Greetings!   

Area 12 Chair

[email protected] 

Renewing your membership has never been easier! You can set up an auto-renewal by logging in to the guild's website. Or you will receive an email notice 60 days prior to expiration (make sure the national office has your current preferred email address!) with a link to renew online. If you need to renew the old-fashioned way, you will received a paper notice in the mail the month your membership expires. If you plan to renew online, do it more than 30 days ahead and save The Guild mailing that paper to you!

AGEHR Music Publishing has a great packet coming out this spring, so remember to purchase yours when you renew your membership or preview and order online by clicking here.

Our National Board Nominating Committee has started searching for qualified candidates to run for the National Board next year. If you or someone you know is interested, or you want more information, please contact me, the national office, or any member of your Area 12 or National Boards.

Finally, The Guild has established the Heritage Endowment Fund which allows the Guild to generate sustainable income over and above membership dues and allows funding for future special projects. It is on the ground floor now, so keep checking the national website for more information on how you can help sustain the guild with a "many hands make light work" attitude!

For next month, I want to feature YOU in my article. Send me an email note by April 25 with one or two lines about your spring handbell experience.  Whether you learned, taught, played, or listened, I want to share YOUR love for handbells with everyone.

Ringing at Distinctly Bronze West with Fred Gramann

by Shannon Shaw-Perez

Ninety-one other advanced handbell musicians from the US, Canada, and England and I had the great privilege of ringing under the baton of the astounding Fred Gramann at Distinctly Bronze West 2013. I had the honor of winning the William H. Griffin scholarship. This scholarship is only available for Distinctly Bronze events and is given to one individual, either first time attendee or alumni, to attend Distinctly Bronze East or West. Distinctly Bronze was started by David R. Davidson to showcase handbell music and musicianship in order to help us grow and advance our art. We spend less a week together playing music not only technically challenging but musically enticing. At the end of this event, we present a public concert.  We all strive to be the best handbell musicians we can be. To do this, we need directors that inspire us to grow and push ourselves to new levels. 

Fred Gramann with me, post concert! 

Fred Gramann came to this event this year and challenged us all to pass through the pain and to give our very best. Ringing with Fred at the helm was not only informative but awe-inspiring. I was so impressed when a question was posed about whether Fred was going to conduct a 4/4 measure (that pulsed in 3) in 3 or 4. Fred replied with "both." He then conducted a 4 pattern in his right hand and simultaneously conducted a 3 pattern in his left hand. The room went silent and gasped in amazement as we watched the master at work. Fred is amazing to watch and learn from. He makes you want to watch him.  He is intelligent, energetic, and enthusiastic. He expects the very best because "We are Distinctly Bronze!" He exudes an aura about him that makes you want to give him all your effort and he makes it fun while doing it. He is the first to make fun of himself which proves how human he is. We all worked really hard and it showed in our final concert. If you ever get a chance to work under the baton of Fred Gramann, do it! He will be back in the states at the National Seminar in Portland Oregon this July. Being able to attend this event again is an experience I will soon not forget.

Area 12's DBW13 Contingent

(Back) 

P.L. Grove, Carla Sue, Brian Pituley, Tess Houston, Sandy Haynes, Linda Krantz, Mich�le Sharik, Debbie Shaw, Sheri Gray, Julie Vaquilar (with Flat Bronzer)

(front)

Larry Sue, Beth Mays, Shannon Shaw-Perez, Barbara Meinke, Gretchen Rauch

Check the national website for more information on Distinctly Bronze!

Bay Area Regional Coordinator

[email protected] 

11th Annual Sierra Spring Ring 

with Tess Houston 

Saturday, April 20

Reno, Nevada 

This workshop and concert is a great way to get your feet wet in the world of Spring Rings! With accessible music and a format that incorporates mini techniques lessons right into the rehearsal, you are sure to come away feeling successful! The event starts at 9:30 a.m. and culminates in a concert at 2:00 p.m., giving you time to get there and back in one day! For details, click the title link above!

Barbara Walsh

Nevada Regional Coordinator

[email protected]

  

Dear Handbell Musicians,

 

This July, NorCal Region will play host to a great Youth Handbell Camp featuring Tintabulations on their way to National Seminar. This camp is open to students from grades 2-12 on July 21st from 1-3 p.m. at St. James Lutheran Church in Redding. Tintab was well received at the Area 12 Ringers Conference at Disneyland and we expect to be dazzled by them again this summer!

 

So, stay tuned for registration information and then load up the kids and get ready for some educational fun with handbells! You are in for a real treat!

 

Ringcerely,

 

NorCal Regional Coordinator
[email protected]