OUR MISSION STATEMENT: The primary mission
of the Hudson Valley Handbell. Festival Conference (HVHFC) is to promote
the art of handbell ringing by providing an opportunity for local and/or
visiting handbell choirs to perform in a massed, divisional, and solo
choir framework, and present a concert to the general public. To further
the art of handbell ringing, HVHFC may, at the discretion of the
governing body, also provide financial assistance to handbell choirs or
members of the Handbell Musicians of America who are in
serious documented need.
Home Contact Us
Hudson Valley Young Ringers Festival
Donations: New
Orleans 2007 Gulfport 2006
AGEHR Chime Lending
Program 2009
Overtones article regarding
White Lotus 2009
Tim Waugh 2010 for composing "Selvaggio (Exultant)"
Hudson Valley
Young Ringers Festival 2011
Scoharie United Presbyterian Church 2012 and 13
Girl Scouts 2014
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We received a thank
you from the Grace Episcopal Church in New Orleans. Click on the
image to the left to see a pdf of the letter.
The brand new 2 octaves of Malmark
handbells have arrived at Grace Episcopal Church in New Orleans! Their
director of music, Joe Foxhood, and their young musicians are looking
forward to playing them during the church’s worship liturgy and in a
choir/singing program that will begin with the school year this
September 2007.
This set of bells allows them to add a
second component to their community music ministry
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which already includes
a strong singing program.
Handbells are novel and interesting to kids because most of their own
churches don’t use them, as a rule. |
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Handbells, in addition to the obvious musical skills learning to play
them will impart, will strengthen kids’ mathematical ability, promoting
awareness of what can be accomplished when many people work together for
a common goal, and again adding to a multi-dimensional growth
experience.
This is particularly
important in Post-Katrina New Orleans, in light of their school system
which is struggling to both recover and be better than it was before.
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Many children did not have access to a
decent education pre-storm, and the jury is still out as to how well
the new school system will do for them. Every dimension that can be
added by community and/or faith-based organizations will not only
benefit the children immediately, but will lay a foundation on which a
better city for all residents can be achieved.
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This is also important
in their current situation where many folks are living in shared,
crowded housing. Traffic is difficult at best, and tension and stress
remain at extreme levels. Music could be a strong antidote and outlet
for so many young persons in the neighborhood, instead of turning to
artificial substances for escape.
We are
very grateful to all the directors, ringers and members of the audience
who contributed so generously to this charity. More information about
the work of this church can be had by logging onto their website,
http://www.gracecanalstreet.org/. Additional pictures of the
devastation caused by Katrina can be found here
http://www.gracecanalstreet.org/Katrina.htm |
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Thanks go to the
benefit committee and the generosity of Malmark Handbells for this gift
to Grace Episcopal Church in New Orleans. |
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