Kyle Webber: Thoughts on the Associate Conductor Program

Kyle Webber was the 2018 Area 5 Associate Conductor and worked with Conductor Brenda E. Austin at the Spring Festival in Charleston, West Virginia. He had this to say about his experience: “The Area 5 Associate Conductor [Program] was a truly remarkable...

Letter from the Chair

Greetings members of Area 5! I am so pleased to be once again acting as the Chair for our five-state area! I know of so many wonderful programs and musicians in Area 5 and I am certain that we will help create more over the next two years. I would like to thank my...

Brenda E. Austin: Reflecting on the Associate Conductor Program

Brenda E. Austin was Area 5’s Associate Conductor for 2017 and worked with clinician David Weck at the Spring Festivals in Covington, Kentucky and Lansing, Michigan. She recently had this to say about her experience: “The Area 5 Associate Conductor program...

Joe Galyon: Reflections from the 2016 Spring Handbell Festival

John Maxwell once said “A leader who produces other leaders multiplies their influences.” I believe that the Area 5 Handbell Musicians of America board took bold steps toward that goal this spring with the launch of the Festival Associate Conductor program. While...

How an Area Festival Hooked Me into Handbells

I attended my very first Area 5 Festival in Spring 2006 in Akron, Ohio. And what an experience it was! The clinician was Dr. Bill Payn, and I was one of approximately 800 ringers in the room. Not kidding, it was huge. And I loved every minute. A rare moment of down...