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28th Annual Handbell Festival
Saturday, March 12, 2016 8:00 am - 3:00 pm
The Illinois Great Rivers Conference Chapter of the Fellowship of United Methodists in Music and Worship Arts will hold its 28th annual handbell festival on Saturday, March 12, 2016, at the First United Methodist Church, Springfield, Illinois. Sondra Tucker – internationally acclaimed clinician and composer – is the festival’s clinician. This all-day event is open to handbell choirs and/or individual ringers from throughout the Midwest. The discounted registration deadline is Saturday, February 12, 2015. For additional information, contact Marilyn Hirschman, Post Office Box 138, Farmer City, Illinois 61842-0138; 309-825-5397; mjhir@aol.com.
The festival is an opportunity to learn handbell technique, read handbell repertoire, and have fun. There is no music to prepare or buy before the event. The festival will be held in the gymnasium of the church. Registrants will not have to move their equipment from room to room.
Clinician Sondra Tucker is the organist-choirmaster at the Church of the Holy Apostles in Collierville, Tenn. She holds music degrees from the University of Arkansas and the University of Memphis. She holds the Associate and Choir Master certificates from the American Guild of Organists. In addition to her position at Church of the Holy Apostles, Sondra is the handbell editor for Alfred Music. Sondra’s name is widely recognized as an active clinician and composer.
Clinician Sondra Tucker will teach all classes. The first class period in the morning will focus on Technique Ringing. The second morning class will be a Repertoire Reading session. After lunch, registrants will gather for a Mass Ringing session.
Kidder Music Service will have a display available and music for purchase.
Registration begins at 8:00 a.m. Ringing starts at 9:00 a.m. and continues (with a break for lunch) until 3:00 p.m. Registration is $30.00 per ringer for churches with a Fellowship member and $35.00 per ringer for churches without a Fellowship member. A light continental breakfast and lunch are included in this fee. Registrations must be postmarked (with payment) on or before Saturday February 12, 2015, to avoid the $10.00-per-ringer late fee. Registrations are non-refundable after February 12; however, substitutions with the same bell assignment may be made.