■Musical Director's profile

Nobuko Bannno

While teaching English at the Kinjo Gakuin High School (Nagoya, Japan) for over 40 years, Nobuko Banno first started directing handbell choir in 1973.
As a founding member with American missionary late-Merle I. Kelly, and board of the Handbell Ringers of Japan (HRJ) since 1976, she was appointed as vice-president of the guild in 1983.
In, 1992, she was also appointed a chair for the HRJ Chubu Area ( Central Japan ).
To master the art, she studied handbell directing under the instruction of Robert Ivey in 1980 at Westminster Choir College and attended the AGEHR Directors' Seminar in 1983 at Houston, Texas.
She has actively participated every year as a clinician at all the HRJ endorsed events such as the Directors' Workshop, National Workshop, National and Area Festivals, holding workshops, direction both single choirs and Massed Ringing Choirs.
Her enthusiasm does not only stay in Japan, and has toured to several counties around the world participation at the International Symposium and direction at International Concerts.

ENGLISH TRANSLATION by Mr. Arthur Shinn