This Month16th International Handbell Symposium National Seminar Silent Auction to Benefit New Heritage Fund
Member Rewards
Add the handbell musicians in your program as sub-members under your membership in the Guild and keep them engaged this summer and throughout the year by giving them access to all the member resources and benefits available at Normally $10 per person for a one-year membership, this package special gives you the opportunity to give your choir members their own access at special volume discounts. Offer expires 7-15-2013. Featured
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16th International Handbell SymposiumThe Korean Handbell Association (KHA) invites you to Jeju, Korea, for the 16th International Handbell Association. The event is planned for August 5-9, 2014 and registration fees have been set at $800USD.
JEJU International Convention Center is proud to present an elegant, world-class convention facility with fantastic views of Mt. Halla (a UNESCO World Heritage site) and the Pacific Ocean. Tamna Hall, its largest space, can accommodate up to 4,500 participants, theater style and 2,000, banquet style. Visit JEJU Convention Center’s website here.
Registration will open in September, but we would like to get an idea of the level of interest among members of Handbell Musicians of America. If you are considering attending Symposium next summer, please let us know by completing THIS FORM Watch for more information soon. MEMBERSHIP SPOTLIGHTMusic for Animals – by J. Irene and Jay C. Harris We expressed our grief by writing music to memorialize the animals lost. Initially conceived as music for handbells and Native American flute, it became music for 3-5 octaves of handbells with any C descant instrument. As we wrote, we started thinking of ways that we could provide some concrete help to the zoo and decided that we would could attempt to publish the music and donate all of our royalties. This was not a goal that we could attain by ourselves, and we weren’t sure we could succeed, but we soon learned that the handbell community is made up of true team players. So many people in the handbell community rose up to help!
This composition, “Lake Superior Prayer” is now available at handbell retailers, and is hard at work to help raise funds to help the zoo make repairs and renovations to keep their remaining animals safer. This could only have happened because handbell musicians learn the skill of making music in teams and use that to support their communities in teams. We are touched by the compassion we have found in the handbell community and plan to continue writing, ringing, and contributing to this community as long as we are able.
Have a story you want to share? What inspires you about handbells? Why is membership in the Guild important to you? Why are handbells a part of your life? Send us your story today by contacting your Regional Membership Coordinator. Jon Snyder Mary Willadsen Ellie Hodder National Seminar Silent Auction to Benefit New Heritage FundDo you have Fred’s Pants (the pair of jeans Fred left behind after an event that have become the go-to item in Guild silent auctions for the past several years)? What about something that represents your state or your Area? Are you a quilter or other crafter who is willing to donate an item to support Handbell Musicians of America? Yes? Then we need your help now for the annual National Seminar Silent Auction. This is the major fundraising event each year for the Guild, and the funds raised at this year’s auction will support the Heritage Fund. This new operating endowment was established by the national board of directors to provide sustaining revenue for the day-to-day operations of Handbell Musicians of America. Learn more about the Heritage Fund and our campaign to build it HERE. So, be creative and support the Guild by getting involved with the National Seminar Silent Auction. You don’t have to be at the event to support the Silent Auction. Just send something ahead to be included. Our hope is to have something from every Area and possibly even EVERY state. For more information about how to donate an item to the Silent Auction, go HERE. Music Notes from John BehnkeIt’s Hot, Hot, Hot
It’s time for some hot weather and hot music! This month I’d like to feature Andrew Duncan’s new piece, "Tin-Tin-A-Rhumba," AG335315. It’s a Level 3+ piece with parts for optional Shekere and Congas. I asked Andrew what his inspiration was for this piece. He said, “My church was going to host a missions summit for several mission teams that do work in Central America—Nicaragua and Honduras especially—and we wanted to offer a worship service that celebrated our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. We don’t sing in Spanish particularly well in my congregation, so I decided to write a handbell piece with a Latin flavor. I played in a salsa band in college, and this piece owes a lot to that experience!” If you don’t know Andrew Duncan, he has served for about six years as the membership chair for Area 6. He is now chair-elect, and will be chair for Area 6 beginning this October. He is helping with the Area 6 Festival in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, this June and will be conducting the Advanced Track. He also works with the Knoxville Area Handbell Festival. He is an avid composer and arranger for handbells and has music published with AGEHR as well as his own handbell music website, Ring Press. When Andrew is not writing music, he says, “I am the father to three of the cutest kids anywhere on the planet, which means lots of Legos, bike riding, going to the park, and occasionally just taking them somewhere so my wife can have a moment’s peace to herself.” Additionally, he plays violin and fiddle and has an accordian named “Evelyn.” I didn’t probe anything further about Evelyn. I thought maybe that’s a story for a future E-Notes column. 🙂 Now as the weather warms up, it’s time for those bike rides, walks in the park and for playing a little Salsa-inspired handbell piece called "Tin-Tin-A-Rhumba." It’s a great piece for your community choir or for your next concert program. It’s AG35315 and you can take a listen here. http://www.lorenz.com/product.aspx?id=AG35315 Until next month,
John Behnke |
When we heard that animals were killed in a flood affecting the Lake Superior Zoo in Duluth, Minnesota, we felt helpless. Little did we know then that the handbell community would be instrumental in our efforts to help.
Flagstaff Publications agreed to publish the music. When we sent the music to Strikepoint, a world-class handbell ensemble from Duluth, their coach (Bill Alexander) immediately agreed to premier the music. Carol Scheel of Heitz Handbells and Linnea Fitzpatrick, the editor of the Area 7 Clapper Chatter helped us by sharing news of our efforts to help with the local handbell community.
I asked Andrew if he had a favorite part in the piece and he replied, “I had to smile when I had the idea to ask the handbell ringers to sing along in the middle of the song. It is a happy tune, but that section seems especially joyful and relaxed, and it grooves all on its own. The percussion is wonderful with the piece, as it anchors the rhythm and propels the piece along.