Welcome to the Second Annual . . . 


Full Course

FIVE virtual sessions and ONE evening & full-day in-person masterclass

    • OGEHR members only
    • Fee: $250
    • Five mandatory virtual workshops
    • In-person masterclass: snacks on Friday evening and Saturday; lunch on Saturday
    • Mentoring and feedback from clinicians throughout the year

Space is limited to 10—deadline for registration Sept. 16, 2025

Individual Workshops

À la carte selection from FIVE virtual workshops and auditing the In-person conducting masterclass

    • Virtual workshops one to five: OGEHR members only, $25 each
    • Auditing the conducting masterclass: OGEHR members only $65. Includes audit of April 18, 2026 session only (includes lunch)

Space is unlimited—deadline for registration for each session is five days prior to start date

Hear what some of the participants in the 2023-2024 Directors Course had to say:

“I developed a deeper appreciation of how a handbell choir functions and of the complex and challenging role of the director. I look forward to sharing my experiences with others in my home choir and I believe that what I have learned from this workshop series will make me more of an asset to my home choir.“
–Anthony A.

"The Director's Course workshops presented by the Ontario Guild of English Handbell Ringers were amazing! Each workshop offered something not only needed to grow musically, but was also presented by talented and knowledgeable people. The weekend event was truly an outstanding experience, providing the opportunity to have a different group to stand in front of as a director, and be given positive feedback to improve conducting skills."
–Karen W.


Virtual Sessions:

Course TopicDate and TimeClinician 
 1. Handbell/Handchime Techniques Sept. 27, 2025, 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. Jeanette Caton
 2. Basic Conducting Oct. 25, 2025, 9:00 to 12:00 p.m. Dominique Moreau
 3. Running Efficient Rehearsals Nov. 22, 2025, 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. Lisa Kyriakides
 4. Advanced Conducting Jan. 24, 2026, 9:00 to 12:00 p.m. Dominique Moreau
 5. Choosing Repertoire & Assigning Ringers Feb. 28, 2026, 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. Lisa Kyriakides

In-Person Session:

 Course TopicDate and Time 
 Repertoire Masterclass Fri., April 17, 2026, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.
 Conducting Masterclass Sat., April 18, 2026, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Location: St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, 82 Kent St., Ottawa, ON K1P 5N9 (MAP)
Note: Potential to billet with a ringer on Friday night to save $

Cancellation Policy

Refunds for the full course will be allowed if notice of cancellation is received on or before Sept. 20, 2025 (one week prior to start date).

Refund for the individual workshops will be allowed if notice of cancellation is received on or before the Monday prior to the start date of each workshop.

Need more information? Email programs@ogehr.ca

Workshop Descriptions and Clinician Bios

1. Handbell/Handchime Techniques
Sept. 27, 2025, 9:00 to 11:00 a.m.

In this two-hour virtual session we will cover the following topics:

    • Ringing  bell
    • Damping
    • Basic stopped sounds
    • Malleting
    • Weaving
    • Ringing a chime
    • Damping, vibrato, stopped sounds on a chime
    • Four-in-hand
    • Technique questions

Please have with you, three regular sized bells, four small bells for four-in-hand, two chimes, and a set of mallets.

2. Basic Conducting
Oct. 25, 2025, 9:00 to 12:00 p.m.

In this two-hour virtual session we will look at:

    • Basic conducting patterns
    • Conducting motions—and the results they will get
    • Choosing the right motions
    • Tips and tricks on what to do and what not to do
    • How to practice conducting
    • You will get to try conducting and get feedback


3. Running Efficient Rehearsals
Nov. 22, 2025, 9:00 to 11:00 a.m.

In this two-hour virtual session we will cover the following topics:

    • Score study
    • Conducting style
    • Preparing for rehearsals
    • Creating rehearsal plans
    • General tips for running efficient rehearsals
    • Question time – bring your specific questions

4. Advanced Conducting
Jan. 24, 2026, 9:00 to 12:00 p.m.

In this two-hour virtual session we will cover the following topics:

  • Cueing
  • Dynamics and articulation
  • Tempo changes
  • Subdivisions
  • Complex and changing time signatures
  • (Multiple uses of) left hand

5. Choosing Repertoire & Assigning Ringers
Feb. 28, 2026, 9:00 to 11:00 a.m.

In this two-hour virtual session we will cover the following topics:

    • Planning for the "bigger picture"—a concert, season, or a year
    • Assessing the capabilities of ringers
    • Assigning ringers
    • Levels of music
    • Variety in programming
    • Busyness in the ensemble
    • Quality of music
    • Where to get music
    • Question time

Jeanette Caton

Bio to come

Dominique Moreau

Dominique is a percussionist and conductor based in Ottawa-Gatineau. Holder of a Masters Degree in Music from the University of Ottawa, he plays regularly with the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra and with other ensembles. He conducts the St. Andrew’s Ringers handbell choir and gives handbell workshops locally and at OGEHR festivals. As an educator, Dominique teaches music and directs the junior concert band at Gisèle-Lalonde High School in Ottawa and he coaches the percussionists of the Ottawa Youth Orchestra.

Lisa Kyriakides

Lisa Kyriakides is an experienced soloist, educator, musical director, conductor and adjudicator. She holds a Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Education Degrees from The University of Western Ontario. She is the director of the handbell program at Aurora United Church, is a member of the EmBellished handbell quartet, and has been a ringer in The Bronze Foundation ensemble since 2015. She has given many handbell workshops at OGEHR festivals and workshops and was one of the guest conductors at the 2019, 2023, and 2025 OGEHR Festivals. Lisa was chosen to be a Canadian Conductor at the 2022 International Handbell Symposium in Nashville and most recently was one of the conductors for Classic Bronze Calgary. Lisa is the Past-President of OGEHR and is on the Board of the Handbell Musicians of Canada.

Dominique Moreau

Dominique is a percussionist and conductor based in Ottawa-Gatineau. Holder of a Masters Degree in Music from the University of Ottawa, he plays regularly with the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra and with other ensembles. He conducts the St. Andrew’s Ringers handbell choir and gives handbell workshops locally and at OGEHR festivals. As an educator, Dominique teaches music and directs the junior concert band at Gisèle-Lalonde High School in Ottawa and he coaches the percussionists of the Ottawa Youth Orchestra.


Lisa Kyriakides

Lisa Kyriakides is an experienced soloist, educator, musical director, conductor and adjudicator. She holds a Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Education Degrees from The University of Western Ontario. She is the director of the handbell program at Aurora United Church, is a member of the EmBellished handbell quartet, and has been a ringer in The Bronze Foundation ensemble since 2015. She has given many handbell workshops at OGEHR festivals and workshops and was one of the guest conductors at the 2019, 2023, and 2025 OGEHR Festivals. Lisa was chosen to be a Canadian Conductor at the 2022 International Handbell Symposium in Nashville and most recently was one of the conductors for Classic Bronze Calgary. Lisa is the Past-President of OGEHR and is on the Board of the Handbell Musicians of Canada.


In-Person Sessions Description

Repertoire Masterclass

In this three-hour in-person cumulative session, each attendee will present rehearsal plans for two contrasting pieces of music. These plans will be discussed by the group and feedback will be given to each presenter. This will be an opportunity to learn from the other attendees and to discuss repertoire.

Conducting Masterclass

In this final all day cumulative in-person session, each attendee will have the opportunity to conduct a live handbell ensemble on two pieces of music. Conductors will receive feedback from the clinicians, fellow attendees, and ringers on their conducting techniques and styles. This is an excellent opportunity to get direct feedback and to learn from watching other’s conduct.

For those participants who are auditing this final session, this will give you an opportunity to see other conductors in action and to learn from the feedback they are given.


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