spring.
  • A nationally-recognized clinician conducts the rehearsals and provides insights on musicianship and handbell techniques to take your ringing to the next level.
  • The culmination of the festival is a free concert, open to the public.
    

★ Where is it?

• • The Spring Ring is held at different locations from year-to-year

★ Who is it for?

• • The event is open to any handbell ringer who registers and can make the drive to the location!
  • Area 11 includes the states of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming, and Utah, but there is no need to limit participation according to where you may be located.
    

★ What’s the schedule?

• • The festival itself starts Saturday morning with set-up starting prior to the first rehearsal, rehearsing through the day, and culminates into performing a free public concert.

★ What do I need to bring?

• • Your bells (orphan ringers can be squeezed in with another choir), gloves, mallets, pads, and music stands.
  • Wear whatever you are comfortable in for the rehearsals, but bring your concert attire for the Saturday evening concert.
  • Your Spring Ring music – no photocopies are allowed!
    

★ What is the music?

• • The repertoire is listed in the registration form. Please order it well in advance so you will have time to practice and become familiar before the festival.
    

★ Set-up notes

• • Please do not arrive before the doors to the facility are actually open.
  • Just have patience and know that we do our best to plan everything out in advance, but there are always adjustments that have to be made once everyone has arrived.
  • There will be plenty of time allotted for setup. Please be courteous to others and to the use of the host facility.

★ Any tips for the directors?

• • If you have a school choir, be sure to get your bus/transportation scheduled to the event.
  • Plan to bring some snacks – you can also order lunches on the registration form, or eat somewhere nearby for lunch.
  • Please remind your choirs to use their best rehearsal etiquette and pay attention to the clinician!

★ Anything else?

• • Hydrate well throughout the day, do some stretching, be courteous to others, be attentive to the clinician, and most importantly… HAVE FUN!