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Greetings, Area 12 -
I’ll keep it short this month, but I did want to say that your board virtually met a couple of weeks ago to check in with each other, make sure our Action Items are on track, and to hear an update from the 2026 Conference Committee.
As part of that Committee, I am happy to say that registration is opening February 1. We are beyond excited about the Conference! There are great class offerings from some of the handbell community’s best teachers, the repertoire is excellent, and of course our clinician Michael Glasgow always brings a fresh energy to the podium. There’s even an optional evening excursion! Go check out the event web page and submit your registration. It’s going to be a fabulous conference!
I wish you all the best in your Lenten and Easter preparations.
Until next month,
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Hello Area 12!
Our quarterly Area 12 board meeting was held on January 17th. This one was a virtual meeting. We began our time with the usual bell-themed chit-chat while everyone was joining the meeting. It was fun to hear the stories about everyone’s holiday concerts and events that they have attended. It’s interesting that what people remember most are the little quirks and mishaps and it’s good to hear that it’s not just your group that has these things happen. If you have any fun stories from your concerts or events or information about upcoming events, share them with your Regional Coordinator (RC) and we can include them in our newsletter.
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One important topic at our meeting was the planning of the Area12 Neon City Rhythms conference that will be held on June 18-20, 2026 in Summerlin (near Las Vegas) on campus at Faith Lutheran School. The events committee has been very busy and plans for the conference are coming together nicely. Check out the event website for more details and save the date – It’s going to be awesome! Lots of ringing and classes and catching up with good friends!
Area 12’s next board meeting will be Mar 13-14, 2026. Talk to your RC if you have any comments, questions, concerns, or issues that you would like to see added to the agenda.
Happy ringing!
Carol Flint
Area12 Secretary
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Nominations for Elected Board Positions
It is that time to prepare for elections. We are looking for nominations for the three elected positions: Chair (6-year cycle), Secretary (2-year cycle), and Treasurer (2-year cycle). We need two candidates to be placed on the ballot for each position. Would you or someone you know be interested in a nomination for the ballot?
In addition, we have openings for the following appointed positions: Events Coordinator, Membership Director, and Member-at-Large.
If you are interested in or know of someone who might be interested in any of these elected or appointed positions, please contact Marci Nuoffer at pastchair.area12@handbellmusicians.org with any nominations.
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Young Ringers Festival (8th grade and younger): Saturday, March 07, 2026: MORE INFO
High School and Collegiate Handbell Invitational: Monday, March 9, 2026: MORE INFO
SAVE THE DATE: Handbell Summer Camp (for grades 5 - 9): July 6 - 10, 2026 in Irvine
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Dear Los Angeles, Orange County, and Ventura ringers,
I'm looking forward to an increase in handbell activities over the next month, including directing the Intermediate Handbell Festival at Redlands Adventist Academy on Feb 5, touring with the Concordia handbell ensembles in late February, hosting our youth festival and invitational in March, and workshopping with the South County Community Handbell Choir.
That's enough from me though - if you have news to share from your own handbell ensemble in my region, please email me at LA-OC-V.area12@handbellmusicians.org
I'd love to get the word out about any concerts or events you're running, as well as photos or updates about what your ensemble is up to. Email me anytime and I can share it in this newsletter, even if it's just a simple update, group photo, or performance recording!
Erik Der
P.S. Erik's email has changed to LA-OC-V.area12@handbellmusicians.org, please update your address books.
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Hello So Cal!
The weather in my area has been a little cold, and a little rainy the past couple weeks, but today the Santa Ana winds started, and with it, the warm weather. It seems like the seasons can change just that fast in Southern California.
As we turn our attention to spring, the SoCal Spring Ring will be held again in our favorite location, St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Oceanside, CA on May 1-2. Barbara Meike will lead the event for all levels of ringers.
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We are excited to announce we have finalized our music selection, so the registration information will be on our website very soon. As promised, two of the massed ring pieces will also be rung in our summer conference, so those of you who are interested in doing both events can enjoy some amount of music overlap. Please look for registration to open in February, and mark May 1-2 on your calendars!
Do you have anything you would like to share with your local handbell community? A success story, or just something fun related to handbells? Please let me know, I’d be happy to include it in a future article.
Blessings,
Carol Pickford
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For information on Northern Nevada concerts, events, and other opportunities,
click here.
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Howdy!
I love going to handbell events! Why? Here's a partial list:
- getting to see old friends and making new ones
- being a part of and getting to connect to the bigger bell community
- learning new skills and sharpening old ones
- ringing under a new or favorite director
- getting to play new music or old music in a new way
- hearing other ensembles
- the sound of all those bells!
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As we're planning the Sierra Spring Ring, I would love to get some feedback on what YOU like about going to handbell events. What classes would you like to attend? What music have you been dying to ring? Other suggestions?
Let's get out there and ring together this Spring and Summer!
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SOUTHERN NEVADA
Alison Pruett
| | We had a wonderful time at the annual Las Vegas Twelfth Night Handbell Festival this year! Brian Childers was the guest clinician and we had over 90 ringers from Nevada, Arizona, California, and even one from Virginia. This endorsed event is a great opportunity to play under some great clinicians and next year will be no different. Save January 8-9, 2027, to ring with us under the baton of Brenda Austin. Can’t wait to see you there! | | | On another note, the Area 12 Conference will be held for the first time in Las Vegas, June 18-20, with guest conductor Michael Glasgow. Registration details are available at https://area12.handbellmusicians.org/ncr2026/. Please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions. Hope to see you there! | |
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Area 12 had a great time at the California All-State Music Education Conference (CASMEC) in Sacramento a couple weeks ago. It's always a great time showing handbells to students and teachers in Area 12. We met some new friends and even got some Marines and Army ringing with us!
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Bay Area Spring Ring
Saturday, April 18, 2026
Sunnyvale Presbyterian Church
728 W. Fremont Avenue
Sunnyvale, California
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Greetings Bay Area!
REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN FOR THE 2026 BAY AREA SPRING RING!
You are invited to ring under the baton of Brian Childers this April 18 at the 2026 Bay Area Spring Ring. We have plenty of music in the repertoire that is appropriate for the Lenten season (in case you haven’t selected Easter music yet).
Even if your whole group can’t attend, individual ringers are welcomed on the massed ringing floor. Plus, those who want an extra challenge will want to register separately for the Intense Ring group in the morning (Intense Ring application deadline is March 27).
The evening concert, which is open to the public, will once again be at 6:30 pm, and will feature a 15-minute prelude by the Messiah Brass (who we are thrilled to welcome back again). We are being hosted by Sunnyvale Presbyterian Church for the second year in a row, and we invite you to get your name on the list, pay your registration fee, purchase your music and start studying your music, because the day will soon be here!
More information about the Bay Area Spring Ring (and Intense Ring) can be found here:
https://handbellventures.org/springring2026.html
(And yes, we realize that the left side of the page still mentions last year’s conductor.)
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FESTIVAL TIME: Part 1
Over the next few months there will be many spring festivals coming up in Area 12. When you think about it, bell festivals are the ideal performance experience.
Mass Ringing: Beginners, so you can’t get all the notes, who will know? Maybe your group is missing a few ringers. That doesn’t matter as there will be dozens of other ringers playing those bells. You might think that if you haven’t mastered one of the songs then perhaps you shouldn’t go. Not to worry. There will probably be another group that has mastered that song. Where else can you gather with one hundred other ringers but at a festival?
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Let’s not forget about the Classes. Even if you have been ringing bells for years you are bound to learn something new, such as new techniques, new music, and new friends!
And then there is Shopping. Vendors set up their wares. You will find gloves, music, mallets, binders, polishing cloths, jewelry, crafty items, maybe even T-shirts.
Check out the spring festivals coming up and plan on spending a weekend away from your daily responsibilities and being with fellow bell ringers.
Stay tuned for Festival Time: Part 2 coming in the March issue of 12th Tone.
Nancy Schmitt
Area 12 Far Northern California Liaison
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The New Composers Initiative: Growing the Next Generation of Handbell Composers
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 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.
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Our National Organization (click logos to get more info!) | | |
The Twelfth Tone is published on or around the first of each month, except July, by Area 12 of the Handbell Musicians of America (The Guild). The Guild is a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the musical art of handbell/handchime ringing through education, community, and communication. The editor of this publication reserves the right to reject or modify copy.
We have over 1500 contacts, a 40% open rate (17% higher than the industry average) and a 13% click rate. Book your ad NOW!
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Payment is due prior to publication. Submission DEADLINE is the 20th of each month. No issue in July.
Please submit your ads via email to:
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Teachers: Would you like the use of a three octave set of handbells or handchimes to add interest and a new dimension to your music class?
Area 12 encourages schools and other educational institutions, both public and private, to develop educational programs using handbells and handchimes.
To support the development of such programs, Area 12 has six 3-octave sets of handbells and three 3-octave sets of handchimes for loan.
To learn more about the responsibilities and procedures for participating in this program, click here.
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