Twelve young Burnaby ringers faced a daunting task this week, playing the processional at the opening of an international handbell symposium in Vancouver.
Sound Wave, a Burnaby school district handbell ensemble that practises at Inman Elementary under music teacher Janet Nordstrand, performed in front of more than 650 delegates Tuesday.
“They know what we’re doing, so there’s no hiding,” said Nordstrand of the delegates from around the world who are gathered at the Vancouver Convention Centre for the biennial symposium until Saturday.
But Nordstrand faces her own formidable challenge this week among her international bell-ringing peers – on Saturday she will conduct a mass choir (all 650-plus delegates, including eight of her Sound Wave ringers) at the symposium’s final concert.
When the local music teacher spoke to the NOW last week, she was alternately elated and a little terrified at the prospect.
“I’ve been all over the board,” she said. “Wednesday I woke up with this bubbling excitement about what I was about to undertake. Thursday morning I woke up and I was like, ‘How am I going to get 650 people to be with me?’”
Nordstrand will conduct a new piece by B.C. composer Bruce Henczel, specially commissioned for the conference.
Titled Hishuk Ish Tsawalk (“everything is one and interconnected”), the piece was created with the works of Emily Carr in mind.
“The piece is powerful,” Nordstrand said. “I’m so excited. What a huge opportunity. When will I ever get to stand in front of that many people and conduct? I love handbells, and I can’t wait to hear the sound of it.”
During the conference Nordstrand will also present a workshop on ringing techniques and sing with the Phoenix Chamber Choir as part of a performance of Edmonton composer Betty Radford’s handbell piece So Glorious and Free.
Eight of her Sound Wave ringers, meanwhile, will attend the Sound Effects Youth Track at the symposium from July 28 to 30, taking in intensive ringing sessions with American maestro Tim Waugh and Burnaby’s Imran Amarshi, founder and director of the Synchronous Handbell Choir, a Burnaby-based youth ensemble.
The young ringers will also take part in a couple of showcase concerts as well as the final massed performance.
But just getting to the symposium was an accomplishment for the local group of 12-to-18-year-olds, who raised $4,600 in conference fees through bursaries, concerts, bottle drives, and chocolate and bake sales to attend the handbell extravaganza.
For tickets to concerts at the symposium Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, visit www.ihs2016vancouver.ca/concerts.
