The Newsletter of Area 1 Handbell Musicians of America | Vol. XXXIX No. 5 | October 2025 | | |
IN THIS EDITION:
- Report from the Board Chair
- Notice of next Area 1 Board Meeting
- Fall Ringing Opportunities throughout Area 1
- Winter Workshop 2026 Details
- Notes from State and Regional Chairs
- Please be sure to scroll down/click "view entire message" to see - and support - our advertisers
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Hello Area 1!
I am so excited to step into the role of Chair for the next two years. While I am not originally from New England (born and raised in Chicago, IL), I have lived here for the last 11 years and have fallen in love with the area and its bell community in particular. I love that we are small enough geographically to comfortably travel across state lines to visit, learn, and ring together. I love that we have a rich history of handbell ringing, with Margaret Shurcliff and the Beacon Hill Ringers going on 101+ years of ringing tradition, and the founding of what has become Handbell Musicians of America (starting as the New England Guild of English Handbell Ringers, and then the American Guild of English Handbell Ringers). I love that we have so many handbell ensembles, from tins to bronze ringers and beyond, who are so willing to jump in, lend a hand, and participate in this activity we all love. And I love that the inherent nature of this activity is social and collaborative - we are, after all, many hands making one instrument play out beautifully.
As we move into the next two years of my tenure as Chair of Area 1, I hope to connect with as many folks out there ringing bells as possible. I want to hear from all the different iterations of ensembles and learn about ringing that is happening or what you wish to happen. We have many strong State Chairs and Officers in place who will continue to do the amazing work they have been doing: planning strong events with great clinicians, helping elevate the musical techniques of all, and strengthening the connective social bonds that hold us together. I aim to bring a few more State Chairs online in the coming months, and re-engage with our bells in schools. I aim to have State Chairs visit more bell rehearsals, to say “hi!’ and be a listening ear to what the ringers in Area 1 want. And I aim to continue building the collective vision of what a dedicated group of individuals can do to advance the musical art of handbell and handchime ringing through education, community, and communication; through the efforts of the board, and through ringing more music with you!
Please reach out to chair.area1@handbellmusicians.org if you have ideas, questions, thoughts, excitement - I welcome connecting with all!
Greg Urban
Area 1 Chair
chair.area1@handbellmusicians.org
| | Area 1 is grateful to Handbell Services for allowing us to use their handbell silhouette artwork featured in our 'Report from the Chair' header. | | |
Notice of Next Area 1 Board Meeting
Area 1 Board Meetings are open to all members of the Guild and held three times a year, usually in January, May and September. Our next regular Board Meeting is January 17, 2026 and will be held virtually. Considering a board position? Just want to hear about all the cool stuff happening here?
If you are interested in attending, please email Greg Urban, Area 1 Chair.
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Fall Ringing for All!
Fall is a great time to get back on track for the ringing year, brush up on your techniques, learn some new skills, and connect with new and old handbell friends. Below are several opportunities happening this month.
Come as an individual or with a full or partial choir. You don't have to reside in the state holding the event to attend; come one, come all! Click on the link below each event for details and to sign up. We hope to see you at one or more of these great events.
Greater Boston Fall Skill Building and Repertoire Reading
October 4, 8 AM - 3 PM
St. Matthews United Methodist Church, Acton, MA
Six Classes plus Rep Reading!
Registration open through October 2
Greater Boston Fall Skill-Building Registration
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Totally Tins: A Workshop for Emerging Handbell Musicians
October 18, 10 AM - 3 PM
Congregational Church of Cumberland, Cumberland, ME
Abby Schoppe and Kim Visbaras, Clinicians
Registration open through October 11
Totally Tins Registration
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Cape Cod Skill Building Workshop
October 25, 8:30 AM - 1 PM
First Congregational Church of Chatham, Chatham, MA
Diane Burke, Clinician
Registration open through October 18
Cape Cod Skill-Building Registration
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Western Massachusetts Advent & Christmas Social Ring
October 25, 1 to 4 PM
Easthampton Congregational Church, Easthampton, MA
RSVP in advance or walk-ins welcome
Western MA Social Ring Details
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Winter Workshop 2026
UMass Amherst - January 30-31
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Three tracks, two class sessions, and one unforgettable weekend await you at Area 1’s Winter Workshop. Whether you’re new to the event or a returning ringer, you’ll find a welcoming community, great music, and a track designed to fit your goals. Come join us to ring, learn, laugh and connect.
Bronze Track
Clinician: Brenda Austin, Music Director, Embellish Handbells
Repertoire:
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Platinum Celebration – Brenda Austin, Beckenhorst Publishing, BEHB793; 4–7 octaves handbells and chimes / Level 5
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Champaca – Elizabeth Peters, From the Top Music, MFM20640; 3–5 octaves handbells / Level 3+
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Rolling in the Deep – Nick Hanson, Hope Publishing Co, MHP2627; 3–7 octaves handbells and chimes / Level 3 +
Coppers Plus Track
Clinician: Cheryl Townsend, Musical Director, New England Ringers
Repertoire:
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Reminiscence – Michael Glasgow, Choristers Guild, CGB814; 3–7 octaves handbells and chimes / Level 3 +
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Dance of Celebration – Steven A Taranto, Choristers Guild, CGB669; 3–5 octaves handbells / Level 3 +
Coppers Track
Clinicians: Abby Schoppe and Diane Burke
Repertoire:
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Steal Away, Sandra Eithun, Choristers Guild, CGB775; 3–6 octaves handbells / Level 2 +
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Dawn of a New Day, Jason Krug, G.I.A.Publications, Inc., GIG9964; 3–5 octaves handbells / Level 2 +
Cost
Early bird registration: $210 (through December 20)
Price includes three meals plus snacks. Attendees must purchase and prepare their music ahead of time. Housing not included. A reserved room blook is available at the UMASS Amherst Hotel.
More Information: Visit the Winter Workshop page on the HMA Area 1 webpage.
Registration Opens October 14th!
Questions? Contact Suzanne Neafus at Suzanne.Neafus@gmail.com
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We have so many awesome plans for Connecticut in the coming year.
I will be attending the Totally Tins workshop in Maine in the coming weeks. I want to learn all about it so we can bring this program to CT.
Reserve your spot. We are looking for choirs needing a refresher course to perfect their skills and work on music for the holiday season. We'll bring the Skills Workshops to your location during your rehearsal time. Maybe two or three neighboring churches could come together at your church. These workshops are such fun. We laugh and learn and maybe share a pizza.
Could we use your church or studio for a workshop site? We are looking for locations all over Connecticut to offer a fun Saturday workshop open to all Connecticut ringers. We will offer theory concepts like rhythm and notation, sight reading, proper ringing techniques, and a fun ring. We encourage directors to attend. Who knows? Maybe we can help you find a sub for a rehearsal or performance. These workshops have been quite well received in the past, so, by request, we are bringing them back to Connecticut.
Recruiting. Do you know people who would like to join your bell choir but have never played handbells before? Perhaps they can’t even read music. Together we can help them discover handbells through our tested process in a workshop at your church.
Experienced Ringers: Would you like to mentor a new ringer in this program? Help us bring handbells to more people? Please let me know.
What would you like to see Connecticut offer? Perhaps it's something that hasn’t been mentioned. Something for your children and teens? Schools? Seniors centers?
Finally, do you know of a church or organization that has bells sitting unused in a closet? Let us help them revive their program or find a new home for the bells.
Are you interested? Let me know how we can help. Email me at CT.area1@handbellmusicians.org
The only thing that is missing is YOU.
Vicki Moroski
Connecticut State Chair
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Notes from MAINE
Dana Humphreys, Maine State Chair
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Dear Maine Ringers,
Tins Choirs! If you haven’t already registered for Totally Tins North on October 18 in Cumberland, time is running out! Registration will close shortly, and you don’t want to miss this special skill-building workshop. Information and a link to the registration form can be found at https://area1.handbellmusicians.org/totally-tins/.
Planning continues for Maine Spring Ring 2026, with clinicians Kevin McChesney and Samantha Beschta, to be held on Saturday, April 11, 2026. The venue is still being determined, but the full repertoire can be found at this link to the event: https://area1.handbellmusicians.org/state-and-local-events/maine-spring-ring/. If you or your choir are planning to attend, it’s not too early to purchase the music and begin rehearsing (along with your music for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter… with handbells, there’s always something to rehearse!).
Dana Humphreys
Maine State Chair
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Fall is here! Are you ready to ring?
It is not too late to register for the annual Greater Boston Skill-Building and Repertoire-Reading Workshop, coming up this weekend! In the morning, choose two out of a possible six classes. In the afternoon, sightread through over a dozen Advent and Christmas pieces under the direction of Diane Burke. Please join us!
Looking farther ahead, I am excited to provide details for the 2026 Massachusetts Spring Ring, as follows:
WHEN: Saturday, April 11, 2026, 10 AM-5 PM
WHERE: Tewksbury Memorial High School
COST: $15 per ringer
CLINICIAN: Kimberlee Strepka
REPERTOIRE
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MASSED: Courage and Grace, by Michael W. Joy, Level 3-, 3-6 octaves handbells, Hope Publishing HP3030
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MASSED: The Lord Now Sends Us Forth, arr. Cathy Moklebust, Level 2+, 2-5 octaves of handbells with optional 2-5 octaves of handchimes, percussion, and guitar
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TINS: What Wondrous Love Is This, arr. Susan E. Geschke, Level 1+, 2-5 octaves handbells, Choristers Guild CGB621 (2-3 octaves)/CGB622 (3-5 octaves)
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COPPERS: Serenity, by Kurt Meyer, Level 3, 3-6 octaves handbells with optional 3 octaves handchimes, Beckenhorst Press BEHB827
If you have never been to the Massachusetts Spring Ring, it’s a fantastic opportunity for choirs from throughout the area to come together, rehearse under a massed conductor, and provide a concert in the afternoon – all in the space of an affordable, day-long event. Both full and partial choirs are welcome, and independent ringers will be matched with openings in other choirs. Participating choirs are encouraged to play as many or few of the pieces as they feel prepared to tackle. If you are a Tins choir and don’t feel ready to attempt both of the Massed pieces, you can definitely sit out one or both of them. (However, we also encourage you to try ringing along, knowing that other choirs will cover any notes that you miss! This event is a great opportunity to play music that you might not be able to ring at home in your churches, due to either the size or experience level of your individual choir.) If you are a Coppers choir, you are also welcome and encouraged to participate in ringing the Tins piece if you’d like; since our Tins division is often much smaller than our Coppers division, we welcome the added forces! Whether your choir wants to ring one piece or four (or anything in between), there is room for you to participate in this great event!
Lastly, I need to share that, after six years on the Area 1 board, I will be stepping down in the months ahead in order to focus on other activities. I will remain in my role at least through the end of October 2025, and possibly through January 2026, depending on how quickly a replacement is found for me. I do plan to remain a member of the committees for both Massachusetts Spring Ring and the annual fall workshop, so I will definitely be seeing most of you again, even after my time on the board ends.
If you know anyone who would be interested in joining the Area 1 board, please don’t hesitate to contact either me (at ma.area1@handbellmusicians.org) or Greg Urban (at chair.area1@handbellmusicians.org).
Abby Schoppe
Chair, Greater Boston MA/NH Region
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Happy October, Cape Cod!
First and foremost, I hope many of you will consider signing up for the Cape Cod Skill-Building Workshop! This is a chance to review technique and musicianship while rehearsing two of the pieces for the 2026 Cape Cod Spring Ring. Repertoire will be available on site to borrow or purchase. All the details are at the link in the previous sentence, but to quickly summarize:
WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 25, 8:30 AM-1 PM
WHERE: First Congregational Church of Chatham
COST: $15 per person
CLINICIAN: Diane Burke
REPERTOIRE: Cathy Moklebust’s Meditation on Beautiful Savior and Jason Krug’s Free Fall
Looking farther ahead, please also join us in March for the 2026 Cape Cod Spring Ring! Here are those details:
WHEN: Saturday, March 21, 9 AM-3:30 PM
WHERE: Harwich Community Center
COST: $15 per ringer
CLINICIAN: Samantha Beschta
REPERTOIRE:
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Laudation, by Brenda Austin, 2-5 octaves handbells, Level 2, Composers Music Company, CP7096 (2-3 octave version) and CP7097 (3-5 octave version)
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Meditation on Beautiful Savior, by Cathy Moklebust, 2-5 octaves handbells, Level 3, Choristers Guild, CGB175 (3-5 octave version) and CGB763 (2-octave version)
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Free Fall, by Jason Krug, 2-6 octaves handbells with optional percussion, Level 2+, From the Top Publishing, FM206253 (2-3 octave version), FM206255 (3-5 octave version), FM20625M (director's score), and FM20625P (percussion score)
Lastly, I need to share that, after six years on the Area 1 board, I will be stepping down in the months ahead in order to focus on other activities. I will remain in my role at least through the end of October 2025, and possibly through January 2026, depending on how quickly a replacement is found for me. I have also agreed to continue as the lead organizer for the 2026 Cape Cod Spring Ring, so I will definitely see many of you again, even after my time on the board ends.
If you know anyone who would be interested in joining the Area 1 board, please don’t hesitate to contact either me (at ma.area1@handbellmusicians.org) or Greg Urban (at chair.area1@handbellmusicians.org).
Abby Schoppe
Chair, Cape Cod & Islands Region
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Hello Western Mass!
Happy Fall and I hope that you had a wonderful summer. Western MA had its first
“Ringing Under the Influence – Western Mass Style” on August 24th in Easthampton at Abandoned Building Brewery. This was a repertoire read focusing on fun secular music levels 2 to 3+. It was a huge success. We had more than 30 ringers of all levels from Maine to Connecticut. More than 70% of the ringers had never been to a social ring before and are now looking forward to the next one. The most joyful moment was looking down the rows and seeing a mix of Coppers, Tins, and Bronze ringers in alternating positions making beautiful music together, helping one another, and clearly having fun. The music was a mix of selections from Jeffers Handbell World and a few unpublished pieces from generous arrangers. Each time we have any event, we learn from the evaluation forms. Next time, we will have LESS music and we will ring through each piece twice. Bottom line: people want social rings… as many as possible!
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| |  | So, we listened, we responded, and we have our next event scheduled … This may not be at a brewery, but it will still be a fun and casual afternoon. Come join us on October 25, at Easthampton Congregational Church (112 Main Street, Easthampton MA), for sight reading Advent and Christmas music. This will be from 1:00 to 4:00pm (setup at noon). Sign up early so we can make sure to have enough bells for everyone. Also, if any directors would like to take the podium, we always need people to help guide us through the pieces. This will not only be a great opportunity for ringers to learn from other ringers, but also directors to learn from other directors. We are not shooting for perfection, just fun! In addition to simply having a good time, what a great opportunity to test out a few pieces and see if you’d like to purchase anything else for your holiday season. We are targeting levels 1+ to 3+ to give everyone the chance to feel confident and successful. There will be something for everyone. All music will be available for purchase, most for a discount and NO SHIPPING charges. Please fill out this Social Ring Sign Up Form if you are planning to attend. Yes, walk-ins are still welcome! This is just for fun, so bring your family and friends, too. Donations will be accepted to cover music shipping charges.
Traveling Clinic Trial going on now!
As we welcome all the groups back to ringing, I want to remind you that we are still promoting the Traveling Clinic as a trial program. We know that this is a busy time of year with restarting rehearsals and reforming choirs, so, if you are too busy to look into a local workshop, let us bring the workshop to you. Go to the website to read more and sign up. Click here for Western Mass Traveling Clinic Information. In a nutshell, we use your bells, your location and answer your questions, at a time that works for you. You will work with our clinicians and make your own personalized workshop. This will be a limited edition for a test pilot and available to the first 3 groups that sign up… FOR FREE. The target area is anywhere west of Worcester. Fill in this form if you are interested. There are still spots available!
If you know of any ringing happenings in our area, please reach out so I can help spread the word and the joy of handbells.
Audrey Pierce
Western Mass Chair
westernma.area1@handbellmusicians.org
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Fall greetings from Lil' Rhody!
As we approach the autumn season, handbell choirs are in full swing rehearsing repertoire for upcoming handbell services, concerts, and events! There are many local handbell opportunities to look forward to this fall (see article at the top of this newsletter) and Winter Workshop on January 30 and 31 at UMASS Amherst!
A new RI Community Handbell Choir has begun! (Official name TBD) Our first reading session was on August 16. Several people came to try it out. A couple people were professional musicians, but had never tried handbells, and most were experienced handbell ringers! We plan on rehearsing every other week at Slatersville Congregational Church in North Smithfield. We will be performing in November as a solid copper-level choir.
A new Traveling Clinic Program is being piloted in Western MA. Clinicians will travel to your handbell choir and work with you in your space, using your bells on YOUR schedule! You can create a highly specialized workshop catered to what your group needs. Area 1 is open to trying this out in RI too. Let me know if you are interested in having a Traveling Workshop visit your choir!
Upcoming RI events:
- Saturday, Nov. 29, 7pm - New England Ringers concert, presented by “Sanctuary Sounds,” a monthly concert series held at Slatersville Congregational Church, 25 Greene St., North Smithfield, RI
Happy ringing!
Jill Boday
Rhode Island State Chair
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