Annual American Composers Update

Sharon Elery Rogers, a free-lance composer of over 450 organ, piano, choral, and handbell publications, serves as Director of Music and Organist at the Auburn Road Presbyterian Church in Venice, FL, where she resides. She has been featured as one of Venice's prominent people on the Venice Gondolier newspaper's Internet web site. For its New England spring workshop, the American Guild of English Handbell Ringers has chosen Caroling Medley, for 2-3 octaves of handbells or handchimes. I Love to Tell the Story, for 2 and 3-4-5 octaves of handbells, is scheduled for publication by Alfred Publishers.

I Love to Tell the Story was commissioned and premiered by the First Congregational Church Jubilate Ringers, Judith Nitsch, conductor, at the March workshop-conference of several hundred handbell ringers directed by Nitsch in Melrose, MA.

At the Tom Mathis Fall Handbell Ringers Conference in Venice, FL, Caroling Medley, for 2-3 octaves of bells, received a performance. The Tom Mathis choral workshop in Nokomis, FL, directed by Mary Kay Beall, included the anthem Rejoice! Rejoice, Believers, for SATB choir. Jan Daniels directed the SATB anthem All Praise to Thee at St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Boca Raton, FL.

All Praise to Thee, Eternal Lord; SATB choir anthem; Art Masters Studios, Inc. Rejoice! Rejoice, Believers; SATB choir and optional flute; Coronet-Presser Publ. The Star Medley; 2-3 octaves of bells; The Snow Lay on the Ground; 2 octaves of bells; A Carol Festival; 3 octaves of bells; all by Morning Star Music Publishers. All Praise to Thee; SATB choir and optional flute; When Christ Is Born; 3-4-5 octaves of bells; both by AMSI Publishers. Come and Mourn With Me; SATB choir; Voice of the Rockies Publishers. Palm Sunday Glory; 3 octaves of handbells; Lorenz Co. Caroling Medley; 2-3 octaves of handbells; Joesph, Dearest, Joseph Mine; 3-4-5 octaves of handbells and optional chimes; both by Jeffers Handbell Publishers. Palm Sunday Majesty; 3-4-5 octaves of handbells; Alfred Publishing Co. God who Stretched the Spangled Heavens; Augsburg Fortress.

• 1996-1997 American Composers Update
• Composers Bureau Online.
• Sharon Elery Rogers' website.