Lorenz: The Future of SoundForth In this session of the Music For Ministry Podcast, I chat with Alan Lohr who is the handbell editor for SoundForth, a division of the Lorenz Corporation in Dayton, OH.  He also directs the Carolina Bronze, a community handbell ensemble in Greenville, South Carolina.  Alan conducts two university handbell ensembles at Bob Jones University. In this session of the Music For Ministry Podcast, I chat with Alan Lohr who is the handbell editor for SoundForth, a division of the Lorenz Corporation in Dayton, OH.  He also directs the Carolina Bronze, a community handbell ensemble in Greenville, South Carolina.  Alan conducts two university handbell ensembles at Bob Jones University. In this session of the Music For Ministry Podcast, I chat with Alan Lohr who is the handbell editor for SoundForth, a division of the Lorenz Corporation in Dayton, OH.  He also directs the Carolina Bronze, a community handbell ensemble in Greenville, South Carolina.  Alan conducts two university handbell ensembles at Bob Jones University. Alan began his work as Instrumental Coordinator for SoundForth in 1990, a few months after SoundForth’s first release. Under his tenure the catalog has grown from a few flute solos and handbell pieces to hundreds of titles and complete keyboard collections. In this session, Alan and I chat about: * Growing up in South Central Iowa * A few childhood memories of life on the farm * Earily exposer to music in his home and public school * The person who most ignited his interest in music * His childhood dream of becoming a band director * Learning to improv at the piano when he attends college * How his love for handbells began * Heading up the instrumental program at Pillsbury Baptist Bible College * Arranging for Drum and Bugle Corp, brass groups and summer ensembles * The beginnings of the Four or More Series for groups without full ensembles * The decision to sell SoundForth to Lorenz * SoundForth now a Division of the Lorez Music Corporation * SoundForth products available through Lorenz * How his job description has changed since Lorenz acquired SoundForth * Acquiring and editing handbell pieces to be published by Lorenz *  Working with two of the Bob Jones University handbell ensembles * Starting a community handbell ensemble called Carolina Bronze * Handbell levels: Tin, Copper and Bronze * American made handbell sets – Malmark and Schulmerich * Proper Handbell attire * The alternative to expensive handbells for church ministries * Choir Chimes, Hand Chimes, Tone Chimes * Resources to help begin a handbell choir * Handbell Musicians of America * The American Guild of Handbell Ringers * Contact Info Items mentioned in this podcast: * SoundForth * Pillsbury Baptist Bible College * Four or More Series * Lorenz Music Corporation * Carolina Bronze * Malmark * Schulmerich