Ocean City Festival March 17-18, 2023
Roland E. Powell Convention Center, Ocean City, MD
Virginia Festival March 24-25, 2023
Grandin Court Baptist Church, 2660 Brambleton Ave. SW, Roanoke, VA
Massed Clinician: David Harris
Ocean City will include Massed ringing, classes, and a Bronze Track for advanced choirs. The Virginia Festival will include Massed ringing, classes, and a Jubilation Track for choirs that ring level 1 to 2+ music. The Jubilation track and Bronze track only have to purchase and learn the music for their track. All others should purchase and learn the massed repertoire.
As of 1/31/23 the Bronze Track for Ocean City is full!
There is still space available in the Massed Ringing.
Massed:
- Calypso on “He Leadeth Me”, arr. Tammy Waldrop. Hope Publishing #2609, 3-6 octaves/Level 3-
- Grazioso, Arnold Sherman, Red River Music #RRHB0042, 3-5 octaves/Level 2+
- Eternal, Jason Krug, Beckenhorst Press #HB629, 3-6 octaves/Level 3
- Jubilation Fanfare, Sandra Eithun, GIA #G-6774, 3-5 octaves/Level 2
Jubilation Track – Only at Virginia Festival:
- Bwana Awabariki, arr. Susan Nelson, Hope Publishing #2533, 3-5 octaves/Level 2
- Colors of Joy, Brenda Austin, Choristers Guild, #CGB1156, 2-3 octaves, Level 1+ or #CGB1157, 3-6 octaves, Level 1+
- Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho, arr. Martha Lynn Thompson, Hope Publishing #1880, 3-5 octaves, Level 2
- Sacred Silence, arr. Karissa Dennis, Jeffers Publishing #JHS9520, 3-5 octaves/ Level 2
Bronze Track – Only at Ocean City Festival:
- Life’s Journey, Jason Krug, Jeffers Publishing #JHS9532, 4-7 octaves/Level 5
- Ring for Joy, Brian Childers, From the Top Publishing, #20341-3, 3 octaves, Level 5 or #20341-5, 4-5 octaves/Level 5
- The River, arr. Anna Laura Page, Alfred #8655, 3-5 octaves/Level 4
- Ukranian Carol of the Bells, arr. Nicholas Hanson, Jeffers Publishing #JHS9515, 3-7 octaves/Level 4+
Hotel Reservations
There is not an official festival hotel.
Recommendations can be found at www.ococean.com.
Registration Fees
**HMA Membership is required**
Early Bird – $75 (postmarked / entered online by 1/6/23)
Regular – $85 (postmarked / entered online by 2/10/23)
Late – $110 (postmarked 2/11/23 or later, has to be received by 2/24/23, applies to online also)
New Member – add $95
(This is for those who have not been a member. To renew a membership, please contact the HMA National office.)
Refund Policy
By 2/28/23…all but $25 of the base ticket fee can be refunded.
AFTER 2/28/23, NO refunds for any reason (including medical or family reasons).
**EVENTBRITE FEES ARE NON-REFUNDABLE**
COVID Protocols
At this time, masks will be optional for all sessions. If there is a spike in numbers as we get closer to the event, we may need to require masks. You will be given ample notice (before the cancellation date) if we decide to require masks.
While Area 3 is not requiring proof of COVID vaccination, we will follow CDC and local regulations at the time of the event. We ask that if you have recently tested positive or have the symptoms of COVID, that you not participate in the event. Handbell Musicians of America Area 3 will not be held responsible should a participant contract COVID during the event.
Other Information
This festival is designed for Adult choirs / individual ringers. If your choir has high school aged students that ring on a permanent basis, the high school students may attend.
NO students under 9th grade will be permitted. Classes are designed with adults in mind. (For Youth, please consider our Youth Festival that is geared for those in middle and high school.)
Meals
No meals are included with the registration fee.
There are several restaurants within close proximity of the convention center.
Exhibit Area
There will be a Vendor Area for you to shop.
If you would like to be a Vendor, please contact our COE. (Vendor Area opens at 4:00 PM on Friday)
Questions
Sarah Sheffield,
Coordinator of Events
(704) 779-7359 (call or text)
Eventscoordinator.area3@handbellmusicians.org
Tentative Schedule
FRIDAY
4:00 PM—9:00 PM Vendors Open
4:00 PM—6:00 PM Registration and Setup
6:15 PM—6:30 PM Welcome and Announcements
6:30 PM—7:30 PM Massed Rehearsal / Bronze Rehearsal
7:30 PM—7:45 PM Break (Massed and Bronze)
7:45 PM—8:45 PM Massed Rehearsal / Bronze Rehearsal
SATURDAY
8:00 AM—3:30 PM Vendors Open
8:30 AM—9:30 AM Massed Rehearsal / Bronze Rehearsal
9:40 AM—10:30 AM Reds Classes / Blues Rehearsal / Bronze Rehearsal
10:40 AM—11:30 AM Reds Rehearsal / Blues Classes / Bronze Rehearsal
11:30 AM—1:00 PM Lunch (on your own)
1:00 PM—1:30 PM Massed Rehearsal
1:40 PM—2:30 PM Reds Classes / Blues Rehearsal / Bronze Rehearsal
2:40 PM—3:30 PM Reds Rehearsal / Blues Classes / Bronze Rehearsal
3:40 PM—4:00 PM Bronze Track Concert
4:10 PM—4:45 PM Massed Rehearsal
4:45 PM—5:00 PM Break
5:00 PM—5:30 PM Massed Choir Track Concert
Hotel Reservations
There is not an official festival hotel.
If you need a recommendation, please contact Sarah Sheffield (info is below).
Registration Fees
**HMA Membership is required**
Early Bird – $75 (postmarked / entered online by 1/13/23)
Regular – $85 (postmarked / entered online between 1/14/23 and 2/17/23)
Late – $110 (postmarked 2/18/23 or later, has to be received by 3/3/23, applies to online also)
TABLE RENTAL – $10 per table (8 foot tables)
New Member – add $95
(This is for those who have not been a member. To renew a membership, please contact the HMA National office.)
Refund Policy
By 2/28/23…all but $25 of the base ticket fee can be refunded.
AFTER 2/28/23, NO refunds for any reason (including medical or family reasons).
**EVENTBRITE FEES ARE NON-REFUNDABLE**
COVID Protocols
At this time, masks will be optional for all sessions. If there is a spike in numbers as we get closer to the event, we may need to require masks. You will be given ample notice (before the cancellation date) if we decide to require masks.
While Area 3 is not requiring proof of COVID vaccination, we will follow CDC and local regulations at the time of the event. We ask that if you have recently tested positive or have the symptoms of COVID, that you not participate in the event. Handbell Musicians of America Area 3 will not be held responsible should a participant contract COVID during the event.
Other Information
This festival is designed for Adult choirs / individual ringers. If your choir has high school aged students that ring on a permanent basis, the high school students may attend.
NO students under 9th grade will be permitted. Classes are designed with adults in mind. (For Youth, please consider our Youth Festival that is geared for those in middle and high school.)
Meals
No meals are included with the registration fee.
There are several restaurants within close proximity of the convention center.
Exhibit Area
If you would like to be a Vendor, please contact our
COE. (Vendor Area opens at 4:00 PM on Friday)
Questions
Sarah Sheffield,
Coordinator of Events
(704) 779-7359 (call or text)
Eventscoordinator.area3@handbellmusicians.org
Tentative Schedule
FRIDAY
4:00 PM—9:00 PM Vendors Open
4:00 PM—6:00 PM Registration and Setup
6:15 PM—6:30 PM Welcome and Announcements
6:30 PM—7:30 PM Massed Rehearsal / Jubilation Rehearsal
7:30 PM—7:45 PM Break (Massed and Jubilation)
7:45 PM—8:45 PM Massed Rehearsal / Jubilation Rehearsal
SATURDAY
8:00 AM—3:30 PM Vendors Open
8:30 AM—9:30 AM Massed Rehearsal / Jubilation Rehearsal
9:40 AM—10:30 AM Reds Classes / Blues Rehearsal / Jubilation Rehearsal
10:40 AM—11:30 AM Reds Rehearsal / Blues Classes / Jubilation Rehearsal
11:30 AM—1:00 PM Lunch (on your own)
1:00 PM—1:30 PM Massed Rehearsal
1:40 PM—2:30 PM Reds Classes / Blues Rehearsal / Jubilation Rehearsal
2:40 PM—3:30 PM Reds Rehearsal / Blues Classes / Jubilation Rehearsal
3:40 PM—4:00 PM Jubilation Track Concert
4:10 PM—4:45 PM Massed Rehearsal
4:45 PM—5:00 PM Break
5:00 PM—5:30 PM Massed Choir Track Concert
Massed Clinician
David M. Harris
David M. Harris has been the director of The Raleigh Ringers since January 1990, when he was instrumental in the formation of the group. David is a graduate of The Pennsylvania State University and has studied conducting privately with Dr. William A. Payn at Bucknell University. David was the director of the handbell program at Hudson Memorial Presbyterian Church, and has served Handbell Musicians of America in several capacities: as All-Star Conductor, Ringing Track Conductor, Instructor for the National Seminar, North Carolina State Chairman, and as Area III Treasurer. He chaired the national committee that planned the first Community/Professional Handbell Choir event, Pinnacle 2000, held in Las Vegas, Nevada. In addition, David has led well over 200 handbell festivals and workshops in 36 states as well as in England, Puerto Rico, Canada, and the Caribbean. He has also been the primary handbell clinician for several denominational music events, including Montreat, Lake Junaluska, and Lutheridge (NC); Mo-Ranch (TX); Massanetta (VA); and the National Association of Pastoral Musicians (KY). He has written several articles for Overtones, the national publication of Handbell Musicians of America. After growing up in the Northeast, David moved to Raleigh with his wife, Kristina. Dave and Kris have three grown children and one granddaughter.
Jubilation Clinician at Virginia Festival
Laura Blauch
Laura Blauch has been conducting handbell choirs for 20 years, in both church and community ensemble settings. She is currently the artistic director of the Queen City Ringers, an auditioned community choir based in Charlotte NC. She has studied conducting with Dr. William Payn through the Handbell Musicians of American Masterclass Series, attaining the highest level of certification offered in 2013. She was a finalist in the 2019 Distinctly Bronze Associate Conductor program and conducted two solo pieces performed by an ad hoc choir at the 2022 International Handbell Symposium in Nashville. Laura also has more than 30 years experience ringing in both church and community ensembles, including participation in multiple Distinctly Bronze and Virtuoso events. With the pandemic, she began solo ringing and particularly loves playing bell trees. She is the Certification Coordinator for HMA, has served as the Historian and Membership Chair for Area 3 and is currently the Area 3 Scholarship Chair.
Laura has a B.A in Sacred Music and as a classically trained soprano, has performed with choirs at Wolf Trap, Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, and Carnegie Hall. She lives in Mooresville, NC with her husband, Dave (also a ringer) and their 4 cats.
Bronze Clinician at Ocean City
Nicholas A. Hanson
Nick Hanson received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Concordia University, Irvine, California, as a major in music with a concentration in handbells. He been on faculty at the Potomac School in McLean, Virginia, for over 15 years, where he teaches handbells to 5th–12th grade students in five different handbell ensembles, as well as teaches private lessons. He is also the handbell director at Bush Hill Presbyterian Church in Alexandria, Virginia. Nick has served as faculty, clinician, and conductor at handbell events in 19 states (and Washington, DC) as well as internationally in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Singapore. In 2015, Nick was chosen as the first-ever Associate Conductor for Distinctly Bronze under the mentorship of renowned conductor Dr. William A. Payn. Also in 2015, Nick conducted the Distinctly Teen ensemble at the Handbell Musicians of America National Seminar in Dallas, Texas. Most recently, Nick was the 2018 guest foreign conductor for the “Showtime” concert performed by Ministry
of Bellz, the premier handbell ensemble of Singapore. He has written articles for the Overtones national handbell magazine as well as arranged and composed many pieces of handbell music.
Click on the desired link below to download the pdf file.
2023 Spring Festival details – Ocean City
2023 Registration Form – Ocean City
2023 Spring Festival Details – Virginia
2023 Registration Form – Virginia