Annual handbell festival planned in Springfield

SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois Great Rivers Conference Chapter of the Fellowship of United Methodists in Music and Worship Arts will hold its 24th annual handbell festival on Saturday, March 24, at Northfield Inn in Springfield, Ill.

David M. Harris, of the Raleigh Ringers, is the clinician.

This all-day event is open to handbell choirs and/or individual ringers from throughout the Midwest. The registration deadline is Friday, Feb. 24.

For additional information, contact Marilyn Hirschman, P.O. Box 138, Farmer City, IL 61842-0138; 309-928-2067; 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.

Additionally, the festival will be held in the grand ballroom of the hotel. Registrants will not have to move their equipment from room to room.

Featured clinician David M. Harris is in his 22nd year as the music director of the Raleigh Ringers, an internationally recognized touring handbell ensemble based in Raleigh, N.C.

Harris was instrumental in the formation of this auditioned choir in 1990.

Under his leadership, the Raleigh Ringers have performed in Paris, France, and surrounding areas; on International Television on the “Hour of Power” program; as a showcase choir for the American Guild of English Handbell Ringers National Seminar; with the North Carolina Symphony during its Holiday Pops Concerts; at the Piccolo Spoleto festival in Charleston, S.C.; and as special guest performers at the Chautauqua Institution in Chautauqa, N.Y.

The Raleigh Ringers are in constant demand as featured guest performers for various artist series and handbell festivals throughout the country.

Harris 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.

Registration begins at 8 a.m.; ringing starts at 9 a.m. and continues (with a break for lunch) until 3 p.m. Registration is $35 per ringer for churches with a Fellowship member and $40 per ringer for churches without a Fellowship member.

A light continental breakfast and box lunch are included in this fee. Registrations must be postmarked (with payment) on or before Friday, Feb. 24, 2012, to avoid the $10 per-ringer late fee.