Area 2 Festival Conference 2025
Reaching for the Summit – Ringing and Fun in the Mountains!
This page is preserved as an archive of our 2025 event.
When
June 27–29, 2025
Where
Split Rock Resort, Pocono Mountains
428 Moseywood Rd, Lake Harmony, PA 18624
Cost
$350 per ringer
($325 early bird – see Registration)
Clinicians
Michael Helman
Massed Ringing
Jason Krug
Master Class
Kathy Ebling Shaw
Tin Track
We are thrilled to announce that we will be adding the Tin section back to Festival this year. All participants in the Tin section will also participate in the Tin Track, where they will enjoy more intense instruction on all the Massed and Tin pieces with our wonderful clinician, Kathy Ebling Shaw. Participants will choose 2 of the 3 Tin pieces listed in the repertoire list to perform at the final concert. They will also ring any of the massed pieces they choose, but do not have to ring any pieces they don’t feel comfortable playing.
Repertoire
Massed Ringing
- Blessing – Michael Helman – MBEHB800 – 3–5 octaves; chimes – Level 2+
- Shall We Gather at the River – Ron Mallory – MRW8278 – 3–5 octaves; chimes – Level 3
- Gloria Hodie – Julie Turner & Kevin McChesney – MJHS9482 – 3–6 octaves – Level 3
- Laudation – Arnold Sherman – MSPHP5306 – 3–5 octaves – NR
- Reviving Spirit (Composition Contest Winner) – Jason Krug – GMH350056 – 3–5 octaves, 2 octaves of chimes (optional)
Bronze
- Earth and All Stars – Matthew Compton – MHP2790 – 3–5 octaves – Level 4
- Prisms – Bill Payn – MSPHP5030 – 4 octaves – NR
- Allegro Brillante – Cathy Moklebust – MBEHB741 – 3–5 octaves, 3–5 octaves chimes – Level 4
Copper
- Rondo Passacaglia – Cynthia Dobrinski – MHP1237 – 4–5 octaves – Level 3
- I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say – Cathy Moklebust – MCGB1093 – 3–6 octaves – Level 3
Tin
- Ah, Holy Jesus – Matthew Compton, arr. – MHP3045 – 2–3 octaves – Level 1
- Be Glad! – Barbara Scheffter – MCP7074 – 2–3 octaves, 2 octaves chimes (optional) – Level 2
- Great is Thy Faithfulness – Mitchell Eithun, arr. – MRO3387 – 2–3 octaves, 2–3 octaves chimes (optional), or MRO3388 – 3–5 octaves, 3–5 octaves chimes (optional) – Level 2
Master Class
- Hallelujia – Matthew Compton, arr. – GMH350016 – 3–6 octaves – Level 3+
- De Profundis – Jason Krug – BEHB523 – 4–7 octaves – Level 4
- Jovano, Jovanke – Michael Joy – GIG8964 – 5–6 octaves – Level 3+
- Resounding Fury – Jason Krug – BEHB411 – 3–5 octaves – Level 4
Friday Night Concert
Sue Garton, well-known handbell soloist, will be presenting our Friday night concert! Sue is well-known in Area 2 as a soloist, coach, and wonderful person! She has graciously agreed to present her beautiful ringing (along with her accompanist Mary Rita Rossetti) at the Festival this year! (Followed by a special surprise!)
Saturday Night Showcase Concert
We’re trying something different this year. Our Saturday night concert will be performed by… YOU! We will be able to enjoy the hard work by the Master Class as they perform their repertoire under the baton of Jason Krug. After that, it’s YOUR turn! If you are a soloist, small ensemble, or full choir and would like to share your music with us, complete the Concert Application form and return it to the address on the form by April 15, 2025. We’ll pick the best applicants to include in the Showcase Concert!
Cost & Registration
Cost per ringer is $350 (see early bird rates below). Friday dinner, Saturday lunch and dinner, and Sunday lunch are included in this price, but lodging and breakfast are the ringer’s responsibility.
Early Bird Rates (open to HMA members only):
- $325 if registration form and full fee is postmarked and paid by 2/28/25
- $350 for any registration forms and full fees received and/or paid on 3/1/25 or later
All registrations must be received by 5/1/2025. (Early Bird discounts are open to HMA members only. If registering electronically, please also print the paper registration packet for important information.)
A note about lighting: the resort is currently undergoing renovations, but at this time, lighting on the ringing floor is somewhat poor. All ringers will need to plan on bringing battery-operated stand lights in order to comfortably read your music. We are hoping this is improved before Festival, but, as we all know, renovations don’t always proceed as planned. We want you to be prepared either way. It is not possible to plug your lights in on the ringing floor. Plan on bringing extra batteries to allow for all three days of ringing time.
Hotel Information
The Festival Conference will be held at the Split Rock Resort in Lake Harmony, PA (in the Poconos) – www.splitrockhotel.com. We will be housed in the Town Center. Rooms will either be a 1-Bedroom Suite (1 king bed and 2 sofa beds – total capacity of 4 people) or a Junior Suite (2 queen beds – total capacity of 4 people). All rooms are $209 a night + taxes and fees.
The reservation form should be completed and sent directly to the hotel by June 5, 2025 to reserve a room. Please note: if you have mobility issues and need a room close to the elevator, this MUST be communicated to the hotel at the time your reservation is made.
Vendors
We would love to have you with us at Festival this year! If you are interested in being an exhibitor, please see the vendor invitation letter and registration form.