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NATIONAL CHAIR, HGC
Patsy Andrews-Vert
Box 29
Starbuck MB
R0G 2P0
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
National Executive
Chair: Patsy Andrews-Vert, Manitoba
Past Chair: Emmy Okazawa-Bortolin, Alberta
Chair-Elect: TBA
Secretary/Treasurer: Tracey Wright, Manitoba
patavert@pmcnet.ca
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Provincial Guild Representatives
Guild Presidents
Ellen Ramsay, British Columbia
Anne Hergott, Alberta
Lynn Boothroyd, Ontario
Susan Stevenson, Manitoba
Members at Large
Gail Haeussler, British Columbia
Fiona Miller, Alberta
J.-C. Coolen, Ontario
IHS 2016 Liason
Anne Hill, British Columbia
Selection of Canadian Conductor for the th
17 International Handbell Symposium Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada July 26‐30, 2016 Applications are being accepted for a conductor to direct the Canadian selection for massed choirs at the 17th International Handbell Symposium. The applicant should have previously conducted handbells in a massed concert setting of at least 100 ringers. The applicant must be willing and able to travel to and register for the Symposium at his/her expense. The Handbell Guilds of Canada provides a small honorarium. The applicant must be a member in good standing of a provincial guild. Interested persons are asked to forward an expression of interest and a brief resume to the president of their provincial guild by date decided by provincial guild. Provincial guilds are asked to select one candidate and forward the resume of that candidate to the chair, Handbell Guilds of Canada. In order to be considered, this provincial guild nomination must be received by the chair of HGC no later than June 1, 2015. The selection committee, consisting of the HGC chair and the provincial presidents (or vice president should the president be a candidate) will choose the conductor from the applications received. Please note: HGC has a policy that should “equal candidates” be under consideration, the position of Canadian conductor will be awarded to the person who has not previously represented Canada at an International Handbell Symposium. Considerations for Applicants 1. Canadian Massed Ringing Composition The Canadian Massed Ringing composition to be rung at the 2016 Symposium is “So Glorious and Free” by Betty Radford from Edmonton, AB. It is an exciting and melodic composition, level 4, full of interesting rhythms and sixteenth notes. 2. Previous experience It is very important that the conductor have some massed ringing conducting experience. Because of the size of the group at the International Symposium (600+ ringers) this is not the place to try massed ringing conducting for the first time. The conductor has to change their arm and hand movements considerably as well as be comfortable addressing a large group of people. No small conducting movements will be seen by this large group of ringers so the conductor needs to be able to get across what is usually communicated by small movements (quieter sections, delicate articulations, etc.) in a way that can be done with large hand/arm movements. Their conducting style needs to be clear and articulate. Also the conductor must be comfortable communicating with all of the ringers, with clear concise and brief comments which are easily translatable, given the considerable scope of space from side‐to‐side and back‐to‐front in this symposium, massed ringing setting. 3. Musicianship It is important that the conductor has a strong musical background, an appreciable level of musical training and musicianship. The conductor needs to be able to speak with an advanced degree of musical knowledge about the composition and how it needs to be played. Many of the ringers attending the symposium are quite accomplished musicians so they expect to be spoken to as such regarding the music and the techniques for playing it. Having some teaching experience through giving workshops or teaching in the education system is an asset, as the conductor needs to get their message across thoroughly and quickly in a short amount of time. Most of the music is around the Level 4 difficulty level, therefore, the applicant should have considerable experience working with this level of Handbell Music. 4. Organization It is very important that the conductor is an organized and thoughtful person. The rehearsal time for each piece is very brief, 10 to 20 minutes depending on the session. The time is made shorter by having to wait for each single comment to be translated into at least 2 languages. The conductor needs to be able to communicate well to a large number of people in a short time as well as to be able to explain their thoughts and wishes in a way that all nationalities will understand what is expected. Watching for the lights to indicate when to start and when to finish as well as waiting for each translator to speak before conducting each segment takes a lot of the spontaneity out of the rehearsal process unlike what a conductor will be used to in local settings. Being prepared for the rehearsal by knowing exactly which aspect of the piece is to be worked on in that session is a must in this conducting setting. 5. Ambassadorship It is very important that the conductor represents Canada well in terms of deportment, respect and attitude towards a multi‐national group or ringers in a formal setting. The conductor needs to be friendly and approachable and respectful of other customs and cultures. Page 2 of 2