Handbell Musicians of America - Area 4

There’s still time to ring in the new season with us! 🔔 Join us for the final fall Area 4 HMA Handbell Directors Workshop in Sarasota on Saturday, September 14th and learn from experienced educators. Participants will gain valuable insights, network with fellow directors, and elevate your handbell program.

For more information and to register, visit https://area4.handbellmusicians.org

Our friends at Suncoast Bronze Ringers are hosting a morning of handbell enrichment next month. Join director Michael Lamb and the Suncoast Bronze crew in Holiday, FL on Saturday, September 21st to brush up on techniques and playing those tricky passages with less stress. Visit www.suncoastbronzeringers.com for more details and to register!

Are you a music director at a church or school? Would you like to start or restart a handbell program in your church or school? Handbell Musicians of America - Area 4 is here to support you!

We’re hosting three Directors Seminars this fall - two in Florida and one in Puerto Rico! Join us as we we share information to support handbell programs and equip music directors with a day of workshops, roundtables, techniques, and a reading session of handbell music.

Visit our Events page and find the Directors Seminar that works best for you!
https://area4handbells.weebly.com/events.html

- if you know someone who might benefit from this, please pass it along!

🔔🎶 Exciting sneak peek behind the scenes at Bronze Under the Sun! Our talented handbell ringers are in full rehearsal mode, gearing up for an unforgettable performance. 🌟 Don't miss out on their melodious magic—tune in to our livestreamed concert later today at 3 PM on the Area 4 YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/! 🎥✨

T-24 hours until ringers descend on Gainesville for Bronze Under the Sun 2024 with Kevin McChesney & Samantha Beschta on the podium! Join us live on Saturday at 3 pm to watch the closing concert! https://www.youtube.com/live/yijp0qQSJx0?si=U9NurwhfrNQrwMRn
Follow us on YouTube and get notified when we go live! YouTube.com/

Handbell Musicians of America - Area 4 represent! Ten ringers from the southeast are participating in this weekend’s Virtuoso event, hosted by The Raleigh Ringers. If you’re in or near Raleigh, NC, consider heading over to see their performance on Sunday, June 2nd!

What is Virtuoso?
This unique three-and-a-half-day performance event for advanced handbell ringers combines the opportunity to work with Dr. William Payn with a final concert, sharing the stage with The Raleigh Ringers.

TONIGHT! If you're in the Royal Palm Beach, FL area, be sure to check out the Crestwood Middle School Handbell & Chorus concert this evening, Wednesday, May 22nd! The performance is called "A Light in the Darkness," and you can see it at Crestwood Middle, 64 Sparrow Dr, Royal Palm Beach, FL 33411. We're hoping you may also find it on YouTube, but Handbell Musicians of America - Area 4 couldn't confirm: https://www.youtube.com/-xs7gz

We are saddened to learn of the passing of composer and longtime friend Sherman , who courageously fought a long battle with cancer. Arnold leaves with the handbell and band communities a legacy of scores of music pieces as well as his continued support of handbell musicians around the world. Our prayers are with his family and other loved ones during this difficult time. We will share news about arrangements as it becomes available.

Handbell Musicians of America - Area 4 is offering one lucky ringer a full-ride* scholarship to Handbell Musicians of America's National Seminar this summer! https://bit.ly/Area4Scholarships

Applications are due by May 15, 2024.

Handbell Musicians of America’s National Seminar is right around the corner and Area 4 wants you to join us! APPLY NOW for our full-ride* scholarship, which includes registration, transportation, and hotel. The application deadline is May 15, 2024!

https://bit.ly/Area4Scholarships

There’s a few more opportunities to catch Carolina Bronze Handbell Ensemble this week!

Carolina Bronze concerts begin tonight and continue to Saturday, May 11. Check our website for concert times and locatioins. We would love to see you. (Sunday, May 5 has been cancelled because of construction.)

Registration Packets are now available for this year's Bronze Under the Sun event!

https://bit.ly/BronzeUndertheSun2024

Registration for the 2024 Bronze Under the Sun event will open later this week, but here's a look at the music we'll be performing:

(Psst! Get updates in your inbox by signing up here: https://bit.ly/BronzeUndertheSunInterest2024)

1. Farandole, arr. Kevin McChesney - L3 (Jeffers Publishing)
2. Transitions of the Heart, Matthew Compton - L3 (Evergreen Music)
3. Celtic Praise, arr. Kevin McChesney - L3 (Jeffers Publishing)
4. Canticle, Arnold Sherman - L4 (Agape)
5. La Paix, Julie Stitt - L5 (AGEHR)
6. It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing), arr. Hart Morris - L5 (From the Top)

Weren't in the path of totality? Did clouds block your view? Don't worry, you didn't miss the celestial event of the year. Celestial Cadences is just on the horizon. Make your plans today to catch it!

April 28th: Winter Park Presbyterian
May 4th: First UMC Gainesville
May 5th: Morrison UMC (Leesburg)

All concerts at 4pm.

Handbell Musicians of America’s National Seminar is right around the corner and Area 4 wants you to join us! APPLY NOW for our full-ride* scholarship, which includes registration, transportation, and hotel. The application deadline is May 15, 2024!

https://bit.ly/Area4Scholarships

, HMA Area 4 is excited to welcome Kevin McChesney as one of our clinicians for the year's Bronze Under the Sun event, slated for June 21-22, 2024 at First United Methodist Church in Gainesville, FL! Kevin McChesney will be sharing the podium with Samantha Beschta.

The repertoire is still being finalized, but we'll let you know as soon as it's available and when registration opens.

Sign up for our Bronze Under the Sun Interest Form for updates: bit.ly/BronzeUndertheSunInterest2024

Send a message to learn more

Area 4 Ringers: Apparently, there are still some spots open for this year’s Distinctly Bronze West with Fred Gramann! This amazing experience brings advanced ringers from all over the country together for a weekend of great handbell music! There are some application requirements for first time ringers, so check it out, consult your calendar and then sign up! https://handbellmusicians.org/event/distinctly-bronze-west/

Registration opens **TODAY** at 9 am Pacific/12 pm Eastern for Distinctly Bronze West 2024, October 10-13, with renowned conductor Fred Gramann. This event will sell fast, so register early. Details and registration link are at https://handbellmusicians.org/event/distinctly-bronze-west/

A little delayed, but we're happy to share photos from the 2024 Florida Handbell Festival held last month! A big thank you to First Presbyterian Church Vero Beach for hosting and to all the wonderful ringers to joined us for a great weekend!

Spring Ringing season is in full swing!

Here's a brief rundown of upcoming concerts and performances that we've heard about. Did we miss any? Comment below!

April 6 & 7 - Suncoast Bronze Ringers's spring concert, "Director's Choice" reaches audiences in Holiday, FL and Tampa, FL
April 13 - Ring Sarasota's "Radio Waves" performances makes a stop on Siesta Key in Sarasota, FL, before heading to Lady Lake/The Villages, FL on April 21st and Lakewood Ranch, FL June 14th
April 13-14 - The Atlanta Concert Ringers' "Southern Bells" concert can be seen in Smyrna, GA and Macon, GA. The following weekend (April 20-21) sees stops in Stone Mountain and Liburn, GA.
April 14 - Village Ringers of The Villages, FL will encourage concert-goers to "Put Your Dancin' Shoes On!" with their spring showcase.
April 14 - Hoggtowne Bronze, Florida's newest advanced auditioned handbell ensemble put on it's inaugural performance in Gainesville.
April 28 - Magic of Bronze presents "Celestial Cadences: A Handbell Voyage in Space and Time." in Winter Park, FL. Additional Performance on May 4-5 in Gainesville and Leesburg, FL.
April 30 - Carolina Bronze Handbell Ensemble kicks off a 7-show tour through May 11th in Greenville SC, with stops in Anderson and Easley, SC as well.

Happy Easter to all our Handbell Musicians of America - Area 4 friends! Many of you spent time this past week performing in various church services commemorating holy week. If you're able to share, please leave links in the comments so we can all enjoy the music!

Happy Easter from Handbell Musicians of America.

Some images from the first day of rehearsal! The ringers are back at it this morning, polishing up their music and will be ready to perform today at 3! If you’re in the area, join us at first Presbyterian Church in Vero Beach or watch online.