THE MARK TWAIN RINGERS
MARK TWAIN MIDDLE SCHOOL
The Mark Twain Ringers are a group of talented middle school students from diverse backgrounds within the Los Angeles area. They are a multicultural group of students who have devoted much time and energy to perfecting the art of English Handbell ringing.Mark Twain’s youthful ringing group was formed in September 2000, during school lunch break. Under Ron’s tutelage, interested students still give up most of their lunchtime to play English handbells. They practice every day during the twenty- minute lunch period, to attain their very high level of musicianship. A very positive “note” is that, they are supported wholeheartedly by the entire community at Mark Twain Middle School, their parents and local communities. Handbells are now offered as an elective to all 7th and 8th grade students. These dedicated students also devote time after school in a special performing arts program, at the Neighborhood Youth Association, a youth organization in the Mar Vista area of Los Angeles.
These talented young people have been featured at Knott’s Berry Farm, Disneyland, and various Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) functions. The Mark Twain ringers have also been featured at various churches in the Santa Monica area. In addition, these youthful ringers have a standing performance schedule each year ringing holiday music in office buildings in downtown Los Angeles during December.
In June of 2002, the Mark Twain ringers were invited to represent their school and the LAUSD at the American Guild of English Handbell Ringers Area XII Regional Convention in Reno, Nevada. They also recently participated and performed in Las Vegas at the annual 12th Night Festival in January of 2003. In both the Reno and Las Vegas events, they attended workshops on ringing and bell handling techniques and, ultimately, performed for the public on the last day.
Since these ringers have shown so much dedication to their craft, five English Handbell classes have been added as an elective in the upcoming school year. Now our ringers have an hour every day, five days per week, where they are motivated to attain higher levels of musicianship throughout the school year. Ultimately, this discipline, focus, and achievement, spills over into their academic lives, as well. Through the use of Motivation, Management, and Musicianship, Ron is able to produce a handbell choir that is not only musically talented, but are good students and, what we like to call, great youth ambassadors for Southern California.
Mid-Range Bell Ringers
Bass Bell Ringers
Upper Bell Ringers
Treble Clef Ringers
THE MARK TWAIN RINGERS - 2003
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