Betty Garee

This December our concert will include Stille Nacht (Silent Night) by Betty Garee.

Betty Garee was one of the first modern handbell composers, and her works are still considered some of the finest examples of handbell music at its best.

According to the Chorister's Guild, her music "demonstrates Betty Garee's understanding of the handbell idiom and the writing genius which made her one of our foremost handbell composers"

Born in 1927, she first encountered handbells in 1971 in Wappingers Falls, New York.

"In the fifteen years that followed, she brought handbell performance to new levels at local and national festivals. As a clinician, her warmth inspired new directors and ringers alike. Her original compositions and creative transcriptions for handbells showed a style that was far ahead of her time. She travelled widely, sharing her music and passion for handbells, touching many lives both in and out of handbell circles. Betty Garee passed away in 1986. "

-- AGEHR Area II, describing the Betty Garee Scholarship Program

We are pleased to present Mrs. Garee's Stille Nacht this year, and we hope you will have the chance to come appreciate it for yourself.

Member Profile: Catherine Ciway

Catherine Ciway from Roselle IL, has been playing handbells since 5th grade. She is a recent graduate from Concordia University Wisconsin with a degree in both Public Relations and Business Communications. Catherine rang previously with the Alleluia Ringers, Concordia's touring handbell choir, under the direction of Dr. John Behnke. In her spare time she enjoys singing, reading and being with her family.