Carlos E. Rivera-Aponte – Candidate for President-Elect

Regarded as one of Puerto Rico’s foremost handbell masters, Carlos has had a fruitful career of more than thirty years as director of various handbell programs in Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, and Colombia.

Carlos received a Bachelor of Arts with a major in education and music from the University of Puerto Rico. He later received his master’s degree in music education with an emphasis on choral music at Florida State University’s College of Music in Tallahassee, Florida.

He is an active handbell clinician and has inspired many people to become involved in handbell ringing and musicianship. He describes himself as a handbell missionary, in his belief that “there are so many people who have not been able to be in contact with this wonderful instrument; once they do, they’ll fall in love with it”.

Carlos is a founding member of the Puerto Rican Handbell Festival. This festival, held over 17 years, became the most important handbell education event in Puerto Rico and led to the formation of many choirs.  Carlos also co-founded the group Vivace, which he conducted and nurtured for nearly 15 years. In recent years he has been working with Resonare, the handbell ensemble of the University of Puerto Rico in Arecibo, where also has prepared two academic courses in handbell methodology and performance. In 2018 Carlos and Resonare toured the Southeast and presented concerts in Atlanta and Charlotte.

Carlos is founder and creator of the handbell movement in Venezuela and founder of the handbell movement for the elderly in Puerto Rico. He is a published arranger of handbell music, including his book Serenata Infantil, a collection of handbell settings of Puerto Rican children’s songs. Carlos serves as the Associate Director of Charlotte Bronze Handbell Ensemble.

Carlos currently works as music professor, choral conductor, and Dean of Student Affairs at the University of Puerto Rico in Carolina.

What past work experience(s), education and/or leadership position(s) have you had that you would bring to the National Board?

I’ve been working in music education since 1991, two years after I had my first experience in handbells.  I have conducted and taught handbell programs in schools, communities and at colleges during those years.  I’ve been involved in supporting the creation of many handbell programs in Puerto Rico and Latin America (Venezuela, Dominican Republic, Colombia, Guatemala, and Argentina).  I am a founding member of the Puerto Rican Handbell Festival. This festival, held over 17 years, became the most important handbell education event in Puerto Rico and led to the formation of many choirs.  I also co-founded the group Vivace, which I conducted and nurtured for nearly 15 years. In recent years I have been working with Resonare, the handbell ensemble of the University of Puerto Rico in Arecibo, where I have also prepared two academic courses in handbell methodology and performance. In 1997 I started the first handbell program for the elderly in Puerto Rico. I have arranged and published music for handbells and have been a good advocate for composers and arrangers of Latin American music for handbells. During these past 30 years I have participated in many of HMA events as a ringer, conductor, and clinician.  Now my leadership and professional responsibilities are as a choir director and Dean of Student Affairs at the University of Puerto Rico at Carolina.

How do you view the present status of HMA and what are your thoughts for the future?

Handbell Musicians of America is an evolving organization and the most important in its field around the world.  I’ve seen many changes happened throughout the last 30 years, but those changes have been tied to how the art of handbell ringing has evolved and how new practices, techniques, repertoire, and ensembles have emerged. Right now, HMA is working toward more involvement of the national board in listening to the needs of its members through innovative initiatives. More must be done, and I think HMA is ready to look into the future focusing on education, creation, recruiting of new membership, liaising with other professional organizations, and serving new generation of ringers, directors, and ensembles.  Using technology as a tool for improving processes create new projects and find forms to impulse new member-oriented initiatives. Reaching to new and diverse communities is an important focus into the future of HMA as well as to support new handbell initiatives around the world.  HMA should be the leading in creating new programs in those communities where handbell and handchime ringing is still unknown.  I see a very promising and brilliant future for HMA, both in its administrative and creative endeavors.

Why do you want to be President-Elect of HMA and, if elected how would you lead the organization?

I would like to be president elect of HMA to put my experience and fresh visions for handbell ringing into programs that can move the organization to many and new levels focused on education, performance practices and outreach. I would lead the organization into maintaining a solid administrative and organizational state and support those educational, and creative programs for the future.