Area 1 Winter Workshop 2023!

Winter workshop for 2023 is over.   If you’re interested, check out the video below for all the cool stuff that happened this year.   We hope to see you in 2024, or even sooner at a spring ring, or Festival/Conference 2023!

We are excited to be back together for Winter Workshop 2023! 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. The earlybird price for the workshop is $170. If you register after December 22, 2022 the cost will be $205.  You need to go online or call the hotel directly at 877-822-2110 to make your room reservation separately. Share the room with a friend to cut the cost in half. Any rooms not reserved by December 30, 2022 will be released to the general public and no longer receive the reduced rate.

Date:

January 27 – January 28, 2023

Location:

UMASS Amherst
Campus Center
1 Campus Center Way
Amherst, MA  01003

Event Schedule

Friday 1/27
  
4:00-7:00 PM Registration Check-in (11th floor of campus center)
6:00-7:00 PM Dinner
7:00-9:00 PM Ringing Tracks Rehearsal 1
Saturday 1/28  
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

Jane Nolan
Event Chair
janesjazz@comcast.net
860-912-1833

Susan Schultz
Event Registrar
Handbell Musicians of America, Area 1
registrar.area1@handbellmusicians.org
978-273-2226

Event Details

Join us on Friday, January 27th and Saturday, January 28th for the long awaited return of 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 David Harris, director of the well known Raleigh Ringers. The Beyond Basics – Before Bronze track will be directed by Area 1’s own Diane Burke and Larry Berdensey. 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. This will also give those ringing in the Beyond Basics – Before Bronze an opportunity to work with David Harris in a workshop setting.

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 assignment in early January to allow you to purchase your music and look at it ahead of the event.

Register Here!

Distinctly New England

The “Distinctly New England” ringing track will be directed by David Harris, director of The Raleigh Ringers. This will be an intense ringing experience ringing three level 4 and level 4+ music with an emphasis on musicality. This gives ringers an opportunity to ring more difficult music than perhaps you do in your church choir and to ring in a multiple choir ensemble.

 
Repertoire

  • Dorian Dance by Michael Joy Jeffers JHS9365

  • Coventry Carol by Sandra Eithun JeffersJHS9502

  • My Strength is From Heaven by Humcke Choristers Guild CGB1227

Beyond the Basics and Before Bronze

This second ringing track will be directed by Diane Burke and Larry Berdensey. 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, an opportunity to see things from a ringers standpoint. For everyone this is a chance to experience two different teaching styles. For ringers who always ring in the same position, it is a chance to ring in a different position.

Repertoire
  • Cantabile by Emily Li AGEHR Publishing, AG35244 Optional Handchimes
  • Ring, Zing, Swing by John Behnke Choristers Guild MCGB904

Covid-19 Precautions

At the present time, UMass Amherst is requiring masks in all meeting and event spaces.  The exception is in hotel rooms and while eating.  Therefore, masks will be required at Winter Workshop.  If this regulation changes, we will let you know.

Cost Details

The cost for the event has been reduced from the previous years, and scholarships are available.  Early bird registration will be $170 and after December 22nd the cost will be $205.

Housing

Housing will be available at the UMass Amherst Hotel, where there is a reserved block of rooms for us. Please contact the hotel directly at 877-822-2110, or online at the link above BY December 30, 2022 to secure your reservation.

The rate for rooms is $159.  After December 30st this rate and availability are no longer guaranteed.

Link for online reservations:  https://www.reseze.net/servlet/SendPage?hotelid=1760&skipfirstpage=true&page=800278

If you prefer to book the hotel by phone, you will need the Group Number:  800278

 

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.