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About Sonos Handbell Ensemble
Sonos Handbell Ensemble has been at the forefront of handbell artistry since
its founding in the San Francisco Bay Area in 1990. In its desire to move
handbells into the musical mainstream, Sonos has sought the best
transcriptions and original material available today, encouraging composers
to write works for bells alone and in combination with other instruments
and voices.
Sonos' vision for its contribution to the arts is to advance the musical
genre of handbells by setting the highest standards of musical performance,
serving local communities with its resources, and nurturing the growth of
artists and repertory.
In 1994, along with Maestro Michael Morgan and the Oakland East Bay Symphony,
Sonos commissioned and performed the first major work for handbells
and orchestra. William Ludtke's "Suite for Handbells and Orchestra"
received pre-concert publicity and rave reviews by all of the Bay
Area's major news media. Other symphonic works have been commissioned
and are scheduled for future performances, including a work
by nationally ranked young composer, Libby Larsen.
The World Premiere of William Ludtke's Symphony No. 3 with the Oakland East
Bay Symphony in February of 1997 received critical acclaim.
In addition to touring nationally, Sonos plays in many of the major
venues of the San Francisco Bay Area, including Davies Hall with the
San Francisco Symphony Chorus, the San Jose Performing Arts Center
with the San Jose Symphony, and the Paramount Theatre with the Oakland
East Bay Symphony.
Their December 1998 concert for UCLA Arts was almost sold out the first
day tickets went on sale in July and they were asked to add a second
performance on the series.
Sonos also recorded the first American handbell CD commercially produced
and nationally distributed, (Tower, Blockbuster, Wherehouse, Musicland,
Sam Goody's, Borders, Virgin, Public Radio Music Source, Best Buy, Hear
Music, Planet Music and many others) recorded at the famous scoring
stage, Skywalker Sound, a division of Lucas Digital Services, Marin
County, California. Dubbed "sensational" by the San Francisco Examiner,
it was Allegro's (the distributor's) bestseller in Fall of 1994.
They recorded a second CD of Christmas music from around the world,
Christmas with Sonos Handbell Ensemble, at Skywalker Sound.
Called "a feast of glorious tintinnabulation" by the San Francisco
Examiner, this album was Allegro's best-selling Christmas disc in Winter,
1995. It sells in all major stores nationwide.
A third CD released in October 1996, Classical Sonos, features
major works of Bach, Vivaldi, and Mozart in new transcriptions by Sonos'
Music Director, James Meredith.
Director: James Meredith -
jtm@sonos.org
A native of North Carolina, Mr. Meredith received his Bachelor of Arts degree
from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Master of Fine Arts
degree from Tulane University. He has been a musical partner with
mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade and dramatic soprano Olivia Stapp. As a
solo pianist, vocal and instrumental accompanist and conductor in America,
Europe and Asia, his work has brought him into contact with such artists as
Elly Ameling, Elizabeth Schwarzkopf, Eleanor Steber, Gerald Moore for whom
he has played masterclasses. He has been Dalton Baldwin's assistant in art
song in summer masterclasses at the French Conservatory in Nice. Concerts
with Ms. Von Stade include an appearance on Garrison Keillor's "A Prairie
Home Companion" reaching a National Public Radio audience of over two million
listeners. He has been conductor of the Oakland Symphony Chorus, been on the
faculty of Merritt College and taught masterclasses at Holy Names College
and San Jose State University.
As a professional musician in the classical musical community, he brings a
high standard to his work with handbells. Sonos Handbell Ensemble has done
much to bring the art of handbell ringing into the musical mainstream by
appearing with symphony orchestras, performing on major concert series and
collaborating with other well-established performing ensembles.
Since 1983 Mr. Meredith has been a clinician and conductor at workshops
and festivals and has been on the faculty at Handbell Exploration and American
Guild of English Handbell Ringers Directors' Seminars in Springfield and
Spokane, where Sonos had been invited to play featured concerts.
Mr. Meredith is the author of many arrangements and transcriptions performed
around the world. He composed a major work for handbells, handchimes and
percussion, "Kodo Tryptich", premiered at the 1997 AGEHR Directors' Seminar
to great critical acclaim and continues to be performed by Sonos and other
groups. He is CEO of Meredith Music Press which publishes advanced music for
handbells sold nationwide and internationally.
Representation:
Sonos Handbell Ensemble is represented by:
Craig Knudsen
Knudsen Productions
1737 Blake St.
Berkeley, CA 94703
Phone: (510) 549-1777
Fax: (510) 843-3567
Email: craig@knudsenproductions.com
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Alumni