Author: coppersclassic_edr2py

Most handbell musicians have met Julie Turner through her arrangements and original compositions. I first encountered her original work with Everlasting to Everlasting. It is still one of my favorite compositions. (Worth a listen if you are unfamiliar with it!)

At Coppers Classic 2023 we rang two of her works, Toccata Allegro, an original work and Julie’s excellent transcription of Toto’s Africa. Both pieces offered lots of “meat” to learn many ways to express the music. How do you shape a phrase in a huge choir? How can you ring a “mart” that fits the intent of the music! We got to practice “there’re lots of ways to ring a bell in order to make great music!” Always fun!

This year we are ringing Julie’s transcription of Here Comes the Sun, one of the of the Beatles best known works. It was written in 1969 by George Harrison. It sounds easy when you listen to the Beatles sing it but rumor has it that the Beatles had to practice quite a bit to get it right!  Syncopation! Meter changes! Accidentals! . . . I’m sure that knowing that the Beatles had to work to make this song come together will give comfort to all of us as we work to perfect our performance of the piece.

I’m betting that many of you have played one or more of Jason Krug’s compositions. He is known for creating interesting and engaging pieces for all levels of handbell skill.

During the pandemic, Jason kept handbell musicians engaged with weekly online composition classes. Yes, right before your eyes and ears he would create at least the framework of a brand new piece while explaining the what’s and why’s of his choices.

In addition to his handbell compositions, Jason has published works for piano, organ, choir, and string orchestra. He has penned several pieces of fiction for young adults–check out the Sadinian Chronicles–and a non fiction work, The General Theory of Creativity (an enticing read).

Were that not enough, Jason is an expert at Rubik’s Cube! Ah, the things we learn about one another.

 (an enticing read!)

If you ever have the opportunity to spend time with Damien Lim, I guarantee two things. 1) You will go home with a smile still on your face and in your heart and, 2) you will be inspired by his passion for handbells and arrangements of music that “sings” in our art form. His mission? “To Educate, To Share, To Inspire, To Create, To Include”

Damien is conductor, arranger and teacher. Based in Singapore where Damien founded MOB, aka Ministry of Bells, he is known as a first rate percussionist and as a handbell musician.  He has inspired many young musicians at home, in Thailand, in his travels to Japan, Korea and Australia and around the glove.

Come ring his setting of Despacito at Coppers Classic this April. It will be a great experience.

Whew! What a month it has been. But we’re finally open for business. Coppers Classic 2024 registration is now open! First things first though…get your scholarship application in if you haven’t already. If it’s your first time attending, head on over to the scholarship page to see if you’re eligible. We’d love to see you in Portland. And the music is going to be A-MAZ-ING! Check out the repertoire page. What can we say…Coppers Classic 2024, here we come!

Thanks to all of you who are anxiously awaiting the opening of the 2024 Coppers Classic registration. We apologize for the delay. What can we say – technology glitches happen!

But there is good news: 1) our event is two weeks later this year, so you will still have plenty of time to learn your music (do not worry…do not be afraid, do not be discouraged…all will be well), and 2) scholarship applications are available!

If you are a student or adult considering attending Coppers Classic for the first time, consider applying for a scholarship. We have several available to help cover your costs to attend this event. Now, like most things in life, these scholarships have rules. You must be a resident of Area 10 to qualify, and the scholarship committee will review the application and make the final decision. But hey, nothing ventured, nothing gained, right? Head over to the scholarship page to find out more information. And be sure to get your scholarship application in before the January 8 deadline.

We will post here and on social media once the other technical issues have been solved and registration has opened. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Registration is NOW OPEN for Coppers Classic 2023!

I am over the moon excited at spending a weekend with you making wonderful music and creating lasting friendships. Coppers Classic will happen March 24-26, 2023. Coppers has new repertoire—check it out—and, we are at a new site with easy access (free airport shuttle!), free parking and lots of shops (no sales tax!) and nearby restaurants for dinners together.

SIGN UP TODAY. I will personally donate $10 to the Coppers Classic scholarship fund for the first 10 musicians to register.

HMA MEMBERSHIP $20 DISCOUNT
Join or renew your membership (https://handbellmusicians.org/join). Use the code ACMD2022 at checkout to save $20. Offer is good through December 31, 2022.

Questions? Contact me directly, directorcoppersclassic@gmail.com. For registration questions contact Vanessa Blake, event coordinator or PL Grove, registrar at eventcoordinatorcoppersclassic@gmail.com.

Coppers Classic isn’t happening this year, but we’re still having a workshop! Thisclass will focus on solutions for ringing sections of music that require quick changes from one bell to the next. Some people use “weaving” as a solution. But this class is not just about weaving, but also when NOT to weave. It incorporates a very simple technique of displacing a handbell in order to play a passage of music easier and perhaps more musically. Especially soloists and ensemble ringers will want these tricks up their gloves. But the class is a perfect fit for handbell ringers of all levels! Cost is $15, but free to all Coppers Classics alums. To register, simply send an email to:
eventcoordinatorcoppersclassic@gmail.com

For more information on the workshop, download the flyer here:
PLWorkshopFlyer

 

Sadly, the event team has made the decision to cancel Coppers Classic for 2022.

COVID is still with us. It is a shadow that leaves fellow musicians wanting to participate but torn, feeling unsafe to travel, and unsafe due to the possibility of bringing disease home to aging loved ones, grandchildren and family. Though we’re hearing that Omicron may be over by the end of February, we cannot be certain. At the moment, infection and hospitalizations in Oregon are at record highs. If there were a guarantee the disease would be behind us, we would go forward but it is still “best guess speculation,” and we cannot in good conscience ask you to come here.

For Next Year
Coppers Classic 2023 will be held on Friday through Sunday, March 24-26, 2023 and will include our annual mini-workshop the evening of Thursday, March 23. Location will be at the Monarch Hotel and Conference Center.

A gift to all Coppers Classic as a thank you for your love and faith of Coppers Classic
To Weave or Not to Weave: When is the Question or When Left is Right with PL Grove—FREE to alums
a.      Saturday, March 26, 2022
b.      9-11 am PDST
c.      Sign up at eventscoppersclassic@gmail.com to reserve your spot
d.      Guests welcome
i.      Donation $15
ii.     Email eventscoppersclassic@gmail.com to pay and register

A Note from Ellie Hodder, event founder/clinician
I love Coppers Classic. From my perch on the podium, I am privileged to watch your eyes and the change in your body language as we launch into challenging repertoire on Friday morning. I know many of you are thinking in that particular moment that there is no chance we will pull off a concert on  Sunday! Yet, when 4 pm Sunday comes, there is magic in the room, using all we have learned, all of our passion for handbells, as we create an hour of “wow!”

Be well. Stay safe. Keep your vision for who you are as a handbell musician alive in the coming months. May we be together in 2023 sharing a magical weekend of handbells together.

All the best,

Ellie Hodder
Event Founder/Clinician

Vanessa Blake
Event Coordinator

P.L. Grove
Event Registrar

Happy New Year to everyone. I hope you’ve found safe ways to ring and share music in 2021 and are looking forward to Coppers Classic in March 2022. While it has taken us three years to get here, this is the 5th Anniversary of Coppers Classic, and we aim to have a safe and celebratory event!

• The Early Bird Registration Deadline is January 15, 2022! Head to the registration page (https://coppersclassic.com/register/) to take advantage of this discount.
• Take advantage, too, of a $20 discount on your Handbell Musicians of America membership with code ACMD2021 at https://handbellmusicians.org/membership/join-the-guild/. Offer expires January 7, 2022!

You may have noticed that we are including bell trees in the repertoire again this year. We’ve been doing this nearly since day one, but it seems especially timely this year, as so many of you have been playing bell trees in order to keep up your skills and also to have music to offer during the darkest days of the pandemic. There are two bell tree parts, but I believe it would be even more fun if we had more than two bell tree musicians. Interested? Drop me a note (directorcoppersclassic@gmail.com) for details on how you can be one of the bell tree soloists!

Most of us expected the pandemic to be in the rear-view mirror by now but it is still here. What has changed is that we have tools and understandings that allow us to do more things like ring together with precautions. We take your well-being seriously and have put some guidelines in place to help keep the event as seamless as possible.

1. All participants need to show proof of vaccination.
2. All participants must wear masks at all times indoors, either an N95 or double layers with a disposable mask covered by a cloth mask which has multiple layers including a filter.
3. We will modify the daily schedule to allow for some longer breaks so musicians can leave the rehearsal space and get outside for some fresh air. In order to make this work, Aguinaldo Isabelino and Flower Duet will be moved to the 2023 repertoire.
4. The Monarch Hotel and Conference Center states: “The Monarch Hotel and Conference Center has remained operational throughout the Covid-19 pandemic and is a committed partner in following all health and safety guidelines as outlined by the Oregon Health Authority, the CDC and Oregon Governor Brown’s Office.” A detailed list of their protocol is on their website at https://monarchhotel.cc.Coppers Classic is shaping up to be a great event and it will be the very best with you in the ensemble. We look forward to seeing you and your fellow musicians in March.

   Have a wonderful New Year. Be well. Stay safe.

 

Registration is now OPEN for Coppers Classic 2022!

We’re back and excited at the prospect of spending time with you making music. Mark your calendar for March 24-27, 2022, the return of Coppers Classic ! Join excellent and passionate musicians from across the United States and Canada for our Fifth Anniversary. Camaraderie and joyous music making in a weekend of handbells!

The event site has moved to Clackamas, Oregon, a suburb of Portland on I-205 and at the Southeast end of the Max train line at the Clackamas Town Center shopping mall and walking distance to shopping and restaurants.

Event coordinator, Kim Bible, has retired! We salute her excellent leadership as we welcome a new team this year headed by Vanessa Blake, event coordinator and Pamela (P.L.) Grove as registrar.

P.L. will kick off the weekend with an optional workshop “To Weave or Not to Weave, When is the Question!” Rehearsals begin Friday morning with bells from the itty bittys to the buckets.

Music selections include a belltree processional by Louise Frier, a new arrangement by Carmen Medina Jimenez of Puerto Rico (a ton of fun to ring!), a setting Toto’s “Africa” arranged by Julie Turner (she added an SATB choir part just for us!!), a tribute to the late, great Cynthia Dobrinski, and many other exciting compositions. The weekend culminates in a public concert Sunday afternoon.

If you love handbells, if you love a musical challenge, if you love challenging yourself to be the best musician you can be, you will love Coppers Classic.

Questions? Please go the “contact” page and drop us a note.