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Volume 17 • Issue 6 • Winter 2024
Notes from the Chair
Happy Holidays!
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! As the holidays approach, there’s a special magic in the air. From twinkling lights, festive music, Christmas cookies, home-cooked meals–these are a couple of things that make this season special. But perhaps the most powerful form of holiday magic is the time we spend with the people who matter most: family, friends, and loved ones. There’s something unique about the bonds we share with those closest to us. Whether it’s a long-standing tradition or a spontaneous moment of joy, being together brings a sense of warmth and connection that’s hard to replicate at any other time of year. As handbell and handchime musicians, we have the opportunity to experience this togetherness everytime we put an instrument, dowel, or mallet in our hand. Whether it’s practicing in rehearsal or performing for an audience, handbell and handchimes are magical because it brings people together.
As we head into this holiday season and the upcoming year, there are a lot of events coming up to bring together various handbell and handchime musicians throughout our 5 states. The purpose of our events is to bring people together and promote the art of handbell and handchime ringing. Our leaders work hard behind the scenes to prepare these events and make sure they provide a great experience for everyone involved. If you haven’t had a chance, I recommend checking out the Events Tab on our website and exploring a couple of our events listed below. Here’s a timeline of upcoming events for your quick reference:
Saturday, February 8, 2025 – Areawide Read & Ring/Sight Reading Saturday
Saturday, March 1, 2025 – Arizona Spring Ring featuring Alex Guebert and Erik Der
Saturday, March 8, 2025 – New Mexico Spring Ring featuring Marquise Usher
Saturday, March 8, 2025 – Utah Spring Ring featuring Kathryn Jurado
Saturday, March 22, 2025 – Colorado Spring Ring featuring Matthew Compton
May 16-17, 2025 – Wyoming Spring Ring featuring Cathy Moklebust
June 8 – 12, 2025 – Area 11 Ringers Camp featuring Sandra Eithun and Mitchell Eithun
In a world that often emphasizes material gifts, the holidays provide a gentle reminder that the greatest gift we can give one another is time. Time to share, to connect, to support, and to love. When we look back on our holiday experiences, it’s not the presents we remember, but the presence of the people who matter most.
As we head into the new year, I encourage you to register for one of these amazing events to connect with local handbell and handchime musicians in your area. We have an amazing lineup of events that you won’t want to miss! On behalf of our Area 11 Board, we wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday season!
Love and Bells,
Anne Kelley
Upcoming Events
Spring Ring
Location: Jordan High School, 95 Beetdigger Blvd, Sandy, UT 84070
Clinician: Kathryn Jurado
Saturday, March 8, 2025
Contact: [email protected]
Heights Cumberland Presbyterian Church
8600 Academy Rd., Albuquerque, NM 87111
Clinician: Marquise Usher
Saturday, March 8, 2025
Bulletin Board
Malmark Chimes for Sale - Arizona
6 Octave Malmark Chimes for Sale in Tucson, AZ – Contact Margi Zearly for more information
ISO: Director for Community Handbell Director - Denver, CO
Smithtonians Handbell Ensemble is in search of a new Director beginning fall of 2024, for our group of 13+ dedicated ringers, playing five octaves. The ensemble, composed of auditioned ringers with multiple years of experience, was founded 40 years ago and has performed primarily in the south Denver Metro area to a wide range of audiences. We have concert seasons in early December and early May, with weekly rehearsals excluding the summer months. We play a variety of pieces from our extensive library, from the classics to contemporary to the eclectic. Education of the audience, in not only the techniques of ringing handbells, but also imparting the traditions and love of ringing, is a meaningful part of our mission. Contact Maribeth McKenna at [email protected].
ISO: Director for Church Ensemble in Johnstown, CO
The United Methodist Church of Johnstown, CO is seeking a handbell director starting this fall. Rehearsals are Wednesdays 6-7 PM and the group typically plays 2 pieces in worship the 3rd Sunday of each month as well as one service on Christmas Eve.
Please contact the church at 970-587-4444 or [email protected].
ISO: Director for Church Ensemble in Salt Lake City, UT
Our handbell choir of 12 people needs a new director! We rehearse on Monday nights 7-8:30 and play in church on the third Sunday morning of the month from September through May, We have 5 octaves of bells and a fun group. The church is at 17th and 17th. There is a stipend for this position. Interested? Please call Lisa Vitkus @ 216-965-5605 or email at [email protected].
ISO: Ringers at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Sandy, UT
Have you been looking for a bell choir? Well, we’re looking for you! We’re a church choir located in Sandy, Utah, at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. We have all levels of experience some members have been part of the choir for over 15 years, others just 5. We usually ring L2+ -L3 pieces with a 12 ringer ensemble, but we’ve shrunk! Due to illnesses, moving out of the area, and retirements, we now have a 7-member choir. We have five octaves of bells, and three of chimes. Right now we’re preparing 2-octave material for Christmas but we yearn to get back to those full-bodied songs! Our 4 and 5 octaves of bells are feeling abandoned! Please help us let our bells know we love them and want to get them singing again! We practice at the church every Monday, from 6 – 7:15 pm. Ages 14 and up, with the ability to read music are welcome! Please call Kate McGuire at (925) 435-0096 and leave a message with your name and number. Or call Good Shepherd at (801) 255-8181.
Looking forward to ringing in 2025 with you!
Kate
Area 10 Composition Contest
Area 10 is hosting a 2025 Bell Tree Composition Contest for Bell Tree Plus Handbell Choir. There is an award of $1,500 and the deadline is 5/31/2025. Check out the Area 10 page for more information: https://area10.handbellmusicians.org/2025-bell-tree-composition-contest/
Board Member Spotlight
Lynne Storms: Chair Elect
Lynne, originally from Maine, is a retired educator actively involved in leadership roles in local and regional organizations including chairing a committee dedicated to revitalizing the neighborhood’s urban forest, serving as a board member and past secretary for Literacy Phoenix, and current Chair Elect of the HMA Area 11 Leadership Board. In addition, Lynne enjoys spending time with friends, singing in a community chorale, ringing big handbells, and quality time with her husband in their 1937 adobe home. Time spent at one of California’s dog beaches is their favorite vacation getaway.
Tessa Taylor: Youth Representative
Tessa lives in Brigham City, UT. She loves sunflower seeds and enchiladas (especially her mom’s!). Because of handbells, she has pushed herself (and her brain) to be more outgoing, to unlock new mental pathways, and to try harder things, both in music and in everyday life. She also loves theatre!
CHIME Loan Program
NO JOKE, we have chimes to loan. If you know someone that is interested in starting a chime choir, or maybe you’d like to try that yourself, we can help! Area 11 has several sets of handchimes to loan. Just head over to our CHIME Loan Program page and fill out an application!
“The chimes have brought people together, young and old, with laughter and purpose at our church and we are so grateful!”
– Sue McConnell, Faith Lutheran Church, Woodland Park, CO
Connect!
The holiday season provides numerous opportunities to CONNECT with fellow handbell musicians and enthusiasts. Local schools, churches, communities, choruses, bands, and orchestras love to showcase their creativity and talents with enthusiastic audiences. Festivities often include handbell ensembles who look forward to sharing their unique instrumental accomplishments with curious, fascinated, eager, and even experienced musicians.
Some of the most valuable benefits of membership in Handbell Musicians of America are the various avenues available to CONNECT with fellow handbell enthusiasts – ringers, composers, arrangers, conductors, and even celebrities! I have been ringing handbells for more than 50 years, but my most cherished experiences have been opportunities to work first-hand with a number of individuals who once, to me, were only names on handbell scores or notoriety through television or recordings.
As a member of HMA, I have toured Ireland with Debbie Rice, participated in Coppers Classic with Ellie Hodder, attended classes with David Harris of the Raleigh Ringers, performed under the direction of Kevin McChesney and Stevie Berryman, shared a very small-world story with Kath Wissenger in Nashville, was awed by the magic created by the choirs of Matthew Compton and Alex Guebert, and rekindled my love for handbells during a ringing track at the National Conference in Dallas instructed by Kyle Webber. But my most treasured connection of all is one that enabled me to cross an item off my “bucket list”. I took a conducting class with LeAnna Willmore as part of an Area 11 event in Tempe. Little did I realize then that LeAnna was the conductor of the Bells at Temple Square – you know… the ones we enjoy on TV each Christmas season? But wait! It gets better! Last summer as part of the Area 11 Festival in Salt Lake City, all festival participants had the opportunity to attend a concert presented by the Bells at Temple Square in the Salt Lake Tabernacle! What an experience!!
The Handbell Musicians of America website explains the benefits of membership, but membership offers you so much more than connection, learning, and engagement. As a member of HMA, opportunities you may never have considered will be available to you, often at a discounted price. Whether you are a beginner or a proficient handbell musician, there will be many avenues for you to pursue and grow in your musicianship.
This holiday season, CONNECT with members of your ensemble, learn something new, and engage with your community through the music of our very special instrument. Make a New Year’s Resolution to explore the benefits of HMA membership and commit to joining our professional organization. You can start the new year by registering for one of the Area 11 Spring Ring events:
• Arizona Spring Ring, March 1, Clinicians: Alex Guebert and Erik Der
• New Mexico Spring Ring, March 8, Clinician: Marquise Usher
• Utah Spring Ring, March 8, Clinician: Kathryn Jurado
• Colorado Spring Ring, March 22, Clinician: Matthew Compton
• Wyoming Spring Ring, May 24-25 (2 days), Clinician: Cathy Moklebust
Check out the Area 11 website (https://area11.handbellmusicians.org/) for details about and registration information for these events. In addition, the Handbell Musicians of America website (https://handbellmusicians.org/) provides information on many other exciting ways to CONNECT with fellow handbell musicians.
All of us look forward to connecting with you soon!
Lynne Storms
Chair Elect
Handbell Musicians of America Area 11
Joyfully Ring!
News from National
College Ring-in will be held January 3-5, 2025, under the direction of conductor, Kathryn Jurado. This performance-focused event, designed for college-age and recent alumni handbell musicians ages 18-29, will be held at First United Methodist Church in Lakeland, FL. Participation is limited to 26 ringers, and early registration is encouraged.
Upcoming Board Meetings
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