In keeping with the Disneyland venue, this year's Area 12 conference theme is about magic, and advanced ringers are invited to make magic in a special conference choir. Ringers wishing to play in this ensemble should be advanced ringers with good command of handbell technique, experience ringing complex and difficult literature, and possess the ability to play the instrument with a significant level of musical expression. This year, a select group will spend Thursday evening rehearsing three pieces of music under the direction of Carlos Rivera, and will perform for the Friday lunch concert. The first rehearsal starts at 3 p.m. on Thursday, June 28, and participants will be expected to attend all rehearsals on Thursday and participate in the concert on Friday.
Auditions are required for the Magic Ensemble (conference choir), and only those individuals ranked with the highest scores by the adjudication panel and selected by the director and the Area 12 Board will be involved in this track. Ringers wishing to participate in this group should go ahead and register for the rest of the conference; once you have been notified of your successful completion of the audition process, you will be registered for the Magic Ensemble and will need to pay the fee for the extra track (see the conference page for information on registration fees).
To complete the audition, interested ringers should:
1. Send a letter of interest that gives the following information:
- How many years you have been ringing
- What position(s) you have played (please list the actual bells and octaves)
- What position(s) you prefer to play (give at least three positions in order of preference)
- List all handbell techniques at which you are skilled
- List any other musical instruments or vocals at which you are skilled
- List any other musical experience you have
- List all handbell groups with which you have played on a regular basis (six months or longer)
- List all handbell choirs you have directed, if any
- List all non-handbell musical ensembles you have directed or taught, if any
2. *Send a video (DVD) of yourself playing handbells for:
- At least five minutes during a rehearsal
- A 3-4 minute performance piece (in its entirety). This can be either during a church service or a concert setting.
Notes: The camera should be trained on you as much as possible.
The piece (or your part) should be of a fairly high difficulty level or demonstrate
significant musical expression.
3. Submit two letters of reference:
- One from a director who has observed you both in rehearsal and performance settings
- One from a ringer who has observed you both in rehearsal and performance settings
*In lieu of a video/DVD, ringers may submit two additional letters of reference from individuals who are qualified to assess your skill level. These letters should include a written assessment of what techniques you excel at, how well you interact with your ringing peers, and your ability to make music with the instrument. The letters should also state how the individual is qualified to assess your skills (i.e., is your director, is a handbell clinician and has seen you ring many times, is a handbell conductor under which you have rung several times, etc.).
Deadline for submission of audition materials for consideration is March 15, 2012. All materials should be mailed to:
P.L. Grove
Past Chair, Area 12
5665 Leona Street
Oakland, CA 94605
Auditionees will be adjudicated by an impartial panel and then ratified by the Area 12 Board and the Magic Ensemble director. Ringers will be notified of the final selection by April 15, 2012 and will be given the list of repertoire to prepare in advance of the conference. If selected for the Magic Ensemble track, you will be registered in the track and will need to pay the additional track fee of $90.
Please contact P.L. Grove, Area 12 Past Chair via e-mail (pastchair@areaxii.org or phone 510.703.4453), if you have questions or have any concerns about your ability to provide the above materials.
