11th Annual

Snake River Handbell Conference

February 6-7, 2026

Central Gym

1415 6th Street South

(NW corner of 15th Ave South & 6th St South)

Nampa, Idaho

        Clinician: Nicholas Hanson

.....Information * Registration * Repertoire

Big Sky Handbell Festival

43rd Annual

April 24-25, 2026 – Livingston, MT

Park High School, 102 View Vista Dr

The Public is invited to attend the final concert at 7:00 PM on April 25th

Stay tuned for more info....

Repertoire * Clinician Bio

.....Consider the freeze that customarily ends a piece of music, the moment of silence and stillness that allows the music to settle and begin to sink into the listener. The silence shows respect for the music. It highlights the music, setting it apart from whatever comes next. And, not only does the silence show respect for the music, but for the performers and the audience, as well. For one moment, everyone in the room is united by the power (or beauty) of the music and the silence that follows. The applause begins, and after the director bows, it’s off to the next piece of music, right? 

Whoa, not so fast. If this is a concert setting, why not build on the moment and offer the audience one more thing - a chance to connect with the performers! Most of us know how this works. The choir takes one step back from the tables and look directly toward the audience as a “thank you” for the applause. But, why the step back? Isn’t this just performative? No, because once the players are away from the tables, it is impossible to do anything except look up and out to the audience! No one can start messing with their music. No one can rearrange bells. The audience gets complete attention. The backward step gets results and is learned quickly.

Confession time: My choir hasn’t been doing this because it would have been one more thing to practice. But for our Christmas concert this year, I decided it was about time we took the step (pun intended) to bring about this interaction with the audience. I got to watch the backward step after the first piece. It was electric! The applause did its magic, and every player was beaming. Everyone in the room felt included.



Tomi Kent

 Cruise With BOC in January 2027

Bells of the Cascades's next cruise is now available for registration. We're sailing from Fort Lauderdale, FL on a seven day cruise of the Eastern Caribbean. The ship departs on January 17th 2027, returns the 24th, and visits Nassau, Half Moon Cay, Grand Turk, and Amber Cove before returning to Fort Lauderdale.

To learn more, visit https://bellsofthecascades.org/cruises.

Bells of the Cascades

P.O. Box 151

Tualatin, OR 97062

A 501(c)(3) nonprofit registered in the state of Oregon.

Member, Handbell Musicians of America.

The Donald E. Allured Original Composition Award is pleased to announce a new initiative for the creation of handbell music. Established in partnership with the Handbell Musicians of America, the New Composers Initiative will identify and support new talent seeking to break into the world of published handbell music. Recipients will be mentored by an established composer, receive a cash fee for their composition, have their work published by AGEHR, and have their work premiered at a prestigious HMA-sponsored event.

The New Composers Initiative’s inaugural award in 2025 went to Aryaman Joshi of Minneapolis. Aryaman graduated from St. Olaf College in 2023 with a B.A. in Music Composition and Mathematics with a Data Science Minor. During his time at St. Olaf, he studied composition under Dr. Timothy Mahr and Dr. Justin Merritt. He currently rings with Ring Out! in the Twin Cities. His composition, tentatively titled “Za’atar” integrates Arabic modes, rhythms, and ornaments, and will be premiered at Distinctly Teen 2026.

The New Composers Initiative is currently looking for the next recipient of the award. Interested applicants should have acquired the musical expertise and compositional skills necessary to produce an original handbell work which meets the standards to be premiered at a major HMA event. Because the Initiative is designed to promote new composers, applicants should have no more than two handbell compositions accepted by an established music publishing house.

Applications will be accepted at weekofhandbells.com/newcomposers from Jan 1, 2026 until Feb 28, 2026 and the winner of this award will be announced by March 31, 2026. Composers wishing to be considered for the award should submit:

1. A comprehensive sampling of their compositional output, as possible with sound files, which demonstrates the applicant’s understanding of music theory and the handbell idiom. Examples need not be restricted to compositions for handbells, but at least one work must demonstrate an understanding of the handbell idiom.
2. A brief (250-word) statement sharing their vision for the sponsored commission, including any ideas that might be considered unique and innovative.
3. Contact information for a reference who can speak to the applicant's talent and skills as a composer.

The composer selected for this award will be closely managed to ensure completion of the composition.

The Donald E. Allured Original Composition Award was originally established in 1993 by attendees of the Bay View Week of Handbells to honor and ensure an appropriate legacy for Mr. Allured. The purpose of the Award was to commission original handbell music that would exemplify the highest standards and expectations that Donald Allured would demand in such works. Since its inception, the Award has commissioned compositions from many of the field’s most prominent composers for premiere at the Bay View Week of Handbells concert. While the Allured Award enthusiastically continues this activity, it also seeks to expand the pool of capable composers to carry the art into the future. For more information, please contact allured-wiltse-funds@handbellmusicians.org.