EVYS is proud to announce the new East Valley Bell Ringers! We are excited to have a bell choir and have been working hard to make it great. We will have a beginning and an intermediate group. They will rehearse at the GCA, and the general public, as well as current EVYS members, are welcome to audition. They will meet on Thursdays at the following times: 5:00-6:00pm Intermediate 6:00-7:00pm Beginners This is your chance to get a great deal for a wonderful musical experience for boys and girls. There are no instrument rental fees or extra practice time. Just a great musical experience for a fantastic price! For the entire school year it is only $130. For roughly 30 practices and three concerts, this equals to just a few dollars per rehearsal and performance! For more information on auditioning for the Bell Ringers, click here. Bell Choir Conductor -- Rosanne Robson Tidwell Rosanne Robson Tidwell has a history of inspiring the musical youth in Arizona in many different ways.  Some of her accomplishments include Taught piano and voice lessons since she was 18 years old. Directed many shows for Gilbert Fine Arts Association. Co-directed the children’s choir for the Broadway production of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” which played at A.S.U.’s Grady Gammage. Directed the Mesa Arizona Temple Easter Pageant, the largest outdoor Easter Pageant in the world, for seven years. Conducted a children’s choir for a CD called “A Holly Jolly Christmas for Kids!” which is still on sale through Amazon.com.  Taught general music at EduPrize and New Vista Horizon’s Private School. Taught Musical Theater and youth Show Choirs for Gilbert Fine Arts Association and for Gilbert Public Schools.  This year’s production will make their 19th year of teaching this incredibly popular program. Attended Mesa Community College, Brigham Young University, and Arizona State University, where she studied Musical Theater and Education.  Through it all, Rosanne’s favorite thing, as well as her greatest talent, is working with and inspiring young people.  She is excited and anxiously awaiting her newest adventure of directing the Bell Choir for the East Valley Youth Symphony.    She resides in Gilbert, Arizona.  Her greatest love is her family; she is married to her best friend, Gill, and they have 4 beautiful children, four wonderful children-in-laws, and 8 and 3/4 grandchildren. Bell Choir Conductor -- Shirley Hipwell Shirley Hipwell is currently a Handbell Consultant for schools, churches, and a mentor of Handbells with AGEHR (American Guild of English Handbells).  She has a Masters Degree in Music and has taught Vocal and Handbells in the public schools, churches and for summer music programs for over 30 years.   She was the founder and director of six graded handbell choirs at the First Presbyterian Church in Arlington Heights, IL. These groups traveled and performed at area handbell festivals in the United States and in Toronto, Canada.   Mrs. Hipwell formed an after-school handbell choir in Mt. Prospect, IL, with 23 ringers who had a full performance schedule and also flew to New York City to participate in the International Youth Handbell Festival in 2000.   At the Palatine High School in Palatine, IL, a Special Education Handbell Choir was formed.  These students performed with such enthusiasm and joy that there were not many dry eyes in the audience.   As an adjunct professor at Roosevelt University School of Music in Chicago, IL, Mrs. Hipwell instructed handbell directors in Handbell Technique classes and forming choirs.  As adjunct faculty member of Harper College in Palatine, IL,  she formed and directed three handbell choirs. The Concert Choir performed in England in 1988, Canada in 1992, Australia in 1994, Albuquerque, New Mexico, in 1996, and Japan in 1998.   A Handbell Spring Ring which drew over 30 bell choirs each year was  instituted.  These mass concerts were directed by great Handbell Directors as Felix Thompson, Don Allured, Bill Payn, Bill Waggener, David Weck and many more.    Mrs. Hipwell served on the faculty for the National Handbell Director's Conference, First Special Groups Liaison Chairman for the National Board of AGEHR, Faculty of the International Handbell Symposiums in England, Australia and Japan. She is sought after as a resource person an area clinician and adjudicator.   Now in Arizona, she is excited to be a part of the East Valley Youth Symphony Bells and to be working with Rosanne.