The Area 12 Board has recently learned that Dave Ruder has passed away.
David Ruder served the Area 12 Board from 1990 through 1994, and 2000 to 2008, including as the Area 12 Chair from 2004-2006. He also served on AGEHR/HMA Education committees in the intervening years.
David Ruder directed and taught handbells for more than four decades throughout the USA and more than a dozen countries, including China, Pakistan, Morocco, Czech Republic, Zimbabwe, Spain, and Canada. David received a Bachelor of Theology degree from Jessup University; a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education and a Masters in Music History and Choral Music from San Jose State University. He also completed graduate work in Church and Choral Music at the University of Southern California. He was a composer/arranger, writer, massed handbell director, workshop leader and has served on various boards in the handbell world. He served as the long-time handbell director for Valley Church in Cupertino, California – hosting the Bay Area Spring Ring for many years — and in the Las Lomita’s School District, mostly at La Entrada School in Menlo Park, California, teaching music.
In September 1991, Area 12 Chair Gary Delk created a committee to develop a music level grading system. David Ruder was the major driver of this effort; as a music educator, he was familiar with the grading system used for band music and helped develop the initial “Area XII” music grading system. The system was copyrighted in 1992 and the Area 12 Board adopted it in 1993. David presented this music grading system at the 1993 National Director Seminar in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It was adapted and adopted by the Guild in 1994. The grading system has had some tweaks over the years but is used by many directors and groups as an integral part of selecting music for their groups to play.
The Area 12 Board extends its deepest condolences to David’s wife Dian, and his family and friends.
David and wife Dian Ruder pictured.