by Jill Fedon
Have you ever had one of those days where you just want to go home and crawl under the covers, and then you remember you have a rehearsal? And you go, because you are a handbell musician, and you know the importance of showing up. And as it turns out, rehearsal was exactly what you needed.
Jill Fedon
National Board President
I have a confession. I’ve had a year (or four) of wanting to crawl under the covers. I struggled to get excited for my rehearsals and even coming to Seminar this year. The reasons don’t matter but it’s me, not you. What kept me going each time was knowing that once I arrived, my soul was going to be fed in a way no other conference or activity has ever accomplished. Because when handbell musicians gather in one place, it’s magic.
You—we—are magic.
From the buzz of Handbell Commons to the laughter at the hotel bar after the evening concert. From meeting new friends and connecting with old friends that see each other only once or a few times a year. From learning new skills in classes to relearning skill and ideas with a new perspective. From ideas, collaboration, encouraging words and decades of experience shared, to inspired concerts and the powerfully moving words from their directors. Magic.
From podcasts, choir tours, YouTube videos, and helpful threads on Facebook to workshops, events, and festivals all sharing our passion of this unique instruments that has the power to unite people across the planet. From programs that are thriving and evolving our artform to the choir director standing on their head to get ringers to join their choir and keep a program alive. Magic.
Handbell Musicians of America has been through a lot over the past few years, but I believe our community, our artform, and our organization are all the stronger for it. We still have work to do but I have much hope for our future. Thank you for being a member of Handbell Musicians of America, for sharing your stories and your passion, and for your partnership in working to fulfill the mission of Handbell Musicians of America. Thank you for sharing your magic in your corner of the world.
I would like to take this final opportunity to thank the board class of 2020-2023. We had a unique and challenging experience. We only had the opportunity to gather together in person twice during our three years together, one time being Seminar in Irving, Texas. We began in the middle of a global pandemic with an Interim Executive Director (thank you, Ed Rollins!). The board’s vision became a bit more near-sighted as we functioned in survival mode to ensure the future of Handbell Musicians of America. I am proud of the work we have done together and the initiatives we’ve started, and I look forward to the continuation of that work in the coming years. We made it through those difficult times together, and gained our fabulous new Executive Director, Linda Onorevole. She is just getting started and I am extremely grateful for her expertise and hard work on behalf of Handbell Musicians of America.
For their dedication, wisdom, passion, time, talents, laughter, tough questions, and tougher answers, and all the Zoom meetings, thank you. Thank you to Incoming President Greig Ashurst, Bill Mathis, Linda Minnotte, Carlos E. Rivera-Aponte, Tracey Bowers, and Gillian Erlenborn. It has been an absolute honor to serve this organization with you. You are magic.
Jill Fedon
I have a confession. I’ve had a year (or four) of wanting to crawl under the covers. I struggled to get excited for my rehearsals and even coming to Seminar this year. The reasons don’t matter but it’s me, not you. What kept me going each time was knowing that once I arrived, my soul was going to be fed in a way no other conference or activity has ever accomplished. Because when handbell musicians gather in one place, it’s magic.
You—we—are magic.
From the buzz of Handbell Commons to the laughter at the hotel bar after the evening concert. From meeting new friends and connecting with old friends that see each other only once or a few times a year. From learning new skills in classes to relearning skill and ideas with a new perspective. From ideas, collaboration, encouraging words and decades of experience shared, to inspired concerts and the powerfully moving words from their directors. Magic.
From podcasts, choir tours, YouTube videos, and helpful threads on Facebook to workshops, events, and festivals all sharing our passion of this unique instruments that has the power to unite people across the planet. From programs that are thriving and evolving our artform to the choir director standing on their head to get ringers to join their choir and keep a program alive. Magic.
Handbell Musicians of America has been through a lot over the past few years, but I believe our community, our artform, and our organization are all the stronger for it. We still have work to do but I have much hope for our future. Thank you for being a member of Handbell Musicians of America, for sharing your stories and your passion, and for your partnership in working to fulfill the mission of Handbell Musicians of America. Thank you for sharing your magic in your corner of the world.
I would like to take this final opportunity to thank the board class of 2020-2023. We had a unique and challenging experience. We only had the opportunity to gather together in person twice during our three years together, one time being Seminar in Irving, Texas. We began in the middle of a global pandemic with an Interim Executive Director (thank you, Ed Rollins!). The board’s vision became a bit more near-sighted as we functioned in survival mode to ensure the future of Handbell Musicians of America. I am proud of the work we have done together and the initiatives we’ve started, and I look forward to the continuation of that work in the coming years. We made it through those difficult times together, and gained our fabulous new Executive Director, Linda Onorevole. She is just getting started and I am extremely grateful for her expertise and hard work on behalf of Handbell Musicians of America.
For their dedication, wisdom, passion, time, talents, laughter, tough questions, and tougher answers, and all the Zoom meetings, thank you. Thank you to Incoming President Greig Ashurst, Bill Mathis, Linda Minnotte, Carlos E. Rivera-Aponte, Tracey Bowers, and Gillian Erlenborn. It has been an absolute honor to serve this organization with you. You are magic.
Jill Fedon
Jill Fedon
National Board President
