Santa Barbara Music Publishing, Inc.

The year was 1990. Barbara Harlow had taken an early retirement from her position as choral director at Santa Barbara City College. Called back to teach a music theory class when the regular teacher became ill, she found herself teaching the students how to write a choral composition. A published composer, now in the theory classroom doing what she loved to do, she focused on a passion that had been on the back burner for many years—starting a publishing company specializing in choral music. The company has continued its vision of nurturing the choral art with the publication of numerous resources all aimed at making the choral director's job more productive.

AGEHR Publishing

Established in 1954, the American Guild of English Handbell Ringers grew out of the previously established New England Guild of English Handbell Ringers. In 2010, AGEHR became Handbell Musicians of America. Its primary objectives are to educate, promote the exchange of ideas relating to handbell and handchime ringing, and sponsor educational activities. Our membership of approximately 7,000 includes mostly directors of handbell or handchime choirs. The Guild is divided into 12 two- to five-state areas, which are further divided into individual state and district units. Members of the the Handbell Musicians of America seek to carry out the motto, “Uniting People through a Musical Art.” AGEHR is also a regular publisher of handbell music by the best established and rising composers as well as many resource books covering ringing techniques, conducting skills, and education.