The list of handbell musicians who will represent the Guild as the Handbell Musicians of America All-Star Ensemble at the 15th International Handbell Symposium has been announced. They are:
Krishna Ersson, Massachusetts
Joel Gingrich, California
PL Grove, California
Glen Hascall, Oregon
Nancy Hascall, Oregon
Debra LeBrun, Virginia
Danny Lyons, Florida
Wendy McPhetres, Washington
Robin Pentland, Washington
Nuno Raposo, California
Linnette Rodriguez Figueroa, Puerto Rico
Marion Smith, Florida
Michele Sharik, California
Jennifer Vangolen, Washington
Julie Vaquilar, California
Jessica Westgard, North Dakota
The group will present a featured concert at the Symposium event in Liverpool, UK. Each member was selected following a series of live auditions at national events and Go-To-Meeting video auditions over the past nine months. The ensemble will be conducted by Lee Afdahl and Stephanie Wiltse who are also representing Handbell Musicians of America as massed conductors at the Symposium.
Group members are responsible for preparing music for the one-hour concert on their own before arriving in Liverpool at the end of July. Once there, the group will have their first rehearsals as an ensemble for 3 days prior to the start of Symposium. They will also be participating in the massed ringing and other activities of the Symposium which takes place July 31 through August 4.
For more information about the 15th International Symposium, visit the official event site set up by the Handbell Ringers of Great Britain, hosts of the event.