Greetings!   

  

Area XII Chair

chair@area12.handbellmusicians.org 

P.L. Grove
Communications Director
info@areaxii.org 

 

Congratulations go out to Lori Kenward who finally prevailed as the winner of the February (and then again in March) clue when she correctly guessed that the Frequently Asked Questions had been posted.

We move on to the April hunt, and here's a reminder of the rules. Use the clue below to search for the item on the Area 12 web site that is NEW information. 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 seventh Treasure Hunt clue: 

Rhythm and movement create their allure

In addition to Disney, don't miss the tour     

The first eligible individual to send an email with the correct answer to info@areaxii.org 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 'cuz there's not much treasure left....

Yo ho, Yo ho!

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

My best,
-Michèle
socal@areaxii.org

Spring Ring Report

What a treat! Clinician Kath Wissinger was very well received by our Spring Ringers. She was informative, helpful, and supportive, yet with high expectations for us. Her patience and clarity of explanations were greatly appreciated. Many thanks to all who helped organize, and all who participated in this event. Our collective efforts made for a satisfying day.

Disneyland!

I know we've all been hearing it a lot, but IT'S NOT TOO LATE to sign up for the Area 12 Conference at Disneyland! There are so many wonderful opportunities it'd be a shame to miss it, especially since it is right here in our own neighborhood. I'll be there helping out, so if you attend, please stop by and introduce yourself. I'm really looking forward to meeting and reconnecting with even more ringers and directors from all over our area!

Upcoming Events

Though it seems that next school year is a long way off, we are quickly moving ahead with plans for the next few regional events. If you haven't already done so, please take some time now to mark your calendars. I know I learn something new every time I step out of my ringing routine. These events provide a great opportunity to pick up new approaches, sharpen our ringing skills, gain a deeper understanding of our instrument, and connect (or reconnect) with the wider handbell community. Please consider these benefits for you and your choirs as you begin to plan your schedule for the fall. Information flyers and registration forms will be posted soon.

• Fall Ringers Workshop
  October 6, 2012
  Lake Avenue Church in Pasadena
  Clinician: Rudy Rodriguez
  4-in-hand Instruction: Linda Krantz

• Youth Handbell Festival
  November 3, 2012
  Los Altos United Methodist Church in Long Beach
  Clinician: Barbara Meinke

• Area Concerts
  We have several groups presenting concerts in our area throughout the spring. I would encourage everyone to attend another group's concert this season. Maybe even invite a friend! It's an opportunity to support other ringers, get exposure to new repertoire and pick up some new ideas. Concert listings can be found at the bottom of the LA Metro page of the Area website and also on the Area 12 calendar. Please let me know if you have a concert that could be included on our list.

Pearl Marshall lametro@areaxii.org  
Check out our LA Metro Facebook page! 

The 21st Annual Bay Area Spring Ring in Cupertino was a success. With success comes many thanks.

• Thanks to Dave Ruder for organizing the event for all these years. A big thank you goes to his team of volunteers including Carol Smith, the event registrar. There is a lot of setup, after-event tear-down, and problem-solving that goes on throughout the day.
• Thanks to the clinicians who taught classes on various ringing topics throughout the day: Deborah Carr, Rima Greer, Mark Goldstein, P.L. Grove, Caroline Harnly, David Ruder, Dian Ruder, Carol Smith, and Larry Sue.
• Thanks to the 250 ringers who participated in the event. Ringers from 26 area handbell choirs and ten individual ringers came despite the rain.
• Thanks to the directors who prepared their ringers for the event.
• Special thanks to Carol Smith for her wonderful lunchtime solo concert. It was an entertaining program. Her piano accompanist was Jane Patty, and Carol's husband even joined in with percussion on "Plink! Plank! Plunk!" Well done!
• Thanks to Messiah Brass for their prelude at the concert.
• Thanks to our accompanists and additional musicians throughout the program: Mark Goldstein, Tessique Houston, the Heartsong Choir, and Messiah Brass.
• Thanks to the Intense Ringers who spent Friday evening and Saturday morning preparing two advanced pieces for the concert.
• Thanks to Wil Mandac who photographed the activities throughout the day.
• Thanks to our supportive audience who managed to make it a standing-room only event again.
• Finally, a huge thank you to Deborah Carr, our guest clinician from Missouri. She was fun, instructive and motivational in getting ringers to perform at a higher level. Instead of being scolded at ringing wrong notes, we were forgiven and asked to ring with musicality, keeping in mind the words and the history of the pieces we were playing.

Bravo to all on a spectacular event!

Next year's Bay Area Spring Ring will be on April 13, 2013, so mark your calendars. Guest clinicians will be James Meredith and the ringers from Sonos Handbell Ensemble, and the lunch time solo concert will be given by Linda Krantz.

As always, check the Area 12 calendar and the Bay Area web page for upcoming local concerts. Make sure you get out and support other bell choirs by attending their concerts!

Julie Vaquilar

bayarea@areaxii.org 

Friend us on Facebook!

Dear Handbell Musicians,

Spring is here and Holy Week and Easter are approaching. Perhaps you are wondering what special things you can do during Holy Week and Easter. Maybe you already know that half of your ringers will be gone on Easter. Do you try to keep it simple or do you go all out with your ringing?

During Lent and Holy Week I try to keep things simple. For Advent we use a bell toll of the hour to begin our worship service. For Lent we use the Trinity Chimes to begin the worship service. At our Good Friday Stations of the Cross service, we use a bell toll before each Station is read. For the Tennebrae service, we use a bell toll before each candle is lit. Some years, a handbell solo is rung at the Good Friday services.

For Easter Sunday, I try to go all out by doing one or more of the following: ring an anthem, combine with the vocal choir on an anthem, combine with organ and piano and bells for a prelude, ring a processional, ring the Easter greeting with the congregation responding, sponsor a flower cross, and/or do change ringing. Four ringers will do change ringing outdoors prior to the worship service. As people get out of their cars they are greeted by the ringing of those bells. When the service is ready to start, the four ringers go inside to do change ringing as the call to worship. Trinity Chimes may be used after the benediction.

Whatever you decide to do during Holy Week and Easter - keep it simple or go all out - happy spring ringing to you all!

Ringcerely,

Nancy Schmitt
norcal@areaxii.org 

Barbara Walsh  

Fourteen ringers from Area 12 participated at this year's Distinctly Bronze West, the West Coast version of National's by-audition-only advanced ringing event. Tess Houston recalls some of the highlights:

"Anthony Chapman, who is this year's David Davidson Composition winner, was at the event, and we played his winning piece Black Belling. He based the rhythms in the piece on African drumming patterns, and it was a fun, interesting, and high energy piece. We really enjoyed putting it together, and getting to hear from Anthony what his thoughts were when he wrote it.

Another highlight was Don Allured's Londonderry Air. Everyone really put a lot of skill and emotion into their performance, and it was very touching to play that piece in Don's memory.

And we had a really great time playing St. Louis Blues. We really enjoyed playing the blues, and the energy that we created while playing the piece was excellent!!!!

There were 74 ringers total, and while most were from all over the United States, there was one from Australia and a few from Canada"

Front Row:  Tess Houston, Barbara Meinke, and Beth Mays
Center Row: Sandy Haynes, Gretchen Rauch, Julie Vaquilar, Linda Krantz, Larry Sue and Debbie Shaw
Back Row:  Heather Haworth, Michèle Sharik, Brian Pituley, Rebekah Maneer, and Marcus Maneer 

Saturday, April 21, 2012, 8 am-4:30 pm Southern California Spring Ring, Hope Lutheran Church, 29141 Vallejo Avenue, Temecula, California. Clinician: Barbara Meinke. Final concert begins at 3:30 p.m. For information contact Michèle Sharik at  socal@areaxii.org.

Saturday, April 28, 2012, 8 am to 4:30 pm Central Coast Spring Ring, Atascadero United Methodist Church, 11605 El Camino Real, Atascadero, California. Clinicians: Mary Balkow and Mel Tully. Final concert begins at 3:30 pm. For information contact Margie Orchard at margie6@wildblue.net.     

Saturday, April 28, 2012, 4 pm San Clemente Community Handbell Ensemble in its debut performance, Our Savior's Lutheran Church, 200 Avenida San Pablo, San Clemente, California. For more information contact Sharon Guilliams at sguilliams@cox.net. 

Saturday, April 28, 2012, 7 pm Low Ding Zone in concert, Hope Lutheran Church, 2383 Pacific Drive, Santa Clara, California. A freewill offering will be taken. For more information go to  www.handbellventures.org. 

Sunday, April 29, 2012, 4 pm A Gather RING, spring concert, First Congregational Church, 5 Real Road, Bakersfield, California. For information contact Jenell Mahoney at revjenell@bak.rr.com.

Friday, May 4, 2012, 7 pm Tapestry (featuring Canto Bell Handbell Ensemble) presents Music of the Night-Gems of the Stage, Walnut Creek United Methodist Church, 1543 Sunnyvale Avenue, Walnut Creek, California. Freewill offering to benefit Open Heart Kitchen and Garden of Grace. Reception following concert. For more information, contact Carol Smith at  carolsmith2@comcast.net.

Sunday, May 20, 2012, 7 pm Tapestry (featuring Canto Bell Handbell Ensemble) presents Music of the Night-Gems of the Stage, Danville Village Theater, 233 Front Street, Danville, California. Tickets $25, include a wine and hors d'oeuvres reception and benefit the San Ramon Historic Foundation. For tickets after May 1, go to www.villagetheatreshows.com. For more information, contact Carol Smith at  carolsmith2@comcast.net.

Tuesday, May 29, 2012, 8 pm Bay Bells performs its Triptychs concert, First Congregational Church, 1980 Hamilton Avenue, San Jose, California. For more information go to www.baybells.org . 

To view all the events on the Area 12 calendar Click Here.