2024 Triad Area Handbell Festival
Calling all Handbell Choirs!
You’re invited to a day of musical fun!
October 19, 2024
First UMC is excited to sponsor the Triad Area Handbell Festival again this year. All age groups are welcome! This is a free event with the purpose of reaching out to other churches and groups for fellowship and a fun time learning music for the coming year. The day will culminate in free concert open to the public! Click here for a tentative schedule of the day.
We are pleased to announce that Paul McKlveen (bio below), noted composer and director, will be our clinician. As we anticipate a larger number of choirs attending the festival this year, we are offering early registration. The early registration deadline is May 30. After that date, registration acceptance will be on a first-come, first-served basis as space allows. The final deadline for registration is September 1.
We look forward to meeting each of you and your choir members!
WHO: All Triad area handbell groups are invited!
WHEN: Saturday, October 19, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Lunch is provided with registration! The concert will begin at 4:00 p.m.
WHERE: The event will take place at First Presbyterian Church, 918 N. Main St., High Point
REGISTRATION: Early registration ends May 30. Deadline for registration ends September 1. See below to register online or download the Registration Form and submit to Sonja Tomlinson, Director of Handbells at First UMC (details on form).
MORE DETAILS: If your group would like to perform an individual piece in the concert, we encourage you to do so. Enclosed/attached is a registration form so that we may anticipate the number of choirs and participants, as well as how many individual pieces will be rung. Hopefully, getting this info to you early will have your choir(s) already learning the pieces. The following is a list of the pieces that we will be working on and performing together. These may be purchased at Handbell World/Jeffers Handbell Supply.
Change Ring Prelude on “Divinum Mysterium’ Fred Gramann, Lorenz 20/1239L
A Joyous Song J. Wayne Kerr MAG35047
Faith Paul McKlveen Jeffers JHS9396
When I Survey the Wondrous Cross arr. Paul McKlveen MRW8273
Please note: Practice copies may be used, but you must have an original to accompany it as well. No recording of music. Adherence to copyright laws is required.
Questions? Please feel free to contact Sonja Tomlinson, FUMC Director of Handbells, if you have questions or specific needs: 336-312-0463; sonjat52@gmail.com.
Meet Paul McKlveen: This year’s clinician!
Paul began ringing handbells in 1974, and continues to pursue his hobby as a director, clinician, festival conductor, and composer. Currently, he is serving as the Music Director for Encore! Handbell Ensemble, a community ensemble based in Oshkosh, WI. He has served as the Handbell Program coordinator at First Presbyterian Church, Neenah WI; conductor of Rezound!, an auditioned community handbell ensemble located in the Kansas City area; and was the Director of Handbell Ministries at White Plains United Methodist Church in Cary, NC for four and a half years. For six and a half years he served as the Assistant Director of the Raleigh Ringers, an auditioned community handbell ensemble which he helped to form. He also directed an adult handbell choir at First Baptist Church in Cary, NC and youth, adult, and children handbell choirs at First Baptist Church in Matthews, NC.
Paul enjoys composing and has won several composition contests. He currently has approximately 100 published compositions. He has served Handbell Musicians of America in Area 3 as the North Carolina State Chairman, Secretary, and Chairman, as well as the website administrator for Area 7.
Paul is employed by Schneider National as an Enterprise Application Integration Engineer within the Information Technology department. He received a BS in Computer Science and a BS in Mathematics from North Carolina State University. He makes his home in De Pere, Wisconsin with his wife, Sue, his daughter, Alyssa, their two Boston Terriers, Calvin and Hobbes, and their Frenchton, Webster.