Area 1 Winter Workshop
Winter Workshop 2025 is in the works!
If you want to meet new people, become more effective in your ringing or directing skills, work with great directors, and share experiences with others in a social atmosphere, this fun filled weekend is for you.
Date:
January 24 – January 25, 2025
Location:
UMASS Amherst
Campus Center
1 Campus Center Way
Amherst, MA 01003
Event Schedule
| Friday 1/24 |
|
| 4:00-7:00 PM | Registration Check-in (11th floor of campus center) |
| 5:00-6:00 PM | Happy Hour |
| 6:00-7:00 PM | Dinner |
| 7:00-9:00 PM | Ringing Tracks Rehearsal 1 |
| Saturday 1/25 | |
| 7:00-8:00 AM | Breakfast |
| 8:00-10:00 | Ringing Tracks Rehearsal 2 |
| 10:00-10:20 | Coffee Break |
| 10:20-11:20 | Class Choice Opportunity Period 1 |
| 11:30-12:30 | Class Choice Opportunity Period 2 |
| 12:30-1:30 | Lunch |
| 1:30-2:30 | Ringing Tracks Rehearsal 3 |
| 3:15 – 4:00 | Final Concert |
Contacts
Suzanne Neafus
Event Chair
[email protected]
860-881-7000
Susan Schultz
Event Registrar
Handbell Musicians of America, Area 1
[email protected]
978-273-2226
Event Details
Join us in January for the ever-popular Winter Workshop. The event begins on Friday with registration beginning at 4:00 and ends on Saturday at 4:00 after a concert when both choirs will perform. The weekend includes ringing in one of two ringing tracks. The Distinctly New England track will be directed by Jason Krug. The Beyond Basics – Before Bronze track will be directed by Area 1’s own Peter Larson and Samantha Beschta. The second track is for those who enjoy ringing but don’t feel quite ready for bronze level music. There will also be workshops in addition to the ringing on Saturday.
Both ringing tracks will begin rehearsing on Friday evening after dinner. For each of the ringing opportunities, you will be able to select your ringing preference at registration. You will receive your ringing assignments in early January to allow you to purchase your music and review your music ahead of the event. All participants are expected to learn their parts before arriving to the first rehearsal.
Distinctly New England
The “Distinctly New England” ringing track will be directed by Jason Krug, owner and editor for Grassy Meadow Music, who has over 500 compositions and arrangements accepted for handbells, piano, strings, organ, and choir. This will be an opportunity for those ready or wanting to try to ringing three level 3+ to level 5 music with an emphasis on musicality. Perhaps you are looking for a chance to ring more difficult music than you do with your current choir, or want to experience ringing in a multiple choir ensemble scenario.
Repertoire
- Prelude and Fugue on Noel Nouvelet – Fred Gramann, From the Top Publishing, MFM207835-7 octaves handbells and handchimes/Level 5
- Hallelujah – Matthew Compton, Grassy Meadow Music, GMH350016/3-6 octaves handbells and handchimes/Level 3+
- Contact Suzanne Neafus for a link to purchase a signal digital copy of the piece instead of the group version available publicly.
- Pale Blue Dot – Jason Krug, Jeffers Publishing, JHS9605/5-8 octaves handbells/Level 5
Beyond the Basics and Before Bronze
This second ringing track will be directed by Peter Larson and Samantha Beschta. This group will review basic ringing and conducting techniques with an emphasis on musicality. It gives directors, who don’t often have an opportunity to ring, the chance to experience life at the table from a ringer’s standpoint. For those who always ring in the same position, it is a chance to ring in a different position. For everyone, this is a chance to experience two different teaching styles.
Repertoire
Both pieces are Massed pieces in the Festival Conference 2025 Repertoire
- Fanfare and Intrada – Jason Krug, Beckenhorst Publishing, MBEHB777/3-6 octaves handbells/Level 3
- Recollection – Tim Waugh, Choristers Guild, MCGB973 /3-5 octaves handbells/Level 2+
Cost Details
Early bird registration will be $195, and after December 20th, the cost will be $225.
Price includes entire event, 3 meals plus snacks. There is no single day option.
Attendees will need to purchase their own music ahead of time. Ringing positions will be assigned by January 1st, based on the positions requested at registration. Class selection will also take place during registration this year.
Housing
Housing is a separate cost from the conference, and will be available at the UMass Amherst Hotel, where there is a reserved block of rooms for us.
Reserve your room BY December 27, 2024 to secure your reservation at the group rate of $169. After that date, the group rate and room availability are no longer guaranteed.
Book by phone: (413) 549-6000, (Group ID 827984)
Scholarships Available
Scholarships are available on a variety of levels for members of the Handbell Musicians of America and the ensembles they direct. If you are in need of financial assistance in order to attend this event, please review the scholarship information and application directions on the scholarships page of the Area 1 website.