Alaska

Arnold Sherman, clinician

Bells of the Cascades alumna Judy Schumacher shares this memory from our early Handbell Cruise.

We had a number of inquiries regarding a summer cruise. We decided to try Alaska again. Our fourth cruise left Vancouver on July 27, 1998. Arnold Sherman was our guest clinician. We held the following ringing classes: Rhythm, Massed, Beginning, Ensemble, and Solo. We also led the following non-ringing classes: Production/Presentation, Organizing Gigs/Venues, Tours, and Bell Lore. We advertised through the Area AGEHR Newsletters rather than a mass mailing to individuals. By now we were well known to Holland America and they were now willing to let us have the rooms “full-time” for our participants. We had some of the same crew on the ship, which made things much easier. We held the Protestant church service and played for this service and the Catholic service. We played a special concert for the crew in the bowels of the ship in their quarters. It was fun, but a little rigorous getting the equipment down there and dangerous footing for some of our older members.