Betty B. Garee Scholarship Program
Betty B. Garee began her career in 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.
The Betty B. Garee Scholarship Program was established by the AGEHR Area
II Board of Directors to honor the memory of one who represented excellence
as a director, composer, teacher and mentor. She inspired all who knew her.
Her legacy continues through her music and through the work of those whose
lives she touched. Betty Garee epitomized the Guild's motto of "Uniting
People Through a Musical Art." The Board trusts that the scholarships will
promote musical growth through handbells/handchimes, thereby continuing the
work that Betty deeply loved.
Scholarships are available for first-time attendees to the National
Director's Seminar or for either of the Area II events: the Read and Ring
Seminar or the Festival Conference. The application form is available to
download.
Scholarship Guildelines
- All applicants must be members of the American Guild of English Handbell
Ringers. If not, an application for membership must be submitted at this
time.
- All applicants must be members of Area II. (Pennsylvania, New York, New
Jersey, and Ontario)
- All applicants must be currently directing or under contract to direct a
handbell/handchime choir or using handbells/handchimes in a school program
in Area II.
- Applications must be postmarked by May 1.
- A committee appointed by the chair of Area II will review all
applications and select the winners. Area II reserves the right to award
all, some, or none of the scholarships based upon the number of applicants,
their qualifications, and allotted funds available. The decision of the
Area II board is final.
- Previous winners of the Garee Scholarship are ineligible to apply as are
members of the Area II board.
- Winners will be notified by May 30.
The application form is available to download.
MAIL COMPLETED FORMS TO:
Peggy McNamee, 5 Highland Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15202
