February 12-15, 2009
Bremerton, WA
Kitsap Conference Center

General Information

What is Distinctly Bronze?   We’re excited that you are considering attending Distinctly Bronze 2009 – an event which is thrilling and challenging, fun and intense, exhausting and invigorating.  This massed ringing event for advanced ringers offers the unique opportunity to perform on the largest sets of handbells available.  Maestro David Davidson is the director for this event.  Rehearsals Thursday through Sunday lead up to the Sunday afternoon concert.  Registration is limited to 114 ringers.

How do I attend?  All DB attendees must be accepted to attend.  The acceptance process includes submission of a ringer information sheet, as well as two recommendations from ringing or directing colleagues. Distinctly Bronze is an event for experienced, capable ringers. That doesn’t mean you must be ringing in a super-bronze choir and sight-reading level six music; simply, Distinctly Bronze IS NOT about teaching notes and techniques. Instead, it IS a place to work on musicianship, to create an exciting concert, and to ring repertoire you might not have the opportunity to explore at home.

Successful Distinctly Bronze Ringers have the following traits:

• Committed to learning all of the music on their own.  Learning means being beyond the notes – you know where the musical line is and can see the overall picture.
• Learns quickly
• Understands that the music is more important than the individual
• Has experience with music approaching the difficulty of the DB repertoire (difficulty of at least AGEHR level 4)
• Has the stamina, energy and attention for lengthy rehearsals during the 4.5 days of the event
• Has good rehearsal etiquette – is prompt & cheerful
• Has self-awareness to realize when he/she “is the problem” (as in playing wrong rhythm, wrong bell, wrong dynamic, not following the director), and, without prompting or comment from anyone, either remedies the problem or sits out that passage
• Understands that ringing is a collaborative effort.   All the notes must be able to be rung musically.  This may require sharing bells with neighbors or giving one or more bells to a different ringer for an entire piece.
• Is open to constructive comments
• Doesn’t crumble under performance pressure

First-time attendees ask directing and ringing colleagues to submit recommendations based on first-hand observations, you are also asked to submit a ringer information form.  Please see the “First Time Attendee” information below for more details. 

Alumni in good standing merely submit a Registration Form, Handbell Assignment Preference Form and deposit. 

All completed applications are processed as they are received until the available slots are filled. 

Registrants are required to be affiliated with an active AGEHR membership—either personally or through a church or organization.  If you are uncertain if your organization holds an active AGEHR membership, please call the national office at 800-878-5459.  To join AGEHR follow this link or contact the national office for assistance.

Where do we meet? We are starting a new tradition with the addition of a west-coast venue in Bremerton, Washington.  The Kitsap Conference Center at Bremerton Harbor is located on the Puget Sound just a 45 minute ferry ride from downtown Seattle.  Opened in 2004, the Kitsap Center is part of a unique waterfront development that includes retail outlets, restaurants and hotel accommodations.  Bremerton, home to the Kitsap Conference Center, is nestled between the natural beauty of the Olympic Mountains and the skyscrapers of downtown Seattle.

Where will we stay? The Hampton Inn & Suites Bremerton is located on the Bremerton waterfront right next to the Kitsap Conference Center.  Your accommodations include a hot, buffet breakfast, complimentary high-speed internet access and the “Cloud Nine” Hampton bed experience.  Rooms will fill quickly, so make your reservations early.

Room rates at the Hampton Inn are $94 per night for single and double rooms.  Triple and quad rooms will incur additional charges.  To make reservations, call 360-405-0200 and ask for the AGEHR rate.  You may begin making reservations immediately.  Our block will be held until January 28, 2009 or until it is full.  Room blocks for Distinctly Bronze tend to fill quickly, so make your reservations as soon as possible.

The hotel requires a credit card to hold the room.  Reservations may be cancelled up to 24 hours prior to your scheduled check-in date.  Check-in time is 3:00 PM however special arrangements for early check-in can be made if rooms are available.  Check-out time is 12:00 PM.

Registration Costs & What Is Included “Resident” participants utilizing the Hampton Inn & Suites (Thursday through Saturday nights) pay a registration fee of $295. For those who make lodging arrangements elsewhere for any of the event nights (Thursday-Saturday), the “non-resident” registration fee is $345. In addition to working with David Davidson, your registration fee includes three meals, a 2009 Distinctly Bronze West Polo Shirt, and a recording of the final concert. You also have the opportunity to ring with talented colleagues and network with other friendly AGEHR members. Additional meals, polo shirts or CDs can be ordered by completing the appropriate line on the Registration Form.

First-time Attendees  If after reading all this information you would like to apply to attend Distinctly Bronze, please follow these steps:

1. Submit your Registration Form, Handbell Assignment Preference Form, and deposit with an active AGEHR membership number to the AGEHR office ASAP.  Your deposit will be returned if you are not accepted.
2. Fill out the Ringer Information sheet and submit it to the National Office as directed on the form.
3. Contact your references and ask them to fill out the Ringer Recommendation Form and submit it to the National Office as directed on the form.  YOU ARE THE ONLY PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING THAT YOUR TWO RECOMMENDATIONS ARE RECEIVED.  You will not be contacted if your recommendations are not received in a timely manner.
4. Please note that no applications will be considered until ALL OF THE ABOVE are received by the national office.

Ringing Assignments are based on your position in the registration sequence and your response to the Ringing Assignments form.  Ringing assignments will NOT be confirmed until full payment for the event has been received.   You are expected to rehearse the music before you arrive in Bremerton – our time together is for making music, not learning notes!

Distinctly Bronze CD Recording A quality digital recording of the final concert will be made again this year.  Your registration includes one CD that will be mailed to you after the event.

The repertoire list will be sent to you this fall, and you are responsible for purchasing and rehearsing the music.  Repertoire notes regarding problem solving, corrections and other items may be sent at various times before the event.

Schedule

Repertoire

The following has been selected as the repertoire for the event. We will update catalog numbers and purchasing instructions as information becomes available. Unless indicated otherwise, all music can be purchased from your regular handbell music retailer.

*New or not currently available.  More information will be provided as soon as it is available.
**This piece can be purchased through the AGEHR national office for $3.00 per copy.  Once payment is received, a PDF of the piece will be e-mailed to you.
*** Available directly from Peal Publishing at www.pealpublishing.com now or from your handbell retailer soon.

Deposit & Cancellation

A $100 deposit is required to enter your registration. That deposit is refundable only when:

• A first time applicant is not accepted
• An individual on the wait list is not offered a slot, or declines a slot offered after 1/15/09.

CANCELLATION POLICY AND REFUNDS This policy applies to refunds for ANY reason, including medical, family and business.   This policy applies even if we fill your slot with another ringer.  If you desire, you can receive a copy of the DBW2009 recording at no charge if you cancel.

Fee refunds minus the $100 deposit will be made for written or email cancellations received by 12/15/08.  Cancellations received by 1/15/09 will be refunded 50% of registration fee less deposit; after 1/15/09, registration is not refundable.  See the table below for specific amounts.

Registration Forms & Due Dates

Distinctly Bronze Alumni
The following items are due as soon as possible and should be sent to the national office in one packet:

• Registration Form
• Handbell Assignment Preferences
• $100 Deposit

First Time Attendees
The following are due as soon as possible and should be sent to the national office in one packet:

• Registration Form
• Handbell Assignment Preferences
• Ringer Information Form
• $100 Deposit

The following should be sent to the national office by your references as soon as possible after your registration packet is sent:

• 2 Ringer Recommendations from a handbell director or colleague

Your application will not be considered until all information is received.  You are responsible for insuring that recommendations are sent to the national office on your behalf.

All Registrants
Please make note of the following important dates and deadlines:

• Two weeks following receipt of all required forms – Alumni will be notified of acceptance to the event
• Three weeks following receipt of all required forms, including recommendations – First Time applicants will be notified of acceptance to the event
• November 15, 2008 – Final payment is due to the national office
• November 30, 2008 – Bell assignments will be sent to all accepted registrants that have paid in full
• January 28, 2009 – Last day to reserve a room at the Hampton Inn & Suites, if space is available.

All items should be sent to the national office by fax (937-438-0434), e-mail (viverson@agehr.org), or regular mail (1055 E. Centerville Station Road, Dayton, OH  45459).  PLEASE NOTE – NO APPLICATIONS WILL BE CONSIDERED UNTIL ALL REQUIRED FORMS AND DEPOSIT ARE RECEIVED BY THE NATIONAL OFFICE.

Additional Information

Ringer Evaluation    DB is unique in the skill and commitment of our ringers.   Every year, ringer event comments urge us to preserve and improve the level of ringing. To this end, all DB ringers are evaluated each year, and placed in one of three categories.  Those awarded Alumni status are automatically accepted at a future DB event.  Others may receive a warning letter which, while allowing the ringer to be accepted at a future DB event, outlines areas of improvement which would need to be evident at the ringer’s next DB appearance.  Finally, ringers whose preparation or skills were not deemed acceptable will be asked to reapply to attend any future DB event.

Event Communication  Electronic communication is the easiest and quickest way for important event information to be shared. The preferred communication route for DBW2009 will be through e-mail and a password protected message board on www.agehr.org. You will receive an email confirmation once your registration is complete and accepted that includes your password to this private section of our web site.  If you do not receive confirmation of your registration within a reasonable amount of time, please check with the AGEHR office - 800-878-5459 or by e-mail at viverson@agehr.org

Things to Bring   It is your responsibility to bring the following:

• Black, split-back notebook for music – please pre-punch your music
• Mallets appropriate for your assigned position
• Multiple pairs of gloves for rehearsing and black gloves for performance
• Band-Aids and moleskin (optional)
• A carpet square to stand on (optional)
• Music stand or riser – if you prefer using one
• Polishing cloth to keep your bells clean

Dress   For rehearsals, casual and comfortable attire is suggested, and layers are a good idea.  Make sure your shoes will allow you to stand during long rehearsals.  Rain is always a possibility!

Concert dress will be your 2009 Distinctly Bronze West Polo Shirt and appropriate black skirt or slacks. Black gloves will be used for the concert.

Meals   Your registration includes the following meals: Thursday night dinner, Saturday lunch, and Sunday lunch.   You have many options for other meals - there are many restaurants within walking distance of the conference center and hotel.

Will I need a car? Probably not!  As noted above, there are many restaurants within walking distance of the conference center and hotel. And, to be honest, our busy rehearsal schedule doesn’t give you much time to venture too far.  As for that precious free time on Friday, there are several options within a short walk.  Information regarding these options is available at www.ci.bremerton.wa.us

Getting to Bremerton If you are driving to the event, directions to the Kitsap Conference Center are available at www.kitsapconferencecenter.com/directions.php.

If you are traveling by air, you should fly into the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.  From there, you have a couple of options:

1. Bremerton-Kitsap Airporter Shuttle - Advance reservations are required and can be made by calling 800-562-7948.  When making the reservation, be sure to tell the agent that you are staying at the Hampton Inn & Suites in Bremerton and provide your hotel confirmation number.  This is not a regular stop on the shuttle, but special arrangements can be made if you already have a reservation at the hotel.  You must have your reservation confirmed at the hotel before you arrange for the shuttle.  Cost for this shuttle is $22 one-way.

2. Seattle-Bremerton Ferry – The Seattle-Bremerton Ferry Terminal is literally steps away from the Kitsap Center and the Hampton Inn & Suites.  To take the ferry, you must take a taxi from the airport to the Seattle Ferry Terminal in downtown Seattle.  Cab fare should be about $28.  The cost for the ferry is $7 one-way.  The ferry trip across the Puget Sound is about 45 minutes.  You can also take the ferry if you decide to rent a car after arriving in Seattle.

Event activities will begin on Thursday, February 12 at 12:30 PM.  Registration will open at 10:00 AM.  The event will conclude Sunday, February 15 at approximately 6:30 PM.  Please plan your travel accordingly.