Director opening for Handbell Choir - Sudbury MA

The Memorial Congregational Church in Sudbury MA is seeking a director for their adult handbell choir beginning in Fall 2011. Seasoned, active program with single director for over 20 yrs (now retired) 5 octaves White Chapel handbells C3-C8 3 octaves Suzuki handchimes C4-C7 Weekly 2 hr rehearsals (currently Tuesday nights) Regular performances in Sunday worship and annual full concerts in established venues outside church Stipend offered Contact: Cathy Meyer, Minister of Music MinisterofMusic@MCCsudbury.org

John Kent Cooke Foundation Young Artist Award

From the Top and the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation share a passion for helping exceptional young people reach their potential in all areas of their lives. The goal of the Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award Program is to identify and nurture talented young musicians whose lack of financial resources might otherwise impede their progress. This year From the Top will select twenty-five $10,000 Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award recipients. For more information please see http://fromthetop.org/Awards/Cooke.cfm

Concordia University Irvine recruitment notice for 2008 freshmen and transfer ringers–PLEASE SEND US YOUR PROSPECTS!

At Concordia University Irvine, handbell scholarships are treated the same way as scholarships for voice, organ, trumpet, percussion, or any other instrument. whether applicants plan to be music majors or not. That is on top of much other possible university, church, and government aid. Awards can be as high as $4000 for handbells or other instruments, but more typically $1000-2000, and that is above all other aid. We offer a music major which can include a handbell emphasis, preparing students for careers in directing, teaching, church music, performance, or academic scholarship. The handbell emphasis can be included within teaching credential or church music professional programs. We are beginning the new academic year this week with about 45 ringers, and we may still get more.

Did we mention that Nick Hanson is making a career out of handbells with his two Concordia degrees–music major:handbell emphasis from Concordia–Irvine and master's in church music: handbell emphasis from Concordia–Wisconsin? Another is Cyndi Tully (Concordia–Irvine music major:handbell emphasis/English double major) who is now running the CUI bookstore and one of three handbell directors at CUI, succeeding Nick.

Please send any inquiries to me. Nancy Jessup or I will communicate with you. The CUI website is in transition and will soon have more sophisticated handbell program information, but you can get the usual university information at www.cui.edu .

University of Southern Mississippi's Carillon, under the direction of Dr. Larry Smith offers scholarships for bells. This is the bell choir that participates each year in the European Handbell Festival, led by Larry Smith and Fred Gramann.

Bucknell University in Pennsylvania offers a handbell scholarship to one incoming freshman who auditions for Dr. William Payn's prestigious Rooke Chapel Ringers. It is $2,500 per semester for all semesters the student is in the ensemble ($20K total if s/he is in the ensemble for four years).