Hello San Francisco Bay Area ringers!
I have been an avid ringer since the mid 1980s, when I first rang White Chapel bells in a beginning ensemble at Asbury UMC in Livermore. I am now the director of two groups at Asbury – the Asbury Ringers and the Rookie Ringers – who play on five octaves of Schulmerich bells and Malmark chimes. I also ring with the Walnut Creek UMC Ringing Bells, and I substitute for Canto Bello in Clayton.
An entire new handbell world opened up for me when I joined AGEHR and registered the Asbury Ringers for the 2006 Area XII Ringers Conference in Belmont. This was only the beginning, and I have since attended numerous AGEHR events, including Spring Rings, the Siskiyou Conference in Ashland, OR and National Seminars in Dallas and Orlando. I love going to these workshops and seminars! Meeting composers and attending their classes is exhilarating. I have to admit that I am now a "handbell groupie," and I have many handbell compositions autographed by the composer.
As the new Bay Area Regional Coordinator, I hope to expand membership by contacting handbell directors who are not active in Guild activities. I want to share my enthusiasm for workshops, where top-rated clinicians present the latest ringing techniques and the hottest compositions. So much can be learned at these events, plus they are really fun! Bell ringers share a wonderful camaraderie!
I hope to see you at the next event!
Beckie Wiley
Upcoming Events
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Bay Area School Handbell Festival
April 15, 2010
All Saints Catholic School
Hayward, CA
Dave Ruder, Conductor
Contact: Dian Ruder at
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