Dear Area 8 Members,
Because of health concerns due to COVID-19, the Area 8 Festival, “More Than Meets the Eye,” scheduled for June 18-20, 2020, has been cancelled as of Friday, April 24, 2020. Because of this unfortunate turn of events, we will not be together in June. We look forward to future handbell events when we can again gather and make music. Please stay tuned for more information. Check the website, subscribe to Area 8 and state Facebook pages, and read the Quavers, our Area 8 newsletter for more information.
Beth Ann Edwards, Chair
Area 8 Handbell Musicians of America
Thursday June 18 Seminars
Do you need a refresher course for directing and worship-planning? Plan to arrive in Overland Park a day before the opening bell, and immerse yourself in one or two seminars that will teach you new tricks, affirm your vocational path, and introduce you to peers who just might become your new best friends! The Area 8 Festival Committee has scheduled a Worship Seminar and Directors Seminar for Thursday, June 18, 2020, and participants can attend both. The cost is $80 per seminar, or $150 for both. Registration will take place after January 1 registration begins.
The Directors Seminar and Worship Seminar are available to those who are unable to register for the Area 8 Festival. For registration information, please contact Linda Ashley, Festival Registrar.
Worship Seminar
Led by Lauran Delancy, Beth Ann Edwards, and Gwen Gepford
Thursday, June 18, 8:30 am – 2 pm (Lunch break included, lunch on your own)
This seminar is designed for handbell directors and ringers who are looking for information, techniques, and resources specific to handbells in worship. The following topics will be covered.
- Beyond the Anthem: handbells in worship
- Writing and arranging simple accompaniments for liturgies and hymns
- Taking care of yourself – balancing work with personal faith development
- Handbell programs for youth
- Working with any number of ringers
- Recruiting and incorporating new members into an existing choir
Directors Seminar
Led by John Behnke and Alex Guebert
Thursday, June 18, 2:15 – 5:45 and 7:00 – 9:30 (dinner on your own)
Spend time with two experts who will guide participants through basics and nuances of directing. Alex and John are sharing clinician roles on Friday and Saturday. Check out their bios in the September Quavers. Seminar topics include the following.
- Effective warmups
- Making techniques more effective
- Pulses and natural accents
- Playing together as an ensemble
- Cueing and shaping the melody with the left hand
Bonus “Warm-Up” Rehearsal
Led by Area Leadership
Thursday, June 18, from 7:00 – 9:30 pm
An extra-pre-Festival rehearsal will take place on Thursday, June 18, 2020, from 7:00 – 9:00 pm. Festival music for massed ringing and both ringing tracks will be reviewed. This rehearsal will be lead by Area 8 board members and a fee of $15 per person will be charged.
Who should sign up for this rehearsal?
- Ringers who would like just one more rehearsal before the opening bell on Friday morning.
- Ringers who have rehearsed alone or with a small group, and would like to have a pre-festival experience of rehearsing with a full choir.
- Ringers who want to spend a bit more time behind the table.
- Ringers who would like to spend a little extra time with “their people!”