Before we head back to school or start a new season, I'd like to recall a few highlights of the summer. I was particularly pleased to learn the progress of one of the District's newest chime choirs, because they had invited me to their first rehearsal. The Narek Bell Choir of St. Mart's Armenian Church in D.C. hasn't wasted any time since they began in February 2000. This youth choir has taken their chimes to several community locations in addition to playing for numerous traditional holy day services. In May they traveled to Central Park in New York City for a celebration of the 1700th anniversary of Armenian Christianity. With exposure like this, it's not wonder that members of their congregation donated more funds to add handbells to compliment their chimes. Surely we're going to hear more fro Leon Khoja-Eynatyan, their director and a fellow percussionist, and the Narek Bell choir.
We were well represented at Handbell Spectacular in Palm Springs, California, during the last week in July. Every youth or adult ringing track had at least one metropolitan Washington participant, and our table at the final concert had a centerpiece that clearly marked our territory with miniatures of pictures of the city's bell towers. Many of the concerts included a patriotic selection , and the final feature group, Ring of Fire, recalled their Presidential inauguration trip with stories and video.
I was equally glad to see so many local friends at the reading session at National City Christian Church in early August. This annual reading event of choral, handbell, and organ music is always popular. I was delighted to learn that National City Christian Church has only recently purchased its own set of handbells. Welcome to Edward Moore, a dynamic new director, and his future handbell choirs. William A. Payne led the handbell reading sessions, which started everyone thinking about how much we are looking forward to the Driectors Seminar he will lead this October in MLean, Virginia.
Congratulations also to Diane Kulp on her retirement after many years of service to Pender United Methodist Church. Her position is one of many vacancies that have been advertised recently. I have also heard word of two new community choirs forming in metropolitan Washington. So handbells are spreading quickly. Perhaps we are closer to my personal goal that no one will need to ask, "What's a handbell?"
Thank you for the opportunity to serve you these past two years as chait of metropolitan Washington, D.C. Thank you also for giving me the opportunity to continue to server you as your chair-elect. I hope to see you in Virginia this fall at the Directors Seminar in McLean and the Youth Festival in Tysons Corner.
David K. Tiller
Metropolitan Washington, D.C., Chair