Distinctly Bronze West

February 25-28, 2010
Bremerton, Washington
Rehearsals & Concert: Kitsap Conference Center 
Lodging: Hampton Inn & Suites 

General Information

Distinctly Bronze West 2010 is 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. Since 1998, this event has been under the masterful direction of Maestro David Davidson. In September of 2009, Jason Wells was named music director for the event when Maestro Davidson lost his battle with cancer.   Rehearsals Thursday, February 25 through Sunday, February 28, lead up to the Sunday afternoon concert which is open to the public.  In 2009, our first year west, that Sunday afternoon concert drew over 400 attendees from the Bremerton/Seattle area.

The 2010 event returns to the Kitsap Conference Center which is located on the Sinclair Bay waterfront of the Puget Sound in Bremerton, Washington – a short ferry ride from Seattle. The Kitsap Conference Center features a ballroom for our rehearsals and concert that boasts wonderful views of the Bremerton waterfront and a variety of restaurants within easy walking distance.

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 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

For complete details on the registration process for first-time and returning attendees, see the section on Registration

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LODGING

The Hampton Inn & Suites is located just steps away from the Conference Center and within easy walking distance of restaurants and the Bremerton-Seattle Ferry Terminal. Its 105 guest rooms feature complimentary high-speed internet and breathtaking views overlooking Sinclair Bay.  A hot breakfast is included with your room.

Room rates at the Hampton Inn & Suites are $94 per night for single and double rooms.  Triple and quad rooms, as well as suites, will incur additional charges.  To make your reservation, call the Hampton at 360-405-0200 and indicate that you are with the American Guild of English Handbell Ringers (be sure to use this full name so the agent can find our group.)  Our block will be held until February 8, 2010 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.

Hotel Address:  Hampton Inn & Suites, 150 Washington Avenue, Bremerton, WA  98337

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REGISTRATION

The registration fee for this year’s event is $250. 

In addition to working with Jason Wells, your registration fee includes one meal, a 2010 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.

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.

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!

First-time Attendees  
If 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 two references that have observed you ringing within the past year 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 FORMS & RECOMMENDATIONS are received by the national office.

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
• Payment in full (includes a $100 non-refundable 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
• Payment in full (includes a $100 non-refundable 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
• Once all your required application forms and documents have been received and you’ve been accepted into the event,   the National Office will process your deposit payment and send you a receipt acknowledging that payment.  THIS IS YOUR CONFIRMATION.  If you DO NOT receive this confirmation, it is your responsibility to follow up with the National Office to make sure your application has been received.
• November 15, 2009 – Bell assignments will be sent to all accepted registrants that have paid in full
• February 8, 2010 – 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.
Cancellation policy & refunds
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 1/25/10.

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 DBW2010 recording at no charge if you cancel.

Fee refunds minus the $100 deposit will be made for written or email cancellations received by 12/1/09 Cancellations received by 1/25/10 will be refunded 50% of registration fee less deposit; after 1/25/10 registration is not refundable.  See the table below for specific amounts.

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SCHOLARSHIP

Congratulations to Linda Noss of Nashua, New Hampshire, for being selected as the recipient of the Willam Griffin Scholarship to attend Distnctly Bronze West.

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REPERTOIRE (updated 12/15/09)

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SCHEDULE

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Attendee Information

Registered attendees can find their ringing assignment and initial floor position here. Please keep in mind that while your ringing assignment will stay the same, your positon on the floor (i.e. the row you are in) will be fluid through the event. Jason Wells will make adjustments through the week so that by concert time, we will have a fit around the room that complements each ringing style and creates a stunning visual display of our art during our performance.

Follow this link to a list of notes and possible problem solvers for ringers at the event.

Due to the success of the silent auction for the past several years, we will again hold a silent auction during Distinctly Bronze. Proceeds from the auction will equally benefit the William H. Griffin Scholarship Fund and the David R. Davidson Composition Fund. Think about a unique item that you might like to have yourself - bell-related or not - and bring it along to contribute to the auction. Bidding will be held between Thursday evening and Saturday evening. Those who are the successful high bidders on any item can pay for the items by check, cash or credit card. This is always a fun activity with occasionally some spirited bidding wars - so get involved. Any chance Fred's pants can attend?

We will also have drawings again before rehearsals for a limited number of door prizes so if you have any trinkets, CD's, bags of candy, etc. (again, something you would like to have yourself, but of lesser value than the silent auction items) to donate to the door prizes, please bring them along. All items can be brought in on Thursday morning when you check in at the Convention Center

• Original copies of all the repertoire
• Black, split-back notebook for the music - please PRE-PUNCH your music
• Mallets appropriate for your assigned position
• Dowels if your position uses the singing bell technique (watch for notes on Kingsfold)
• Gloves for rehearsing and BLACK GLOVES for the concert on Sunday
• Black skirt or slacks for the concert - your DB West 10 Polo Shirt will complete your concert dress
• Polishing cloth to keep your bells clean
• Music stand or riser if you prefer to use one - floor stands will be provided for the low bass tables (below C4)
• Band-Aids or moleskin if you will need that with multiple hours and days of ringing
• Items for the Silent Auction and door prizes
• Checkbook, credit card or cash to pay for any Silent Auction items you win!
• C#7's if you were asked to bring duplicates
• Floor stands if you offered to bring them

The dress code for rehearsals is casual and comfortable. Several layers are always a good idea so you have some options. Comfortable shoes are essential for long rehearsals. Seattle weather can be unpredictable so be sure to check forecasts before the event.   Averages are high 40's during the day and mid 30"s at night. Umbrella, warm coat, hat, gloves, and boots might be in order.

If you have attended DB in the past, please wear the polo shirt from the first DB you attended on Saturday,  2/27. If you are a first time attendee at this event, please wear your favorite handbell shirt on Saturday.

If you're arriving on Wed before 9:00 PM, we can use your assistance with the event set-up.   Please stop by the Kitsap Center to pitch in. Think of it as a warm-up for all the rehearsals to come!

On site registration will begin on Thursday Feb 25 at 10:00 AM in the Kitsap Convention Center and will continue until 2:00 PM. Donations for the Silent Auction and door prizes may be brought to the Convention Center at this time.

Welcome and opening announcements will begin at 2:00 pm. You should be in your seats at your ringing position then. The first rehearsal is scheduled to begin at 2:30 pm - or may begin a little earlier if we are all ready.

If you are arriving on Thursday close to the event starting time, please come directly to the Convention Center with your luggage. You will have an opportunity to check into the hotel at 5:00 pm. Please do not delay coming to the opening in order to check into your room.   Remember, fewer meals are provided this year (just lunch on Sunday) so check out your options ahead of time.

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Transportation

There are several options for transportation from SEA-TAC Airport to the Kitsap Conference Center and the event hotel.

If you do not have a car, your best option is to take the ferry from Seatle to Bremerton. You can find schedule, cost and other details here. The route you are looking for is Seatle (Main) to Bremerton.

You have a few options to get you from SEA-TAC Airport to the Seattle Main Ferry Terminal at Pier 52 in downtown Seattle.

1. Taxi to the Terminal - approximate cost is $40-50 one-way
2. Sound Transit Light Rail - The Light Rail is now open from SEA-TAC to downtown Seattle. The closest stop to the Ferry Terminal is about a 5-block walk. See more details on the Sound Transit website.
3. Shuttle Express offers shuttle service directly to Pier 52 and the Seatlle Main Ferry Terminal. Details are available here.

Also, be sure to check the DBWest Message Boards for information about those seeking shared rides or group deals with the above options.

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