ALGEHR Awards and Grants

The Fred Merrett Award for New Compositions

Each year the Alberta Guild of English Handbell Ringers (ALGEHR) sponsors a competition for Alberta Handbell Composers.

Its major purpose is to encourage the composition of music for handbells by Albertans and at the same time offer some opportunity for these works to be performed.

Download the information package on the competition here

The John Nelson Sr Memorial Scholarship

This scholarship recognizes the contribution of John Nelson, Senior to handbells in music education and provides funding for eligible ringers to attend a Handbell Discovery or a recognized ALGEHR handbell event.

Download the information package on the scholarship here

The ALGEHR Symposium Endowment Fund Grant

In 1992, the Alberta Guild hosted a very successful International Symposium, with ringers attending from Korea, Japan, Great Britain, USA, Australia, Chile and Canada. It was a major undertaking begun with very little funding, but resulting in a surplus thanks to greater than expected ticket sales, frugal planning and successful Post-Symposium tours. In April of 1994, the Board wisely arranged for the money to be invested in safe, interest-bearing funds, with the interest to be used to further the mission of the Alberta Guild of English Handbell Ringers.

Each year the interest funds ALGEHR’s SEF Grant program and the Composer Competition.

The purpose of the Endowment Fund grant program is to provide financial assistance to individuals, bell groups or event organizers for projects that support the Alberta Guild’s mission statement. The five categories under which one can apply are of equal value and weighting – International Symposia, Provincial workshops or programs, capital purchases, outreach and scholarships.

Download the information package on the SEF Grant here

Download the application form for the SEF Grant here

The Stan Morris Excellence in Handbell Teaching Award

This Award celebrates Stan Morris’ efforts to help teachers develop the skills, knowledge, ability, experience and proficiency required to create school handbell programs and to develop extra-curricular choirs. It also celebrates his efforts to help create ALGEHR, which continues to help promote the development of the handbell arts in Alberta. This award acknowledges teachers who continue to develop handbell artistry and instil the joy of music making in their students.

Download the information package on the award here