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Alaska * Alberta * British Columbia * Idaho * Montana * Oregon * Saskatchewan * Washington

The Northwest Campanologist

Vol 16. No.2 February/March 2025

NEWSLETTER FREQUENCY CHANGES

With this addition of the Area 10 Newsletter we announce that the newsletter will be sent out on the odd numbered months of the year with a special edition sent out for Christmas.

After checking out what other HMA areas are doing and looking at our needs, it was decided to do an every other month format.

This newsletter will cover February and March. The next one will go out at the beginning of May. That will be followed with editions planned for July, September, November and December. Articles still need to be submitted by the 20th of the month prior to publication.

If you have any special concerts or events that will be happening in between the published months plan to get that information sent early to the following email address: campanologist.area10@handbellmusicians.org.

Remember that we would love to hear what you or your group is doing. Also, this is a place to share what you learned or enjoyed after attending a handbell conference or other handbell event. Share your notes of how you worked through a complex piece or what recent music arrangement or composition you have enjoyed and why. What other performance venues has your group played in or at.

If you scroll down far enough you will read about a new handbell duo that has gotten together and will be giving a mini concert in April. Also, scrolling all the way down ensures you don't miss any new information.

So help this newsletter editor provide an informative newsletter that can reach each state or province within our area 10 umbrella with notes to ring about.

Choose Your Handbell Conference

So Many Choices

10th Annual Snake River Handbell Conference

Hello fellow handbell musicians!!!

It's time to get fired up for the 10^th Annual Snake River Handbell Conference. It's hard to believe this is the 10^th year.

Attached is the information about the conference, the registration form, and the music repertoire. I think you will all enjoy Brenda Austin's enthusiasm. It was a delight to ring under her at the Area 10 Conference in Spokane in 2023.

10^th Annual Snake River Handbell Conference

Friday & Saturday, February 7 & 8, 2025

Central Elementary Gym

Nampa, Idaho

Guest clinician: Brenda Austin

Contact: Phyllis Tincher at ringpraise@msn.com

Registration Repertoire Information

Coppers Classic

Coppers Classic 2025 is coming March 27-30 in the Portland, OR Metro area! Celebrating advanced coppers musicians like no other event, you’ll be stretched, you’ll learn, and you’ll amaze yourself at how much wonderful music you can make with fellow musicians who want to be their very best!

This is a massed ringing event for advanced coppers handbell musicians. Through the years participants have traveled from all over the United States and Canada. Three full days of rehearsal culminates in a public concert on Sunday, March 30, 2025, at 4 pm. Tickets are $10 at the door.

Dates: March 27-30, 2025

Location: Monarch Hotel and Conference Center (12566 SE 93rd Avenue, Clackamas, OR 97015).

Information: Coppersclassic.com

Registration: https://coppersclassic.com/register/

42nd Annual

Big Sky Handbell Festival

April 25-26, 2025

Ammon, Idaho

Hillcrest High School, 2801 E. Sunnyside Rd

Registration ***** Repertoire ***** Information

Our guest clinician, LeAnna Willmore, recently retired as conductor of the Bells at Temple Square in June 2024 after twenty years in that position. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Weber State University and Master of Music degree from the University of Utah. A choir teacher in the Utah area for nearly 40 years, she devoted 20 of those years to also instructing handbell choirs and serving in various state and National leadership positions. Willmore is an active member of the National Association for Music Education (NAFME) and has served as Western Division President. She also served as the Chair of the National Choral Council. She is an active member of Handbell Musicians of America and currently serves as Past-Chair on the Area 11 Handbell Musicians of America Board. Having won many state awards as a music educator, she is a frequent guest conductor and adjudicator. Her husband, Ken, is a retired structural engineer.

DIRECTOR SEMINAR with LeAnna Willmore …

Improve the Performance! Engage the Audience!

Friday April 26— 2:00pm - 3:30pm at First Presbyterian Church

325 Elm St., Idaho Falls

(Driving Directions in the Information document)

COST: $20 per person, added to registration, or payable on-site

“Awe and Wonder”

Siskiyou Summit Handbell Conference

May 2-3, 2025

Mark your calendars for the 2025 Siskiyou Summit Handbell Conference. This year’s guest clinician is Jason Krug (bio below). Our theme is “Awe and Wonder,” featuring music that expresses the feeling when we experience the grandeur and beauty of God’s creation and His gift of love to us. Our weekend begins on Friday night with massed ringing rehearsal and continues Saturday with massed, division ringing; workshops; and a closing concert in the evening. Click on the links below for Schedule, Repertoire List, and Registration Materials.

Registration opens January 1, 2025—

Early Bird Registration Fee is $80/ringer before March 31 and $85/ringer

after March 31.

A $5 discount/person is available for choirs with 5 or more ringers attending.

REPERTOIRE SCHEDULE REGISTRATION

Questions—contact Diane Barnes, Events Chair, at dkbarnes@jeffnet.org

Jason Krug, Bio

Jason W. Krug (b. 1978) is a native of Indianapolis, Indiana. He holds a degree in music from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is a full-time freelance composer, arranger, clinician, and teacher. Since his first publication in 2006, he has had over 500 compositions and arrangements accepted for handbells, piano, strings, organ, and choir. His works have been featured at numerous festivals and workshops in the United States and beyond. He is also handbell editor for Beckenhorst Press, as well as the owner of and editor for Grassy Meadow Music.

In his spare time, Jason enjoys writing. He has spent several years working on a young adult fantasy series, The Sadonian Chronicles, and has released a non-fiction book, The General Theory of Creativity. He also enjoys solving the Rubik’s Cube and similar puzzles and has participated in several competitions sponsored by the World Cube Association. Jason continues to live in Indianapolis with his wife Ellen, his sons Daniel and Malcolm, and his feline creative consultants Figaro and Nocturne.

Other Notes of Interest

Bell Tree

Composition Contest

Area 10 is excited to announce its 2025 Bell Tree Composition Contest, focused on increasing compositions which will bring bell trees from the periphery into the mainstream of the handbell world.

Calling All Bell Tree Ringers; We Need Your Help!

Last issue, Area 10 announced the kick-off of its 2025 Bell Tree Composition Contest. We could use your help in several ways.

1- Spread the word to your arranger/composer friends. Entry deadline is May 31.

2- Scan the QR Code to make a donation to the contest fund.

3- Volunteer to help judge the entries. Send me an email to let us know you’re interested.

Joann Wallenburn

Communications Chair (and bell tree ringer)

Two Choirs Needed

For Area 10’s Bell Tree Composition Contest, we need 2 choirs to learn and record the top entries. Each choir must be a full 5-octave choir and capable of learning and recording Level 3 to 3+ music in a 6-week time span. The scores for 1 or 2 pieces will be provided in late June.

The recording (made with a cell phone or digital camera – no recording studio or special equipment needed!) needs to be completed by August 10th . A stipend of $200 will be given to each choir. I know that many choirs shut down for the summer. Let me know if your choir is interested in helping with the Area 10 Bell Tree Composition Contest and earning a little money for your program.

This contest is being funded entirely from individual donations. Please consider donating to the contest fund by scanning the QR Code in the photo.

Joann Wallenburn Area 10 Communications Chair

Introducing

Kaleidoscope Belles

Having asked for your news of what your ensembles have been doing or information about a new collaboration of ringers, I guess I should set the example since I have gotten together with another ringer to be part of a new handbell Duo.

I currently ring with a local church handbell choir. It is nice to ring as a member of a full choir but I have missed the challenge of ringing with a smaller ensemble. Part of my prior handbell experience includes ringing as a member of a handbell trio. We were known as the Ju-Bell-ation Trio.

From within the current choir I have been working with one of the ringers in ringing handbell duets. If the music arrangement calls for an accompanist, I call upon another pianist colleague. We have come up with the name of Kaleidoscope Belles. We have already given a Christmas performance and have played for a few local churches. Currently we are working on a program to ring as part of a series known as 'First Thursdays at St Paul's'.

Occasionally, a third or forth ringer and/or another instrumentalist might be asked to join us. When that happens we then become Kaleidoscope Belles and Harmony. This seemed a great solution should one of the additional performer(s) be a male. So....

If you find yourself visiting Walla Walla on April 3, (the First Thursday of the month), set aside a 1/2 hour lunch time block (12:15-12:45pm) to come and enjoy a kaleidoscope of handbell music at St Paul's Episcopal Church. This is a free concert, however, donations are collected that will go to a local charity of our choice.

Now it's your turn! Perhaps members of your choir will be attending the upcoming Snake River Handbell Conference. What did you learn and/or enjoy during those two days? Your stories could inspire someone else to attend another year. Remember, this newsletter is for sharing what is happening in Area 10.

AREA 10

HANDCHIME AND HANDBELL LOAN PROGRAM

Each year, Area 10 loans handchimes and handbells to schools, churches, and community musical groups to expand their music programs to include handchimes or handbells, or to create a music program with handchimes or handbells. Area 10 has a 3-octave set of handchimes for each state in Area 10: Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington. Area 10 also has a 3-octave set of handbells for programs in Oregon.

Handchimes are a wonderful first instrument because the student is rewarded with a proper musical sound each and every time it is rung. It may be the wrong note to ring – but it sounds good. No squeaks or squawks. Holding the instrument is easy with no complicated fingering. Chimes are sturdy and are immune to peanut butter and jelly or other kid-introduced substances. They are small and light and easy to transport between multiple venues and lighter to ring for our senior citizens or anyone with a disability.

While handbells take a bit more care than handchimes, they still offer much the same level of rapid success. They may be the perfect choice for slightly older students or adults, offering all the same benefits of proper musical sound, while also offering an expanded array of techniques to be explored.

The specifics of the loan program and the on-line application are available on the Area 10 Website. Organizations interested in applying for a loan of handchimes or handbells should complete the on-line application which will be sent to the appropriate Area 10 State Chair. For more information, please feel free to email your Area 10 state chair, listed at the bottom of this newsletter. Loan applications are now being accepted for the 2025-2026 school year. The deadline to apply is June 30, 2025.

Bell Buggy Express INVENTORY

Do you remember Blanche Kangas? Did you ever order music from her music store in Spokane, Washington? Might you have wondered what happened to her inventory after her passing? Well.......

Here is an opportunity to add to, build up, or get crafty with some music.

Sadly, when Blanche passed, she had no instructions in place as to what to do with her store and its inventory. Rather than sending it all to the recycling center, Dean Kravig, a good friend of Blanche's and colleague and friend of mine, offered to try and do something with her inventory. He has since relocated it all to a storage unit in Walla Walla, Washington.

I can tell you that the music within the multiple filing cabinets housing it all, is very much playable and still viable for today's conferences or choirs. And yes, enough of it is still in print that should there not be quite enough copies for your choir you could order the balance of copies needed elsewhere.

The caveat....you will need to come to Walla Walla to check it out. But hey, Walla Walla does have its own perks and treasures to check out so a little day trip or weekend excursion could be a pleasant break.

Dean is offering 50% off the listed price of each single copy or booklet. We can also put together packets of music and maybe some gloves, that could be used as an auction or Raffle item. For those of you who enjoy crafting, there is some 'vintage' music that would be great for those music themed projects.

It would be great to see as much as possible this music inventory put to use.

For more information you may contact me (Debra Pankaskie) at 509-540-9743. Do leave a voice mail or text message.

Keep up with what's going on...

Area 10 website: https://area10.handbellmusicians.org/

Area 10 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HandbellMusiciansOfAmericaArea10

Area 10 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hmaarea10/

Invite people to your events

If you are hosting an event, there are several places you may wish to consider advertising.

Send your announcement to communications.area10@handbellmusicans.org to share your event information with the Area 10 newsletter, Area 10 website, and Area 10 social media accounts. Newsletter deadlines are the 20th of the month prior to publication.

Have you heard about Brian Seemann and Nick Hanson's podcast, Two Tacos High? They are offering everyone space on their website to advertise events. There is a form for you to complete here: https://www.twotacoshigh.com/events