Copper A
Please register for the festival before selecting your workshops.
- You can choose up to three workshops.
- Workshop registration opens on February 1, 2025 and closes on May 24, 2025.
- Workshop registration is on a first come, first serve basis.
- We are still adding workshops, so check back to see what is new.
- You can cancel your registration in a workshop up to 14 days before the festival.
- Wait lists are enabled. If there is a cancellation you may be added, depending on your position in the wait list.
Friday, June 6 - 1:30pm to 2:30pm
Warmups / Rehearsal Techniques
Effective handbell rehearsals require thoughtful structure and tailored exercises to strengthen ensemble skills. This workshop introduces uniform exercises designed to develop technical and rhythmic coordination, ensuring a unified sound. Discover practical strategies for efficient time management, skill-specific drills, and fostering ensemble cohesion. Participants will leave with adaptable techniques to enhance rehearsal experience in their own ensembles.
Emily Li
Emily Li stands as a globally acclaimed handbell virtuoso from Burlington as a conductor, composer, soloist, and educator with over 25 years of experience. She ignited a deep passion for the instrument since 1986. Over the past 20 years, Emily has refined her handbell expertise in the United States, studying under esteemed masters.
She believes in the importance of a strong foundation in handbell training, and her passion lies in fostering comprehensive growth through handbell ringing. As the founder of the Hong Kong Handbell Academy, Hong Kong Youth Handbell Ensemble, and Handbell Association of Hong Kong, she has significantly popularized handbell ringing through festivals, global tours, and professional training.
Emily has been a distinguished faculty member and conductor at pivotal handbell events across Asia, Europe, North America, and Australia, including Distinctly Bronze East of Handbell Musicians of America (2024), International Handbell Symposiums (2012- 2024), and Festivals by the Alberta and Manitoba Guild of English Handbell Ringers (2024).
Read & Ring
For the Copper A ringer who just wants to ring. Read and ring through a variety of Level 1+ to Level 2 music. Bell positions are not assigned and ringers should come prepared to ring whatever position is open. (14)
Helen Coxon
Helen Coxon has been a ringer with Royal York Road United Church ‘Jubellation’ handbell choir in Toronto since its inception in 1999, and has directed the group since 2008. Helen works at the Royal Ontario Museum. Her spare time is used volunteering as Administrator for the Orpheus Choir of Toronto, feeding her menfolk, and caring for two mini-schnauzers. She is also into making beaded jewelry, and is currently on the OGEHR Board of Directors.
Weaving
Fringe Benefits: Ringers Who Can Weave
This introductory workshop will demonstrate how to make bell switches smoothly and quickly so you can ring accidentals with ease. Using one of five basic weaving patterns and their variations, you will learn how to move your body to avoid crossing hands, how to damp while weaving, and how to pass a bell to another ringer when navigating a difficult passage. (15)
John-Charles (J.-C.) Coolen
J.-C. Coolen , an active participant and leader in the Greater Toronto handbell community, has been ringing since 1989 and directing since 1998. One of the founding members of The Bronze Foundation, he has served as its Director since 2005. Since 2018, he has also directed Bronze Foundation Academy. This year marks his 25th year directing Bells of Bowmanville at the Bowmanville Seventh-day Adventist Church. For 13 years, he served as a member of the Board of Directors and Membership Secretary for OGEHR, including time as President. He has also served as Ontario District Coordinator for Area 2 of the HMA.
Mohawk Campus Tour
Tour Mohawk College’s main Fennell campus in Hamilton
The Fennell campus is the largest of four campuses/ten learning sites in the Hamilton, Burlington, Brantford area. Visit some of the student spaces including the beautiful 1,000 seat performance centre, the Digital Creativity Centre, the Joyce Centre for Productivity and Innovation which is Canada’s first dual certified “net-zero” building, the library, Indigenous spaces and more (time dependant).
Along the way find out a bit of the history of Mohawk which was opened as Ontario’s Provincial Textiles Institute in 1947. The tour will be led by Ron McKerlie, the former President of Mohawk College and/or a Mohawk staff member. (24)
Ron J. McKerlie
Ron McKerlie retired in 2024 after serving for 10 years as President and CEO of Mohawk College and the Mohawk College Foundation. Ron currently serves as a Special Advisor to the Board of Mohawk College, as well as serving as Director on several other Boards.
Dutch Blitz
Get Your Social Game On!
Are you an experienced ringer who has done most of the handbell workshops available? Maybe you are a ringer that just wants to have fun and meet people from around the province. This is your workshop!
Sign up and join Clara and Maddy in the Arnie (our social centre) to learn how to play Dutch Blitz. Dutch Blitz is a fast paced, family friendly card game, where players race to get rid of their 10 card Blitz pile.
Get to know people from around the province as you spend an enjoyable hour playing cards! (24)
Have a look at a game in action!
Clara Tuckey & Maddy Lang
Both Clara and Maddy began ringing in London, Ontario when they were quite young. Clara currently rings with the Jubilate Bells in London and Maddy is with the St. Andrew's Bells in Ottawa. They have both been to numerous festivals and are accomplished ringers. When they are at festivals they love to have fun! This workshop is intended to let ringers get to know more of their colloquies from around the province in a fun, social way!
Sign up and have some fun!
Mohawk Campus Tour
Tour Mohawk College’s main Fennell campus in Hamilton
The Fennell campus is the largest of four campuses/ten learning sites in the Hamilton, Burlington, Brantford area. Visit some of the student spaces including the beautiful 1,000 seat performance centre, the Digital Creativity Centre, the Joyce Centre for Productivity and Innovation which is Canada’s first dual certified “net-zero” building, the library, Indigenous spaces and more (time dependant).
Along the way find out a bit of the history of Mohawk which was opened as Ontario’s Provincial Textiles Institute in 1947. The tour will be led by Ron McKerlie, the former President of Mohawk College and/or a Mohawk staff member. (24)
Ron J. McKerlie
Ron McKerlie retired in 2024 after serving for 10 years as President and CEO of Mohawk College and the Mohawk College Foundation. Ron currently serves as a Special Advisor to the Board of Mohawk College, as well as serving as Director on several other Boards.
Saturday, June 7 - 9:45am to 10:45am
Mallet Mania
This practical workshop will cover the basics of how to grip mallets, which mallets to use, and where to strike the bell. You will learn how to mallet evenly and smoothly using single and multiple bells, how to transition back and forth between bells and mallets, and how to play suspended mallets with precision. Additional techniques will include mallet rolls, suspended malleting with multiple bells, and tips on maintaining a steady tempo in lengthy malleted passages. (20)
Dominique Moreau
Dominique is a percussionist, conductor and teacher based in the Ottawa Area. As a percussionist, Dominique plays with ensembles such as the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra and is half of the percussion duo Bangers and Smash. He coaches young percussionists privately and at the Ottawa Youth Orchestra Academy. As a conductor, Dominique directs the St. Andrew's Ringers and his middle school's concert band, among others. As a ringer, Dominique plays with members of St. Andrew's Ringers in smaller ensembles and takes part in as many handbell events as he can!
Intro to Four-In-Hand
Two bells in each hand are worth four on the table…
Have you ever run out of hands before you run out of assigned bells? Do you agonize over what to do with that ONE stray F# in measure 24 when your hands are already full? Have you ever needed to “add the upper octave”? Is your choir short of ringers and needs help to fill all the positions? The not-so-magical art of Four-In-Hand Ringing can help in each of these situations and many more. Useful to choir ringers as well as solo and ensemble ringers, the techniques of Four-In-Hand ringing can add playability and musicality in a wide variety of situations. Ringers are asked to bring 4 bells from C6 and higher. (16)
heather nicholson
heather nicholson has been ringing since 1992. She has been a founding member of The Bells of St. Andrew’s (Scarborough), The Bronze Foundation (Toronto), Alloy Fusion (Cobourg), and Quintessence Handbell Ensemble (Scarborough). She has performed and taught at local, regional, national, and international handbell events across North America. heather was Editor of OGEHR’s “Clapper Chatter” newsletter for more than 10 years, and has served on numerous event committees. She is currently OGEHR’s Central East Area Representative. heather is a renowned handbell soloist and has three solo handbell arrangements in publication with Sonology Music, AGEHR Publishing, and From the Top Music.
Rhythmic Ensemble in Bell Choirs
Getting it together
The bell choir has many moving parts and yet in performance the goal is to sound like a single instrument. This is accomplished through “rhythmic ensemble” or playing together precisely. Come and explore techniques that can help ringers achieve a cleaner more unified sound. (22)
John-Charles (J.-C.) Coolen
J.-C. Coolen, an active participant and leader in the Greater Toronto handbell community, has been ringing since 1989 and directing since 1998. One of the founding members of The Bronze Foundation, he has served as its Director since 2005. Since 2018, he has also directed Bronze Foundation Academy. This year marks his 25th year directing Bells of Bowmanville at the Bowmanville Seventh-day Adventist Church. For 13 years, he served as a member of the Board of Directors and Membership Secretary for OGEHR, including time as President. He has also served as Ontario District Coordinator for Area 2 of the HMA.
Chime After Chime
Hand chimes have a unique and captivating sound all their own. Their mellow tone adds colour and texture to music and provides an attractive contrast to the open sound of the handbell. Hand chimes are not just skinny handbells and bell ringing techniques are not always appropriate for playing chimes. This workshop will describe what hand chimes can and cannot do, demonstrate proper technique, and include suggestions on how to incorporate chimes into your handbell program. (20)
Shirley Reinders
Shirley has rung handbells for over 30 years with Knox Bells of Praise at Knox Presbyterian Church, Meaford. She also enjoys playing piano, singing in choirs and, along with her husband, hosting their four children and their families.
Dutch Blitz
Get Your Social Game On!
Are you an experienced ringer who has done most of the handbell workshops available? Maybe you are a ringer that just wants to have fun and meet people from around the province. This is your workshop!
Sign up and join Clara and Maddy in the Arnie (our social centre) to learn how to play Dutch Blitz. Dutch Blitz is a fast paced, family friendly card game, where players race to get rid of their 10 card Blitz pile.
Get to know people from around the province as you spend an enjoyable hour playing cards! (24)
Have a look at a game in action!
Clara Tuckey & Maddy Lang
Both Clara and Maddy began ringing in London, Ontario when they were quite young. Clara currently rings with the Jubilate Bells in London and Maddy is with the St. Andrew's Bells in Ottawa. They have both been to numerous festivals and are accomplished ringers. When they are at festivals they love to have fun! This workshop is intended to let ringers get to know more of their colloquies from around the province in a fun, social way!
Sign up and have some fun!
Saturday, June 7 - 3pm to 4pm
Handbell and Handchime Maintenance
Come learn or refresh your memory on how to keep your handbells and handchimes in optimal ringing form, from how to clean them to making adjustments so they are free from ringing problems. This workshop will review basic maintenance techniques and procedures. Feel free to bring a misbehaving bell or chime to the class to have addressed.
Barbara Peaker
Barbara has been ringing and directing handbells for close to 15 years. She has rung with and directed both children's and adult choirs in the Alliston and Orangeville areas. She is the owner of Hear Them Ring, a handbell accessory and maintenance company based near Barrie, Ontario. When she’s not spending time with her two young daughters, she enjoys solo handbell ringing at Westminster United Church in Orangeville, Ontario.
Getting Started with a New Piece of Music
Starting a new piece of music is like heading out on a road trip. This workshop will give you some guidelines on interpreting that new score and identifying the elements you may want to note when you mark your part. (30)
Janet McDonald
Janet has been a Director of the Limestone Ringers in Kingston since 1995. She has a BA with a major in Music, a BA in Music Education, and a MA in Choral Conducting. Janet was the Director of Kindermusik for 15 years and the Conductor of the Pro Arte Singers of Kingston. She enjoys singing and has been in many choirs from 9 years of age, until the present.
Questions? Please contact festivalchair@ogehr.ca