Hello, Area 12! 

I hope you all made it through the spring "madness" that was Spring Rings and Holy Week! There are still some Spring Rings yet to come, not to mention things like our own Area 12 Conference and National Seminar this summer, so be sure to check out the calendar and make your travel plans soon!

As you probably remember, all Guild members were asked to vote for new National Board officers last month. The results have been announced and TWO Area 12 members were elected to the National Board! Please join me in congratulating P.L. Grove (former Area 12 Chair, past Communications Director, and current Webmaster) on her new position as President-Elect! She will take office in October and will serve three years as P-E and then three years as President. P.L. had the following comments about the election results:

"As I understand it, this is only the third time in the history of the Guild that there has been a West Coast president. And the fact that we have two other incoming West Coast representatives at the National level makes this a momentous occasion. I am so honored and thrilled to represent both the larger handbell community and Area 12 in this way. I look forward to working with Derek, Jennifer and the rest of the Board to help envision and create a great future for handbells."

Congratulations, P.L.!

 

Let's also congratulate Derek Nance (of Tintabulations, Sonos, and Handbell Brothers fame) on his election as At-Large Board Member. Congratulations, Derek! The other open position was filled by Jennifer Vangolen, who, while not from Area 12, is "at least" from the West Coast. ;-) Congratulations, Jennifer!

And now, I would like to ask our new Area 12 Chair Elect to introduce herself. Tell us a bit about yourself, Tess!

 

Michèle Sharik

Chair

chair.area12@handbellmusicians.org

Hello Handbell Musicians of Area 12!

I am very honored to be the new Chair Elect for Area 12. Thanks for the 'vote' of confidence in me! I know, working together, our area will continue to thrive and grow - thriving with regular events that some of us go to every chance we get, and growing with those that have yet to be 'hatched' and are just waiting for us to discover them!

For those of you who don't know me (yet), let me introduce myself to you! I hold a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from the University of Nevada, Reno, where my main instrument was flute. I started ringing handbells when I fell in love with them during my student teaching in 1995. 

I taught Elementary General Music (K-6) for ten years in the Reno area. During that time I worked to get a 3-octave set of handbells at my school, and used them for both extracurricular groups as well as in the classroom curriculum. I also participated in a teacher handbell ensemble where I shared directing responsibilities with the other teachers in the group and I was co-director of music at South Reno UMC for six years, sharing the directing of various adult and children's handbell and vocal choirs during that time.

I was one of the first to complete Level I Certification from the Handbell Musicians of America, conferred last summer at National Seminar in Portland. I am continuing to work toward Level II Certification and I only have one class to pass to get there! I have participated in several Handbell Musicians of America national events including Pinnacle 2010 Dream Team, Distinctly Bronze West 2011-2013, and Distinctly Bronze East 2012-2013.

I currently ring with Sonos Handbell Ensemble and Tapestry Ringers and Singers. I direct the Chancel Handbell Choir at Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian Church and I am the Director of Handbell Ministries at Walnut Creek UMC. I teach at various handbell clinics throughout the area, and serve as a Province Officer for Sigma Alpha Iota International Music Fraternity. In my spare time I enjoy reading, crossword puzzles, and pushing my husband, Brian, off cliffs! (Curious? -  ask me to clarify when you see me next!)

Happy Ringing to you all!  

Tessique Houston

Area 12 Chair Elect

chairelect.area12@handbellmusicians.org

Seeking Nominations for Area 12

Board Secretary and Treasurer

Sierra Spring Ring

 Saturday, May 17, 2014

Reno, NV

 presented by Tintabulations

Zephyr Point Handbell Conference

July 27 - 31, 2014

Lake Tahoe, CA

These events are endorsed by Handbell Musicians of America

Barbara Walsh

Nevada Regional Coordinator

nv.area12@handbellmusicians.org 

For information on Nevada Region's concerts, events, and other opportunities, click here to go to the Nevada page. 

  

 

Bay Area Spring Ring Concert

 

May 3, 2014  7:00 p.m.

(pre-concert music by

Messiah Brass at 6:45 p.m.)

Valley Church

Cupertino, CA

Fred Gramann, conductor

  

This event is endorsed by Handbell Musicians of America 

  

Thank you to Lori Smith who shares the letter below with us!

  

Hello Bay Area Ringers,

Sometimes I worry at what appears to be a small participation of the younger generation in handbell ringing. However, I recently learned of a grand event that renewed my faith in the continuation of our art.

 

The Bay Area School Handbell Festival has been happening every Spring since the 1980's. It was started by Dave Ruder while he was teaching in Menlo Park. After several years, Dolores Rhoades took the event to Hayward. Dian Ruder is now the coordinator for this event held at All Saints Catholic School in Hayward, CA. 

On Thursday, April 3rd, 140 students (5th grade through senior high from Fremont, Hayward, Los Altos, Pleasant Hill, San Jose) gathered for a full day of ringing. Wow! This was the first year high school students were included in the program. Two divisions, based on skill levels, were offered. When not rehearsing for the massed ring, students participated in various classes and activities. Bell Olympics challenged everyone to quick ringing, rapid fire table set up, a bell hunt (look for C#5), and glove-toss into a C4 bell. Dian Ruder taught Maori Sticks and Dave Ruder taught change-ringing.

 

Barb Walsh was this year's guest conductor. She was pleased with the level of preparation from each group and said the whole day was great fun. Barb was laughing as she told me of her own challenge that day. Many of you know that her directing style involves lots of body movement. In order for the students to all see her, she directed from atop a five-foot tall rolling platform. The wheels were locked but there was still a fair amount of wiggle going on under her feet!

 

In the afternoon, the final concert was presented in the gymnasium to an appreciative audience comprised of parents and the students from All Saints Catholic School. In Tammy Waldrop's "Bound for Glory," vibrato was added to imitate the sound of a train whistle and R.L. Davenport's "Bellrhomba" was especially fun with claves and bongos.

 

Many, many thanks go to site host, Steven J. Meyer, who teaches bells at All Saints, and to the wonderful chaperones, teachers, and parents for their help in making the day a great success!

 

 

Julie Vaquilar 

Bay Area Regional Coordinator

bayarea.area12@handbellmusicians.org 

 

Dear Handbell Musicians,

 

     As the spring festivals are winding down, it is not too early to start thinking about fall festivals!

 

Redding Handbell Festival

October 11, 2014

Simpson University in Redding, CA

 

This event is endorsed by Handbell Musicians of America   

 

We'll start the night before with the Ringin' in the Red Zone Bronze Choir for those of you who want to stretch your ringing abilities. Our guest conductor for massed numbers (which can be used throughout the year at church or community) will be Ellie Hodder and for Ringin' in the Red Zone, our conductor will be Larry Sue. There will be several classes (reading session, beginning ringing, rhythms, bell maintenance, drumming, and ear training) featuring clinicians Mel Tully, Shosh Meyer, Ellie Hodder, and Dr. Corbin (music professor at Simpson University). West Coast Handbell Supply who promises to bring lots of "goodies" and new music to browse through, will be our event vendor. Please check the Area 12 website for the registration forms.

 

Now, enjoy the rest of the spring rings in May and the Area 12 Ringers Conference in June at SLO. 

 

Ringcerely, 

 

NorCal Regional Coordinator  

 

Hello, LA Metro!

 

This month my husband and I will be leaving California to start a new adventure in eastern Kentucky. We've met some wonderful people here under the California sun who we will miss very much. As we move on, we are excited to hear live Bluegrass again, and I've already made some handbell connections in the region. (Seems handbell folks are awesome everywhere!)

I want to thank everyone for welcoming me into the California handbell community. I will cherish my experiences here. Please welcome Scott Leggett as he comes on board to serve Area 12 and the LA Metro Region!

Best wishes to all!

 

Pearl Marshall

LA Metro Regional Coordinator

 

  

 

Greetings L.A. Metro!

 

Here is just a little about me. I have been an active member of Area 12 going back to the 1980s, when I  served as the Music Director at Salem Lutheran Church in Whittier, California. I am currently the Director of Handbell Music at Glendale First United Methodist Church, directing two adult handbell choirs, and a board member/ringer of LA Bronze, a distinguished community handbell ensemble. I am a published arranger of handbell music and studied music history and organ performance at Whittier College. I still study the organ with James Walker and sing with the Coventry Choir at All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena. Professionally, I am the Director of Finance for a healthcare company in Newport Beach. I am excited to be the new LA Metro Regional Coordinator and I look forward to meeting the region's members one on one and keeping LA Metro vibrant and growing!

 

Mark your calendar now...

LA Metro Fall Ringers' Workshop

October 4, 2014

Pasadena, CA

Ramona Miller, clinician

 Details and registration forms coming soon!

 

This event is sponsored by Handbell Musicians of America 

 

LA Metro Regional Coordinator