Back Bay Ringers, Boston’s Community Handbell Ensemble, to Offer Workshop with Composer Cathy Moklebust

Posted on January 4, 2009
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(Boston, Mass. January 2, 2009)—The Back Bay Ringers, Boston’s leading community-based handbell organization, will offer a day of workshops and performances featuring renowned handbell composer Cathy Moklebust, Saturday, June 6, 2009. Registration for the workshop is now open—workshop information and registration materials are available at www.backbayringers/bbrworkshop.html.

The workshop, which will be held at Boston University’s College of Fine Arts, is designed to appeal to handbell ringers and directors at all levels and will allow these musicians to interact with Ms. Moklebust throughout the day-long, hands-on workshop. The morning’s sessions will highlight Ms. Moklebust’s use of small percussion instruments and of innovative handbell techniques in her compositions. Following a break for lunch, workshop participants will have the opportunity to watch Ms. Moklebust work with the Back Bay Carillon in a master class and then to work with Ms. Moklebust themselves in a reading and discussion session.

In honor of BBR’s fifth anniversary, the Back Bay Ringers have commissioned Ms. Moklebust to compose a work that will have its world premiere at a concert to be held at 8:00 that evening, at Boston University’s Dance Theater. Workshop participants will have the option of receiving one free ticket to this concert as part of their registration. “We’re thrilled that Cathy Moklebust will be our honored guest as we present the world premiere of her newest composition,” says BBR’s Artistic Director Griff Gall. Tickets for the “Art of Ringing” concert will go on sale to the general public in May 2009.

Norah Piehl, BBR’s executive director, expresses the organization’s enthusiasm for the event: “We’re so pleased to be able to honor Ms. Moklebust’s visit to this area with this day-long celebration of her work.” BBR has planned the event to draw out-of-town ringers, with reasonably-priced parking, lists of local restaurants, and other area attractions provided to registrants. “It’s a great opportunity for musicians from our area to spend a fun day in Boston,” Piehl adds.

The registration fee for the day-long event is $45. Registration forms for the June 6, 2009, workshop are available at www.backbayringers.org/bbrworkshop.html. For more information, please visit www.backbayringers.org or contact Executive Director, Norah Piehl, at 617-688-5768 or via e-mail at ncpiehl@backbayringers.org.

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