Notes
Articles By Ringers, For Ringers
More Than Just Fun
By Kim Ahlgrim
Why do I ring? This is a global question as well as a personal question. Approach a “group” with this question at most any bell event and you’ll get “it’s fun”, “it keeps me on my toes”, “it keeps me out of trouble,” “the people are great,” and on it goes! I agree with all of this. But, for me, it goes so much farther and so much deeper than these general, anticipated answers.
Have you ever had a day where you’ve thought, “thank goodness for bell rehearsal tonight?” It could be the payoff for making it through a tough day at work, or the need for some adult interaction after caring for young children all day, or the anticipation of getting into your “zone” with a particular piece of music. For me, at various times in my “bell life,” it’s been one or any combination of these. Then again, have you ever had a day when you’ve thought “I almost wish I didn’t have rehearsal tonight?” Work is crazy, I can’t make it to my child’s [fill-in-the-blank] event, I have a project due tomorrow, I’m in a stinky rotten mood and I don’t feel like going. And then, and then...rehearsal is over and you realize your breathing has slowed, your energy has gotten a jump-start, you can go home and really focus on the people there or the project that’s waiting or the hundred things on your to-do list and it’s all ok—because of bells! And, how about those wonderful, one-of-a-kind people (those dear persons we call fellow ringers) that you ring near and next to, share a hotel room (and a bathroom!) with during a ringing event, laugh till your stomach hurts with, cry till you have nothing left with, share your life with. And don’t even get me started with what a complete thrill it is to share a love of ringing with an audience and feel the energy and emotion of a piece just swirl around and through you. THAT’S why I ring! How about you?
—Kim Ahlgrim
A charter member of The Agape Ringers, based in the greater Chicagoland area, Kim has been ringing since 1986 in ensembles and as 1/4 of the quartet "Quadrille." She has just passed her licensure exam to practice physical therapy as a PTA and works in an outpatient clinic which she loves. Kim's daughter, Allison, lives and works in New York and her son, Nathan, is starting his first year at UNC Chapel Hill (only a 13 hour drive away!)
Downbeat
Two-Question Interviews with Handbell Notables
How did you first become Involved with the handbell community?
I have grown up ringing handbells. I began ringing handbells in 1964 and attended my first handbell festival (then called Convention) in Washington, D.C. in 1965. At that festival, we had a massed ringing rehearsal on the balconies of our hotel! I began directing a children’s handbell choir when I was in the 8th grade and have continued to conduct handbells since that time. The first bell choir I rang with was conducted by my Mother, Kathleen Reel, of Parkersburg, West Virginia. She arrived at a new organist/choirmaster job at the Presbyterian Church in 1963 and was greeted with unopened crates of Whitechapel handbells. Her predecessor said “Oh, I forgot to tell you that you will need to start a handbell choir.” While there might have been other handbell choirs in West Virginia at that time, Mother is sometimes referred to as the Grandmother of handbell ringing in West Virginia! Thanks to two wonderful mentors, Bill Griffin and David Davidson, I was asked to teach at nationals festivals in the 80s and shortly afterwards began conducting festivals. One of my greatest joys was the opportunity to serve the Guild as president of AGEHR during our 50th anniversary celebration and to represent AGEHR as conductor for the International Symposium in Toronto. In the words of a very famous athlete, handbells have been very, very good to me! I am thrilled with the new directions the Guild is heading, and I am excited by the energy and enthusiasm of our board, executive director and staff. The Guild’s future is bright and I plan to be a part of it!
Do you have an anecdote or funny story from your experiences with the handbell community?
I was conducting the National Festival in Fort Worth in the 90s and my choir from a suburb of Fort Worth was in attendance. During a rehearsal, I was very intentionally looking at the entire panorama of choirs gathered there in the convention center. As I panned to my left, I noticed one of my ringers and thought to myself “What has Janeice done to her hair?” Eager to stay on task and to keep a steady beat, I quickly looked away and focused on the ringing. Well, I couldn’t stand it and decided to look back at my choir. After several times I realized that not only was Janeice’s hair odd but so was everyone elses! Turns out they had all “borrowed” shower caps from the hotel supplies cart and were wearing them to distract me. They succeeded but the next festival they attended and tried to do the same thing, I stopped the entire group, and asked everyone to please notice the ridiculous-looking people in the 5th row! They were so embarrassed it didn’t happen again! The T shirt that is pictured was my Austin, TX choir attending another festival I was conducting in Memphis. They all showed up at my doorstep early the first day of the festival dressed in these shirts. Even the 95 year old Mom/mascot who was with us was wearing one! So I proudly donned my T shirt and very intentionally showed the festival choirs my ringer’s confession T shirt! When I finished rehearsing my pieces and the next conductor ascended the podium, I went back to sit with my choir. They each had a small, yellow rubby ducky on their music stands. These ducks came home with us and landed on my file cabinet in my office. Well, that flock of rubber ducks has grown to over 100 and we had to build homes for them on shelves in the handbell room! Members of the church are even on the lookout for ducks I don’t have, and when I was married two years ago, I was given a bride and groom rubber duck couple!
About Beth
Beth Judd is director of music Ministries at Northwest Hills United Methodist Church, where she oversees a program including nine choirs. She has served as president of AGEHR and conducts handbell concerts and workshops throughout the United States. She also performs as soprano soloist in oratorios, recitals and musical theater. Beth holds a masters degree in music education from the University of Oklahoma and a bachelor of music in voice from the Manhattan School of Music, New York City. She has taught at Queens College in Charlotte, North Carolina, and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. Beth has served churches in New York City, Norman, Oklahoma, Charlotte, North Carolina, Dallas and Arlington, Texas.