Becoming a Member of The Houston Bronze Ensemble
The Houston Bronze Ensemble is an auditioned community group made up of ringers from all over the Houston area. Currently our ringers come from as far north as Tomball and The Woodlands, as far south as Clear Lake, as far west as Alief, and all points in between. If you are looking to play with a group that looks forward to sharing their passion for all things bells, playing challenging music, and sharing that passion and music with the Houston community and beyond, Houston Bronze Ensemble is the group for you. We strive for EXCELLENCE in all aspects of our organization. If you have the desire to be a part of that, we hope you will consider auditioning to become a member. We hold auditions each year for all people who wish to perform with us in the next season. All positions are available. We hope you will join us for a Test Drive on May 12, 2020 and then return for the audition on May 19, 2020. The test drive is not a requirement for the audition. It will simply give you an idea of what to expect and perhaps make the evening of the audition less stressful. For more information on Test Drive, please go to https://houstonbronze.com/become-a-member-of-houston-bronze---test-drive.html
To register for your audition, please fill out the application below to ensure we will have an application time for you.
Auditions for Houston Bronze Ensemble 2020 - 2021 Season
Date: May 19, 2020
Time: 7:00 - 9:00
Place: Trinity Downtown Lutheran Church
800 Houston Av. Houston, TX
Below you will find information about the ensemble and about the commitment we will ask you to make should you be chosen to be a member. HBE has a goal of excellence in all that we do and our mission is twofold. We, of course, want to present the best concerts that we possibly can. Our second mission is to share our knowledge of handbells with others to hopefully help build the handbell ensembles of the future. As a member of Houston Bronze, you will be expected to participate in both. This is what, in our opinion, makes HBE special. Register for your audition on the form below. Upon registration, you should receive an automatic response that it has been received. If you do not receive this, please contact us at [email protected]
About the audition:
As a new auditioning member, the first part of your audition will consist of an interview and demonstration of an understanding of rhythm and proper handbell techniques by sight reading a few short exercises for the audition committee. This committee is made up of our artistic director and at least one other person. If you successfully move through this first part of the audition, you will then be invited to ring with current auditioning ensemble members in small and large groups. During this part of the audition you will be asked to ring in different positions- upper/lower battery, bass bells, 4 in hand. The entire process may take as many as two to three hours.
To register for your audition, please fill out the application below to ensure we will have an application time for you.
Auditions for Houston Bronze Ensemble 2020 - 2021 Season
Date: May 19, 2020
Time: 7:00 - 9:00
Place: Trinity Downtown Lutheran Church
800 Houston Av. Houston, TX
Below you will find information about the ensemble and about the commitment we will ask you to make should you be chosen to be a member. HBE has a goal of excellence in all that we do and our mission is twofold. We, of course, want to present the best concerts that we possibly can. Our second mission is to share our knowledge of handbells with others to hopefully help build the handbell ensembles of the future. As a member of Houston Bronze, you will be expected to participate in both. This is what, in our opinion, makes HBE special. Register for your audition on the form below. Upon registration, you should receive an automatic response that it has been received. If you do not receive this, please contact us at [email protected]
About the audition:
As a new auditioning member, the first part of your audition will consist of an interview and demonstration of an understanding of rhythm and proper handbell techniques by sight reading a few short exercises for the audition committee. This committee is made up of our artistic director and at least one other person. If you successfully move through this first part of the audition, you will then be invited to ring with current auditioning ensemble members in small and large groups. During this part of the audition you will be asked to ring in different positions- upper/lower battery, bass bells, 4 in hand. The entire process may take as many as two to three hours.
Calendars
Ringer Information 2020-2021 Season
Ringer Information
2020-2021 Season
Successful Houston Bronze Ensemble ringers have the following traits:
Miscellaneous Information
Retreats
2020-2021 Season
Successful Houston Bronze Ensemble ringers have the following traits:
- Commits to learning the music outside of rehearsal. (Minimum of 1½ hours per week.) Learning means being beyond the notes – you know where the musical line is and can see the overall picture.
- Personally practices the music before arriving at rehearsals - rehearsal time together is for making music, not learning notes.
- Learns the music quickly.
- Has the stamina, energy and attention for intense rehearsals.
- Has good rehearsal etiquette – is prompt and cheerful. HBE members encourage each other and assist the Artistic Director and fellow members whenever possible. Firmly supports the respect triangle – director to ringer, ringer to ringer, and ringer to director.
- Has self-awareness to realize when he/she is musically inaccurate (as in playing wrong rhythm, wrong bell, wrong dynamic, not following the director) and without prompting or comment from anyone, either remedies the problem or asks for assistance.
- Understands that ringing is a collaborative effort. All the notes must be able to be rung musically. This may require sharing bells with neighbors or giving one or more bells to a different ringer for an entire piece.
- Is open to constructive comments and acts on these.
- Doesn’t crumble under the pressure of performance.
Miscellaneous Information
- Monthly dues are $20.00 per ringer.
- Each ringer provides his/her own gloves and music folder.
- Informal attire consists of a green HBE polo. HBE pays for this.Informal attire consists of a green HBE polo. HBE provides these.
- Formal attire for women is blue or red sequin top and black slacks. HBE provides the sequined tops. Formal attire for the men is black tuxedo shirt, black slacks, and black vest provided by the ringer. Bow tie is provided by HBE.
- Other concert attire as directed by the ensemble. Ringer pays for this.
- Any tours – food, lodging and transportation are usually the ringer’s responsibility. If funding is available corporately, the ringer’s expenses are defrayed accordingly.
- Ringers are expected to check for emails from HBE daily and to respond in a timely manner to any and all emails from the ensemble (individuals, board members or director).
- Ringers are expected to participate in at least three small group gigs per year. We encourage at least one of these to be an educational event. We realize that this is dependent upon what type and how many gigs we are requested to do.
- Ringers are expected to actively support the ensemble in a nonringing capacity. Each member is expected to volunteer and complete one or more jobs from the list presented at the meeting at the beginning of the season.
- New ringers have probationary membership for the first year. You will be assigned a mentor to help you as you go through the year. This will be a person whom you can ask questions and who may also make suggestions to you so that you will have a successful first year.
- Your audition for 2021-2022 begins at the first rehearsal in August, 2020 and will continue throughout the 10 month season of the ensemble.
- Regular rehearsal weekly, Tuesday 7:00-9:00 pm at Trinity Lutheran Church, 800 Houston Avenue, Houston, TX
- Rehearsals begin promptly at 7:00 pm. Ringers are encouraged to arrive by 6:30 to assist with setup of equipment. If you cannot be there to help with setup, you are expected to help put bells away at the conclusion of the rehearsal.
- Be at all rehearsals. Ringers having more than two absences in a ringing semester will be reviewed by the HBE Board and appropriate action will be taken.
- Additional rehearsals as scheduled by Artistic Director
- Called dress rehearsals prior to concerts (TBA)
Retreats
- TBA (usually 2 per semester, on Saturdays)