Scrapbook Index

Area XI Festival Conference
Rocky Mountain Rendezvous - June 16 - 20, 2004

This event was held at Ft. Lewis College in Durango, Colorado. The Young Ringers event began with dinner on June 16 and ended with a late morning concert on June 18. Nine handbell groups were represented at the Young Ringers festival.
The Festival/Conference began the afternoon of June 18 and ended with an afternoon concert on June 20. Members of 45 handbell ensembles participated in the festival. Festival chair for both events was Linda Maloney, New Mexico State Chair. Handbell ensemble SONOS played a special concert for the Young Ringers on Wednesday, June 16 and for adults on Saturday, June 19. They also acted as facilitators for blitzes (small group instruction in everything from 4-in-hand, through aqua bells, humming bowl sounds from bells, stopped techniques and bass bells, to how to rehearse by yourself!) Additional classes were held in Boomwhackers, How To Organize Your Music Library and Bell Maintenance. Opportunities to experience new music were available at the Music Reading Sessions.

The command post is open! Workers are assembling. Linda Maloney, Festival Chair; Caroline Mallory, logo items; Laurie Cox, Area XI Secretary/Treasurer; Vickie Greening, Festival Registrar.	Registrar, Vickie Greening checks the files.
Linda Maloney tries to find some needed forms on her computer.	Caroline Mallory hangs a map for all to see.
Discussing the floor layout for Young Ringers.	Down to work laying out where everyone will stand. Helpers are from Tanque Verde Lutheran Church in Tucson, AZ
Young Ringers Massed Rehearsal	Tom Parsons, Young Ringer's co-director, is surprised by the ringers singing Happy Birthday when he begins his part of the Young Ringers massed rehearsal. Co-director was Michèle Sharik.
Young Ringers Massed Rehearsal (Center)	Young Ringers Massed Rehearsal (Right Side)
YOUNG RINGERS ALSO PARTICIPATED IN BLITZES (WORKSHOPS)
The Aqua Bell! After ringing the bell, it was dipped into water to "bend" the sound.	They're thinking, "I don't think my director would like me to do that! Cool sound though."
Cheryl Baker teaches "stopped sounds." Thumb damping ---	---and plucking.
Return to top FUN EVENTS WERE INCLUDED IN THE YOUNG RINGERS SCHEDULE
While many of the kids have access to pools at home, an indoor pool with a high diving board was quite a novelty.	The low board was almost as much fun for those who were more timid.
One night there was ice cream for everyone, but a bigger attraction was playing the cup game with Michèle.
All too soon, the ringers found themselves performing at their closing concert.

Return to top ROCKY MOUNTAIN RENDEZVOUS FESTIVAL/CONFERENCE JUNE 18 - 20, 2004
The Vendors began setting up in the ballroom as soon as the Young Ringers' Concert was over. We were fortunate to have many vendors this year offering lots of music and handbell related gifts. A good time to go shopping, purchase music or early Christmas gifts.
These are Boomwhackers, the instruments used in a fun class taught by Caroline Mallory and Laura Nevin. They are plastic tubes tuned to a pitch which are played by whacking them on something.	The large class is trying to figure out what to do with them.
So with Caroline explaining the techniques Laura demonstrates.	You mean all we have to do is whack them on something? That's easy. This is fun!

Adults also had an opportunity to be blitzed by SONOS. Here Tom Parsons is showing a very attentive group how to set up and ring 4 in hand. Return to top
Jukka-Pekka Vainio shows how to use your whole body to ring bass bells.	It's also okay to use your other hand when attempting to pick up a large bell.
The Festival/Conference Massed Ringing was held in the gymnasium at Ft. Lewis College.
Michèle Sharik, flute, and Rick Hoffmeister, percussion, prepare to play with the ringers on Bandelier.	Massed ringing director, James Meredith, tells the group what he wants them to do.
Ringers are really paying attention.	The music takes lots of concentration.
Jason Tiller, director of the Conference Choir draws a winning ticket for an "opportunity" basket.	One winner chooses a basket while the next ticket is being drawn.
In celebration of the 50th Anniversary of AGEHR, honored guests at the festival were Everett Hilty and Joan Shull. Hilty is from Colorado and is the composer of Rhapsody in Color, one of the Festival Pieces. He was named an Honorary Life Member of AGEHR in 1992. Joan Shull served as AGEHR historian and, for many years, wrote the column "Bach, Beethoven and ....." for Overtones Magazine in which she interviewed composers of handbell music and those who made handbell music.