January 2012

Happy 2012 Area 9!  We hope you had a wonderful Christmas season and New Year!  

Now that the Spring ringing season is under way, we wanted to be sure you know about events over the coming months in the Area!

Summit 2012: Unlimited Possibilities

June 22-24, 2012
The Lone Star Convention & Expo Center
Conroe, TX (near Houston)
featuring clinicians Michael Glasgow and Beth Judd

Now online are details about our host site in Conroe, Summit repertoire, our All-Star Ensemble auditions, an FAQ about our Summit 2012 event and how your Area is organizing the best biennial event to date!  All info can be found on our website, area9.handbellmusicians.org!

Early Bird registration is $195 if received by 5/15, and $210 if received after.  Register as an individual ringer or as a group!  In contrast to Area events past, Summit 2012 is developed specifically with EVERY ringer in mind, whether it fit you best to attend as an individual or if you'd prefer to use the opportunity as camaraderie building for your ensemble!  Daily registration is also available!  Massed ringing opportunities, a by-audition All-Star ensemble under the direction of Michael Glasgow (application online), and great ringing tracks available for all skill sets!  Also, we’re proud to have more concert opportunities than at any previous Area 9 event, by performing ensembles from all over Texas and Oklahoma! 

In addition to our two amazing clinicians, Barb Brocker will be a guest artist and performer at the Summit 2012: Unlimited Possibilities event.  Barbara Brocker has developed the bell tree solo concept, has over 20 bell tree publications in her name and has written “The Bell Tree Keyboard Manual.”  She taught at International Symposiums in 2008 and 2010 and National Seminars in 2006, 2008, and 2009, and performed and taught at this year’s National Seminar in Minneapolis.  As a performer and clinician at the Solo and Ensemble Extravaganza (S.E.E.) in 2001, 2003, and 2005, she was selected to join their “Dream Team” Quartet.  Barb’s appearance at the festival is sponsored by the Greater Houston Handbell Association.

For more details, visit area9.handbellmusicians.org!  Questions about the event, and how to make the most of your Summit experience?  Contact your Area board (updated email addresses below!), or leave comments on Area 9’s website!

Registration is open for Central Texas Spring Ring 2012!

March 3, 2012
Northwest Hills UMC
Austin, TX
featuring clinician Stephanie Rhoades

REGISTRATION DEADLINE IS FEBRUARY 17th!

This is a great day-long spring event for your ensemble to build camaraderie ringing together under the baton of a fantastic clinician with repertoire that can be built into the spring ringing season at your home site!  Stephanie Rhoades currently serves on our National Board, and is an always-in-demand clinician all over the country -- with an engaging, vibrant teaching technique that draws the greatest level of musicianship out of any ringer -- you'll find her perfect to work with! 

Registration is only $20 per ringer!  Registration and setup begins at 8am, and ringing begins at 9am -- final concert is at 2:15 -- open to the public!  Registration, schedule, and clinician bio now at area9.handbellmusicians.org!

Are you on Facebook?  So is Area 9!  Come "like" our page, and chat with other members of our Area, and get links and photos from our events!

Have you visited our new website?  Area 9 is now at area9.HandbellMusicians.org!  Designed specifically with you in mind, our new website is very interactive -- leave comments on pages, ask questions, and tell us what you'd like to see added or changed on our site! 

Be sure to visit the Guild's new website as well at www.HandbellMusicians.org.

We want to advise you that with the rebranding effort of our Guild, Handbell Musicians of America, we’ve not only changed our logo and put together a more efficient website to celebrate this change – we’ve also changed our email addresses!  We can now be found at:

chair@area9.handbellmusicians.org (Chair, Karen Thompson)
chairelect@area9.handbellmusicians.org (Chair-Elect, Michelle Tejada)
pastchair@area9.handbellmusicians.org (Past Chair, Sheryl Cory)
treasurer@area9.handbellmusicians.org (Treasurer, Ruth Seiwell)
secretary@area9.handbellmusicians.org (Secretary, Sueda Luttrell)
membership@area9.handbellmusicians.org (Membership, Steven Eddington)
publications@area9.handbellmusicians.org (Publications, Pam Adams)
education@area9.handbellmusicians.org (Education Chair, Sondra Tucker)
okrep@area9.handbellmusicians.org (Oklahoma Representative and Financial Advisor, Wilson Van Tine)
txrep1@area9.handbellmusicians.org (Texas Representative, Patrick Murphy)
txrep2@area9.handbellmusicians.org (Texas Representative, Jayne Brown)

We hope your Christmas season and New Year are joyful, musical, and blessed!

Ringingly Yours,
Your Area 9 Board