UK BRONZE 31 October - 3 November 2012
What is UK Bronze?
This is a high level event, intended for advanced ringers, using staff notation music in a massed ringing setting to ring large sets of bells and chimes, under the direction of Fred Gramann. Rehearsals will run from Wednesday to Saturday followed by a concert on Saturday afternoon that will be open to the public. The schedule is tough.
Location?
The event will be held in the Holiday Inn Hotel in Sutton, Surrey situated in the centre of the town close to all the shops and restaurants. Sutton is between Croydon to the east, Kingston to the west, Wimbledon to the north and the M25 motorway to the south. The British Rail station is a short walk from the hotel and London’s Victoria Station is only 20 minutes on a fast train. Gatwick Airport is within easy reach, and Heathrow is not much further. The hotel has air-conditioned rooms, a health & leisure club with pool, sauna and steam rooms. There are 115 car parking spaces (£3 daily parking fee applicable). We shall be using the Hotel’s conference facilities for rehearsals and the concert.
What is expected of ringers?
Attending ringers are asked to complete the Personal Evaluation sheet outlining their experience and proficiency in techniques associated with music making with handbells. The sheet concentrates on the most relevant areas to ensure the success of the event, so that all attendees can enjoy the challenge and the music.
Registration costs and what it includes
Participants will pay a registration fee of £305, which includes use of a shared room for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday nights; breakfast, lunch, tea and coffee on Thursday, Friday and Saturday; the evening meal on the first night (Wednesday). PayPal facilities are available.
Single occupancy rooms are available.
Personal Evaluation section.
The details are extensive and it will require an amount of work and time to complete. UK Bronze is an event for experienced, capable ringers, and whilst you may not be ringing in a highly skilled team or sight reading very difficult music, it is important that you can operate at this level. The ethos for UK Bronze is to work on musicianship, to create an exciting concert, and to ring music you might not usually ring at home. This is not an educational event, so do not expect to come and learn techniques. Be objective about your skills & help to ensure everyone has a really good experience.
Ringing Assignments
Ringing Assignments are based on the details you provide and the date your application is received. Applications will be processed on a first-come-first-served basis. Ringing assignments will not be confirmed until full payment has been received. You are expected to spend time practising your part before you arrive in Sutton – rehearsal time is for making music not learning the notes.
Repertoire
Repertoire will be notified to attendees after your registration is confirmed. You will be responsible for purchasing the music. Repertoire notes will be sent before the event.
Refund policy/cut-off dates.
A £50 non-refundable deposit is required with your Registration Form. Full payment is required by 1st July 2012 to receive your ringing assignment. Payments made after 1st July 2012, will incur a supplementary charge of £50. The balance must be paid by 31st July 2012. Refunds (except for deposit & supplement charge) will be made until 1st August for written or email cancellations. Delegates cancelling after this date (for any reason), will be offered 50% of registration fee before 1st September. There will be no refund after 1st September 2012.
Things to bring
It will be your responsibility to provide the following:
- Black, split back folders for the music
- Mallets for your assigned position
- Black gloves for the concert and any gloves for rehearsals
- Original copies of the complete music repertoire
- Music stand/riser if required
Dress code
Casual and comfortable for rehearsals, and the event bell polo shirt plus black trousers/ skirts for the concert. Ringers who attended a previous event will already have an event polo shirt.
Meals
Your registration includes daily breakfast, lunch and tea/coffee refreshments plus dinner on Wednesday night. There are lots of options for the other evening meals. There are sandwich bars, restaurants and eating-places within a short distance of the hotel.
Will I need a car?
Probably not as the busy rehearsal schedule doesn’t give you much free time. There is a wide range of shops within easy walking distance of the hotel, with other shopping centres within a short commutable distance.
Resources
We are very fortunate to have all the required handbells, hand chimes, tables, foams and covers lent by local groups. It is vital that these instruments and equipment are treated with the utmost respect so we can return them to their owners in pristine condition.
I hope I have provided sufficient information for you to decide to attend this prestigious event. We are very pleased to have Fred Gramann join us again for the third running of this event. Not only is Fred an accomplished organist, he is a highly respected director, and has over 30 published choral and handbell works.
DON’T MISS THIS WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO SPEND 4 DAYS WITH FRED
SEND IN YOUR COMPLETED REGISTRATION FORM INCLUDING
PERSONAL EVALUATION DETAILS NOW!!
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