May 30 – June 2, 2024
Dr. William Payn, Guest Conductor
This unique three-and-a-half-day performance event for advanced handbell ringers combines the opportunity to work with Dr. William Payn with a final performance during a concert on a stage at the Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Raleigh, sharing the stage with The Raleigh Ringers. The event is held every other year in the even years.
APPLICATION/AUDITION PROCESS
The application/audition process is now closed for the 2024 event. Selections will be made early in 2024.
ALL Participants Must Submit:
Application & Ringing Position Preference Form by December 1, 2023
First-time Participants Must Also Submit:
Recommendation Forms: Two (or more) recommendation forms must be completed by someone who has directed you or observed your ringing within the past 5 years. Persons recommending you should complete the form online
Performance video:
- Submit a single five-minute video (two different passages of two-three minutes each) of you ringing with a full choir in rehearsal, performance, or worship within the last 3 years. We cannot accept a solo or ensemble video.
- Make sure you can be seen ringing, preferably in a setting with no more than three rows of ringers.
- Please identify which ringer you are, using any distinguishing characteristics like hair, clothing, or position. (example: I am the third from the left with the green shirt)
- We will NOT edit or fast forward any videos. The first five minutes of the video you submit will be what is reviewed by the selection committee, so ensure that your five-minute-long video includes 2-3 minutes of two different passages that show you ringing.
- Submit online:
- Include a link in your application to an online source (YouTube, Vimeo, Google Drive, etc). OR
- Email the link to [email protected]. Please include your name and "Application Video" in the subject line.
- The link must stay active through February 1, 2024
- Submit a hard copy:
- Hard copies of videos should be sent to: The Raleigh Ringers, Attn: Virtuoso Video, 8516 Sleepy Creek Drive, Raleigh, NC 27613.
If you have any questions about the audition process, please email [email protected].
Cost
Virtuoso 2024 – $475
The event fee includes:
- Three-and-a-half days of event activities, including three days of rehearsals/performance with Dr. Payn.
- All lunches and dinners (Thursday dinner through Sunday lunch) Note: Participants staying at the preferred hotel will also receive complimentary breakfast.
- Snacks and refreshments at breaks.
- Transportation to/from airport and all transportation during the event if staying at the preferred hotel. You will not need to rent a car!
Registration does NOT include:
- Transportation to Raleigh.
- Hotel accommodations.
- Music
- Performance attire for the final concert.
HOTEL
Doubletree by Hilton
2805 Highwoods Blvd., Raleigh, NC 27604
King or double queen room room: $138/night plus tax
Rates good for 5/29/24-6/2/24
Participants chosen for Virtuoso will be provided with details to book the hotel at the discounted rate.
Scholarship
We have established a scholarship program for those whose financial situation might keep them from applying for Virtuoso. Scholarship applications will be reviewed by an independent committee, and all information is kept confidential from the Virtuoso selection committee until after participants have been identified for Virtuoso. When offered a position, participants will be advised as to any scholarship available.
Past Participants
| last name | wdt_ID | Name | Location | 2013 | 2015 | 2017 | 2019 | 2022 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alm | 1 | Stephanie Alm | Lenoir, NC | X | X | X | |||
| Barnard | 2 | Anne Barnard | Seattle, WA | X | |||||
| Barnett | 3 | Patrick Barnett | Augusta, GA | X | |||||
| Blanton | 4 | Michael Blanton | Charleston, SC | X | |||||
| Blauch | 5 | Laura Blauch | Mooresville, NC | X | X | X | X | ||
| Boswell | 6 | Chris Boswell | Rochester, MN | X | X | X | |||
| Brown | 7 | David Brown | Raleigh, NC | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Carter | 8 | Jay Carter | Holly Springs, NC | X | X | X | |||
| Carter | 9 | Cameron Carter | Gainesville, FL | X | X | ||||
| Cerullo | 10 | Rachel Cerullo | North Chelmsford, MA | X | |||||
| Chico | 11 | Katherine Lamb Chico | Land O Lakes, FL | X | X | ||||
| Christopherson | 12 | Brian Christopherson | Plano, TX | X | |||||
| Christopherson | 13 | Jeanne Christopherson | Plano, TX | X | |||||
| Clayton | 14 | Allison Clayton | Summerville, SC | X | X | ||||
| Collett | 15 | Linda Collett | Orchard Park, NY | X | |||||
| Daniels | 16 | Ellen Daniels | Apex, NC | X | X | ||||
| Dougherty | 17 | Michael Dougherty | High Point, NC | X | |||||
| Dundzilla | 18 | Mya Dundzila | Eliot, ME | X | X | X | |||
| Eastburn | 19 | Karen Eastburn | Plano, TX | X | |||||
| Ellison | 20 | Linda Ellison | Katy, TX | X | |||||
| Ethridge | 21 | Robin Ethridge | Seattle, WA | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Fenton | 22 | Lori Fenton | Des Moines, IA | X | X | X | X | X | |
| Fitzgerald | 23 | Josh Fitzgerald | Arlington, TX | X | X | ||||
| Fox-Roberts | 24 | Christine Fox-Roberts | Rehoboth Beach, DE | X | X | X | X | ||
| Gaines | 25 | Meredith Gaines | Spring, TX | X | |||||
| Gregory | 26 | Teri Gregory | Gambrills, MD | X | |||||
| Handy | 27 | Mike Handy | Sanford, NC | X | |||||
| Hanson | 28 | Genevieve Hanson | Falls Church, VA | X | X | X | |||
| Hicks | 29 | Wayne Hicks | Carrollton, VA | X | X | X | X | ||
| Johnson | 30 | Malia Anderson Johnson | Woodinville, WA | X | |||||
| Jurado | 31 | Kathryn Jurado | Seffner, FL | X | X | X | |||
| Keisler | 32 | Allison Keisler | Sherrills Ford, NC | X | |||||
| Kennedy | 33 | Sarah Kennedy | McLean, VA | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Kindraka | 34 | Nancy Kindraka | Farmington Hills, MI | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Knoy | 35 | Ashley Knoy | Charlotte, NC | X | |||||
| Kohler | 36 | Emlee Kohler | Hancock, NH | X | |||||
| Kunz | 37 | Ryan Kunz | Centerville, UT | X | |||||
| Lamb | 38 | Mike Lamb | Jupiter, FL | X | X | X | X | X | |
| Lamb | 39 | Tami Lamb | Jupiter, FL | X | X | ||||
| Latshaw | 40 | Pat Latshaw | Prairie Village, KS | X | |||||
| Leadbetter | 41 | Steven Leadbetter | Seminole, FL | X | X | X | |||
| Lewis | 42 | Leslie Lewis | Gastonia, NC | X | X | X | |||
| Lyons | 43 | Danny Lyons | Pensacola, FL | X | X | ||||
| Marotta | 44 | Hillary Marotta | Hummelstown, PA | X | |||||
| Mason | 45 | Glenda Mason | King George, VA | X | X | ||||
| Mills | 46 | Lisa Mills | Blue Springs, MS | X | |||||
| Minnotte | 47 | Linda Minnotte | Pittsburgh, PA | X | X | X | |||
| Murphy, Ma | 48 | Marcia Murphy | Glenmoore, PA | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Murphy, Da | 49 | David Murphy | Chapel Hill, NC | X | X | ||||
| Murray | 50 | Jennifer Murray | Mastic, NY | X | |||||
| Myers | 51 | Betty Myers | Columbia, SC | X | |||||
| Nance | 52 | Bryce Nance | Reno, NV | X | |||||
| Nance | 53 | Derek Nance | Reno, NV | X | |||||
| Olhausen | 54 | Marcy Olhausen | Kennesaw, GA | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Peterson | 55 | Tracy Peterson | Bennington, NE | X | X | X | X | X | |
| Quick | 56 | Kevin Quick | Allen, TX | X | |||||
| Reese | 57 | Alan Reese | Carrollton, VA | X | X | X | |||
| Reese | 58 | Lois Reese | Carrolton, VA | X | X | ||||
| Rowe | 59 | Cathy Rowe | Springfield, IL | X | |||||
| Scott | 60 | Janeen Scott | Spanish Fork, UT | X | |||||
| Seemann | 61 | Brian Seemann | Washington, DC | X | |||||
| Sheffield | 62 | Sarah Sheffield | Indian Trail, NC | X | X | ||||
| Stein | 63 | Amber Stein | Summerville, SC | X | X | ||||
| Swafford | 64 | Laura Swafford | Baltimore, MD | X | X | X | |||
| Tober | 65 | Lyn Tober | Bellingham, WA | X | X | ||||
| Toole | 66 | Ruthie Toole | Newark, DE | X | |||||
| Turner | 67 | Elaine Turner | Gainesville, FL | X | X | X | X | X | |
| Underwood | 68 | Fran Underwood | Burke, VA | X | |||||
| Vandagriff | 69 | Dena Vandagriff | Fairfax, VA | X | |||||
| Vangolen | 70 | Jennifer Vangolen | Seattle, WA | X | X | X | |||
| Vaquilar | 71 | Julie Vaquilar | San Francisco, CA | X | X | X | |||
| Wilkie | 72 | Vanessa Wilkie | Edmonds, WA | X | X | X | X | ||
| Murphy, Wi | 73 | William J. Murphy | Seffner, FL | X | X | X | |||
| Hunt | 74 | Paige Hunt | Tampa, FL | X | |||||
| Wiggins | 75 | Amelia Wiggins | Littleton, MA | X | |||||
| Saunders | 76 | Heather Saunders | Raleigh, NC | X | |||||
| Punch | 77 | Andy Punch | Holly Springs, NC | X | |||||
| Nelson | 78 | Anna Nelson | Durham, NC | X | |||||
| Leong | 79 | Lois Leong | Bloomington, IN | X |
Event Details
Event Preparation
Upon acceptance, participants are expected to acquire the music and learn their ringing position, working with their stand partner, choir “double,” and section leader. Group rehearsal time is to fine-tune the songs, NOT to learn the music. Ringing positions will be assigned after acceptance into the ensemble. Music will need to be shared with a stand partner for rehearsals and the performance.
Lodging
Participants may stay wherever they would like; however, the preferred hotel provides a discount for event attendees and includes complimentary breakfast. We can also assist with roommate matching for participants who stay at the event hotel.
Transportation
All the transportation for the weekend, including airport shuttles, will be provided to participants staying at the preferred hotel.
Meals
The registration fee includes all lunches and dinners during the event (Thursday dinner through Sunday lunch). The preferred hotel includes complimentary breakfast. Water and light snacks are also included during rehearsals.
Event Schedule
The event begins on Thursday at 4:00pm and goes through Sunday afternoon’s performance (ending at roughly 6:30pm). All rehearsals are mandatory and will be held at Raleigh Ringer Central in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Equipment
All equipment will be provided. Participants will provide their own gloves, music, and anything else they require for rehearsal.
Performance Attire
Performance attire for the final concert is supplied by each participant. For men – black tux, white shirt, black bow tie, black shoes and socks, and black gloves. For women – black pants or long skirt, black top with long or 3/4 length sleeves and approved neckline, black shoes, and black gloves.
Education
Educational Events
Audience Comments
"The music was beautiful, the entertainment hilarious, and the whole experience was wonderfully worthwhile. We loved it so much we tried to get a flight changed to come hear your concert again!"
- Anonymous Fan
“What skill and diversity of music! I could have listened another three hours! Thank you for the inspiration and entertainment!”
- Anonymous Fan
“I never would have thought I'd want to go to a handbell concert, but when I heard handbell rock ’n’ roll on the radio, I told my friends, ‘We're going!’ And it was just great.”
- Anonymous Fan
"The Raleigh Ringers are the best handbell ensemble on the globe!!!!”
Greg Pysh
Minister of Music and Composer
Midland, Texas
“Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!! They never cease to amaze me. Their playing is so musical, their technique impeccable.”
Cordetta Valthauser
Handbell Soloist
Cleveland Area, Ohio
"Thank you all for being ambassadors of superb musicianship, amazing technique, and sharing the joy of doing something you love, which is contagious.”
Carolann Haley
Assistant to Director of Music Ministries
National Presbyterian Church, Washington, D.C.
“The Raleigh Ringers are truly a wonderful instrument. It is a joy to watch how precisely they respond to director David Harris' musical goals, and how audiences respond as well. This group has definitely attained 'handbell superstar' status.”
Jason Tiller
Sonos Handbell Ensemble
San Francisco, CA
“The best part was, in spite of all the amazing things that they can do with bells – the bass ringer assignments, flawless technique, and all of those kind of things – the best part was that it was musical. I simply enjoyed the music.”
Dean Wagner
Associate Director of Music and Organist
First United Methodist Church of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
“...I did not know how good 'good' is in bell ringing until I heard you. It was simply superb, and you must have known that from the unusually enthusiastic response from the audience.”
Ross MacKenzie
Chautauqua Institution
Chautauqua, New York