Capital Area Spring Ring

March 9, 2024

Highland United Methodist Church  |  Raleigh, NC | 9 AM-5 PM

This festival features Level 1 and 2 music for intergenerational, adult, and youth choirs or individual ringers. The festival includes massed ringing sessions to polish the prepared music and two breakout classes led by members of The Raleigh Ringers. The day concludes with a short concert presented by the participants at 4:00 pm that is open to the public.

Guest Conductor Laura Blauch

Laura has been directing handbell choirs for 20 years, including church choirs in Maryland and North Carolina and festivals in Virginia and North Carolina, working with both children and adults. She is currently the director for Queen City Ringers, an auditioned community ensemble in Charlotte, North Carolina. Laura has a B.A. in Sacred Music and has studied conducting with William Payn through numerous HMA Masterclass Series, attaining the highest level of HMA conducting certification in 2013. She was a finalist for the Distinctly Bronze Associate Conductor program in 2019 and conducted a solo piece at IHS in Nashville last year. In addition to directing, Laura has been ringing for more than 25 years, participating in both Distinctly Bronze and Virtuoso events. She has served as the Historian and Membership Chair for Area 3, the Certification Program Coordinator for Handbell Musicians of America, and is currently the Scholarship Coordinator for Area 3. Laura lives in Mooresville, North Carolina with her husband Dave (also a ringer!) and their three cats.

Repertoire

Laudation, Brenda Austin – Level 2
2-3 octave version (MCP7096) and 3-5 octave version (MCP7097)

Holy Manna, Susan Geschke – Level 2
2, 3 or 5 octaves (MCGB793)

Aria, Albert Zabel – Level 2
3 or 5 octaves (MHM01030)

Advent Meditation,  Douglas E. Wagner – Level 2
3-5 octaves (MLC201308L)

Challenge Piece (optional)

Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho, Martha Lynn Thompson – Level 2
3-5 Octaves (MHP1880)

Cost

$30 per ringer/director if registered before March 1
$35 per ringer/director if registered March 1 or after
$10 for non-ringing chaperones

Cancellations/Refunds

Before March 1 – Registration Minus $5/Person (administrative fee)
March 1-March 9 – Registration Minus $15/Person (administrative fee plus expenses incurred)