by Greig Ashurst
Greig Ashurst
National Board President
As I write my final Overtones article as President of Handbell Musicians of America, I find myself reflecting less on the years I have spent leading and more on the years I hope to spend serving.
My presidency is coming to an end. My commitment to HMA is not.
Like many of you, I first came to this organization for what it could offer me. I wanted to learn, to ring, to grow, and to connect with people who shared my passion for handbells. HMA provided all of that and more, giving me friendships, mentors, leadership opportunities, and memories that have shaped both my musicianship and my life.
I was reminded of this vividly during my recent time in Scotland for the International Handbell Symposium. Gathering with ringers from around the world was a joy: meeting new friends, reconnecting with longtime colleagues, and sharing laughter, stories, and music together. Experiences like the HMA National Seminar, Distinctly Bronze, and the International Symposium remind us of the remarkable strength and warmth of our global handbell community.
Somewhere along the way, a subtle shift occurred. Instead of asking, “What can HMA do for me?” I began asking, “What can I do for HMA?”
Answering that question led to some of the most rewarding experiences of my journey. Service has never felt like an obligation. Rather, it has been a joyful response to an organization that has given me so much.
As I look across the HMA community today, I see vibrant generations of musicians, ringers, and directors who are discovering those same opportunities. They are attending events, building relationships, developing their skills, and experiencing the excitement of being part of Handbell Musicians of America.
That is exactly as it should be. My gentle challenge to you, the members, is this: remember that membership is not only about receiving opportunities but also about helping create them for others.
Service rarely begins with a title, a board seat, or a committee appointment. More often, it starts in the small moments: volunteering at a local or area festival, welcoming a first-time attendee, mentoring a younger ringer, or simply saying “yes” when an extra pair of hands is needed. Not everyone is in a season of life that allows for major leadership responsibilities, and that is perfectly okay. But every member has something valuable to contribute.
Organizations like HMA do not thrive simply because of what they provide. They thrive because of the people who care enough to make those opportunities possible.
The festivals, seminars, all-state ensembles, educational resources, and handbell gatherings we enjoy today exist because members chose to invest in this organization. They understand that preserving and advancing our art form requires active stewardship, not passive participation.
So enjoy everything HMA has to offer. Take advantage of every opportunity to gather, to learn, to grow, and to connect. But also keep an eye out for ways to give back, ensuring that the ringers who follow us inherit a community as rich and welcoming as the one we have enjoyed.
It has been an incredible privilege to serve as your President, but I am even more grateful to remain your fellow member. The title may change, but the mission does not. HMA has enriched my life in countless ways, and I look forward to continuing to serve the organization and community that have given me so much.
As I write my final Overtones article as President of Handbell Musicians of America, I find myself reflecting less on the years I have spent leading and more on the years I hope to spend serving.
My presidency is coming to an end. My commitment to HMA is not.
Like many of you, I first came to this organization for what it could offer me. I wanted to learn, to ring, to grow, and to connect with people who shared my passion for handbells. HMA provided all of that and more, giving me friendships, mentors, leadership opportunities, and memories that have shaped both my musicianship and my life.
I was reminded of this vividly during my recent time in Scotland for the International Handbell Symposium. Gathering with ringers from around the world was a joy: meeting new friends, reconnecting with longtime colleagues, and sharing laughter, stories, and music together. Experiences like the HMA National Seminar, Distinctly Bronze, and the International Symposium remind us of the remarkable strength and warmth of our global handbell community.
Somewhere along the way, a subtle shift occurred. Instead of asking, “What can HMA do for me?” I began asking, “What can I do for HMA?”
Answering that question led to some of the most rewarding experiences of my journey. Service has never felt like an obligation. Rather, it has been a joyful response to an organization that has given me so much.
As I look across the HMA community today, I see vibrant generations of musicians, ringers, and directors who are discovering those same opportunities. They are attending events, building relationships, developing their skills, and experiencing the excitement of being part of Handbell Musicians of America.
That is exactly as it should be. My gentle challenge to you, the members, is this: remember that membership is not only about receiving opportunities but also about helping create them for others.
Service rarely begins with a title, a board seat, or a committee appointment. More often, it starts in the small moments: volunteering at a local or area festival, welcoming a first-time attendee, mentoring a younger ringer, or simply saying “yes” when an extra pair of hands is needed. Not everyone is in a season of life that allows for major leadership responsibilities, and that is perfectly okay. But every member has something valuable to contribute.
Organizations like HMA do not thrive simply because of what they provide. They thrive because of the people who care enough to make those opportunities possible.
The festivals, seminars, all-state ensembles, educational resources, and handbell gatherings we enjoy today exist because members chose to invest in this organization. They understand that preserving and advancing our art form requires active stewardship, not passive participation.
So enjoy everything HMA has to offer. Take advantage of every opportunity to gather, to learn, to grow, and to connect. But also keep an eye out for ways to give back, ensuring that the ringers who follow us inherit a community as rich and welcoming as the one we have enjoyed.
It has been an incredible privilege to serve as your President, but I am even more grateful to remain your fellow member. The title may change, but the mission does not. HMA has enriched my life in countless ways, and I look forward to continuing to serve the organization and community that have given me so much.
Greig Ashurst
National Board President
