Greetings!   

Whew! SO much ringing to do...so little time! That's evident by Area 12's December ringing calendar (and I'll bet there are quite a few concerts and performances not on our list below).

In the midst of all the holiday concerts, I need to at least point out that Area 12 has scholarships available. Make sure you check out the information below and on the web site. If you or someone you know thinks they can't afford to attend the Disneyland conference, perhaps a scholarship is just the answer. Even lack of funds can't stop us from doing what we love!

And as always, make sure you send in your best guess for the Treasure Hunt. There are still prizes...which amounts to still more money for Disneyland.

And speaking of Disneyland....registration's right around the corner. Watch the Area 12 conference page for updated information as it comes in, and watch your mailbox for the brochure.

After Christmas, the next best thing is...well, probably Disneyland!  

 

Congratulations to the November Treasure Hunt winner, Beckie Wiley, who was the first person to correctly guess the answer to the November clue: Area 12's 2011-2012 budget is now available on the web site.

 

If you're just now finding out about the Area 12 Treasure Hunt, we've invited members to search for hidden treasure on the Area 12 web site each month through this enewsletter. Each newsletter will contain a clue as to where on the Area 12 web site you can find something NEW. Use the clue to identify the new item. Be the first person to send an email with the correct answer and win the prize. For full details of the contest, eligibility requirements and a list of the prizes, go to the Contest Page on the Area 12 web site.  

Now, here's the fifth Treasure Hunt clue: 

It might be just draft, and a few things it lacks

But as we update this page, it will keep us on track 

The first eligible individual to send an email with the correct answer to [email protected] wins this month's prize. Prize winners will be announced in the following month's enewsletter. All prize winners' contact information will be shared with the other winners to facilitate a potential prize exchange. 

Spread the word that we're on a treasure hunt....

Yo ho, Yo ho!

Hello SoCal-ers!

• Fri, Dec 2: San Diego Harmony Ringers to appear on "San Diego Living" on Channel 6 TV. Airs live 9-10am (SDHR to play sometime in that window).
• Sun, Dec 4: Crusader Bells of Pacific Beach Presbyterian Advent Concert at 12 noon.
• Dec 9 through Jan 1: Jungle Bells at the San Diego Zoo. Many groups (and a soloist) from SoCal and LA Metro!
• Sun, Dec 18: Campanile Ringers from Clairemont Lutheran Church Christmas Concert at 3pm.
• PLUS MUCH MORE!

ALSO: Don't forget that the 2012 Southern California Spring Ring is coming in April 2012. Information & registration packets are now available at the SoCal web page. I'll be sending the paper packets out by the end of next week.

As always, watch our Facebook page for the latest SoCal handbell news.

Looking forward to hearing from all of you this holiday season!

My best,
-Mich�le
[email protected]

Season's Greetings Fellow LA Metro Ringers!

Everyone is in the Mood for bells this time of year. Please don't forget to send me information on your concerts throughout the season. I do get emails from potential audience members about when and where they can hear and see handbell ringing. If they can't come to my concert, maybe they can make it to yours!

I have also been starting to get requests for "gigs." Some of these have honorariums available, others do not. They have varying specifics like available table space, time of day/week, and concert length. I even have a request from someone who doesn't want a "Christmas" program. If you are interested in learning about potential performances, please send me an email with some details about you and/or your group. Information about required honorarium rates, size of your group, and availability would be particularly helpful. I'll do my best to inform you of these opportunities as they arise. I'd hate to pass on a chance to bring handbell ringing to any new and eager audience.

All (youth, teachers, and parents!) who came to last month's Youth Handbell Festival with KatRyn Howell had a fantastic time. We spent the morning playing rhythm games like the "Maori Stick Game," the Filipino dance "Tinikling," and a Ghanaian stone-passing playground game with the song "Sansa Kroma," all to give practice in "internalizing the beat." We also learned a little Speed Stacking to reinforce our bi-lateral dexterity. In the afternoon, we rehearsed the festival repertoire with Kat, which gave us a chance to try new approaches to making music. Our day was filled with laughter and learning. Many thanks to all the staff: KatRyn Howell (& Ian!), Debbie Shaw, Shannon Shaw, and Justin Wooten, as well as the parents of Los Altos United Methodist Church who organized lunch for us all and fully participated in our morning activities. Our small numbers this time allowed us to tailor-make a day of ringing and musical activity.

Youth Handbell Directors, if you were not able to come to this event this year, I would love feedback from you as to what obstacles and interests I could try to accommodate for next time. We are already planning for next year's Youth Handbell Festival, so it's not too early for your two cents!

Our Spring Ring 2012 flyer is ready and available on the LA Metro page of the Area12 website. With Kath Wissinger as our clinician, the ringing space will fill up fast. You'll want to get your registration in as soon as possible since table space will be assigned according to registration postmarks.

Ringers Wanted: We still have several handbell choirs looking for ringers. Our webpage has information about the groups and locations, rehearsal and performance schedules, average ringing level, specific position openings, and contact information for each group. If you need ringers for your choir, even on a substitute basis, please contact me so we can post your request.

We are still looking for a couple places for the youth ringers from St. Matthew's UMC in Annandale, VA to perform while in town next June for the Disneyland Conference. If you are interested in hosting this exceptional group, please contact me and I will put you in touch with their director, Nancy Cappel. You can learn more about them by following this link to a page on the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts website:

http://www.kennedy-center.org/explorer/artists/?entity_id=9946&source_type=B 

This is a special time of year for us as ringers. Remember to enjoy it!  
 

Pearl Marshall
 [email protected]
 
Check out our LA Metro Facebook page! 

Happy Holidays, Bay Area Ringers!

Last month was the annual United Methodist Mass Ring, and even though it was held in Central California this year, the event was begun right here in the Bay Area. Bruce Pettit from Bell Appeal has written the following recap of this year's event.

Five United Methodist churches in northern California participated in the 8th Annual United Methodist Bell Festival at St. Paul's United Methodist in Manteca on November 5th. The event had the largest audience attendance - over 100 - of any of the preceding concerts, due to extensive outreach by St. Paul's.

The theme of the concert was African-American spirituals, and Dorothy Straks, a deacon in the United Methodist Church, directed the five massed choirs. The Reverend Brandon Austin, pastor at St. Paul's, joined the mass ring and one of the choirs on drums.

This handbell event began in 2004 as the inspiration of Susan Griffin, manager of San Francisco Bethany's Bell Appeal. The event first involved only the northern seacoast district, but the invitation later expanded to include all of the United Methodist churches of northern California and northern Nevada. Bell Appeal has managed the first eight concerts, but the ninth concert in 2012 will be co-managed by Aileen Williams, director of Mission Bells of St. Paul's UMC, and Sharon Ericksen, director of Monarch Handbells of First UMC of Pacific Grove. This year, besides Bell Appeal, Mission Bells, and Monarch Handbells, two other choirs were from Foothills UMC in Cameron Park and Woodland UMC in Woodland. B.J. Cassevah, a high school sophomore who aspires to be a music teacher by learning as many instruments as he can, attended with Woodland UMC's choir.

The five mass ring spirituals were: "I'm So Glad," arranged by Sue Nelson; "I've Got Peace Like a River," arranged by Valerie Stephenson; "Just a Closer Walk With Thee," arranged by Bruce Greer; "Rock-a-My Soul," also arranged by Valerie Stephenson, and "Wade in the Water," arranged by Sandra Eithun.

Caroline Harnly, director of the handbell choir at Community UMC of Half Moon Bay, performed two solo pieces - "Swing Low" and "Joshua," both arranged by Nancy Hascall - for the evening's most sustained applause.

First UMC of Pacific Grove performed two selections: "Holy Manna," arranged by Martha Lynn Thompson, and its Ring 4 Glory quartet performed "Ain't That Good News," arranged by Susan Sylvester. St. Paul's two selections were "Soon and Very Soon" by Andrae Crouch, arranged by Hart Morris, and "Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho," arranged by Martha Lynn Thompson. Bethany UMC performed "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" and a medley of "Wayfaring Stranger" and "Motherless Child."

Moving into December, it's officially "our" season - the season when people think of bells. Check out the calendar below for events going on in the Bay Area.

Hope your holiday is full of happy bell ringing!
 
Julie Vaquilar

[email protected] 

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Dear Handbell Musicians,

Valley Baptist Church of McArthur, California recently invited the Carillons of Redding, California to come and play for their church service and give our Germany presentation, "Bells of Wittenberg." This is a small church located in a small town. The pastor of Valley Baptist is Gary Brom, whose wife, Amy Brom, is the former choir director of First Presbyterian Church of Redding. Both Amy and Gary enjoyed hearing the Carillons play on the first Sunday of the month. Since becoming involved at Valley Baptist, Amy has missed hearing the bell choir, so she invited us to come and play and share about our mission trip to Wittenberg. The entire McArthur community was invited to come, since everyone there enjoys music as well as hearing about mission trips. We presented everyone with a crocheted cross, played songs from our Germany concert, and gave our slide show presentation which was then followed by questions and answers. Then we were guests at their congregational lunch before heading home. We had a warm reception and a wonderful experience playing bells and making new friends at this small church in their small town. We so enjoy spreading the art of handbell ringing whenever and wherever we can.

December is packed full with handbell concerts, so please check the calendar of events so that you might be able to attend one of these special holiday concerts near you. I wish you all a wonderful Christmas season.

Ringcerely,

Nancy Schmitt
[email protected]

Hello Nevada, and welcome to the season!

Here's a quick reminder that once you've taken a breath after the Christmas ringing rush, you'll want to have something to look forward to. The Next Big Ringing Event in Nevada is Las Vegas 12th Night. We've got David Weck, so you won't want to miss it!

Saturday-Sunday, January 14-15, 2012 

Las Vegas Nevada
Clinician: David Weck

The Handbell Musicians of America Master Series provides a unique opportunity for participants to develop their skills as a conductor, composer, director or ringer. Acquire personalized one-on-one instruction from our master clinicians during this 3-day event at the beautiful Hilton El Conquistador in Tucson, Arizona. You will gain hands-on experience in a nurturing and supportive environment. For more information about class requirements and the application process, check out the national web site.

And the 15th International Handbell Symposium is happening next summer in Liverpool. All the details and registration information can be found on the national web site.