Area 9 Hosted Events

Summit 2016 - The Ocean Journey
June 26 to July 3, 2016
Galveston, Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Jamaica
Stephanie Rhodes, Clinician
Final Boarding Call!
Registration Ends March 31st

Oklahoma Spring Ring
April 23, 2016
First United Methodist Church
Owasso, OK
Mike McCrary, Clinician
Registration Deadline April 8, 2016

Panhandle Spring Ring
April 30, 2016
First Presbyterian Church
Amarillo, TX
Jeremy Springer, Clinician
Registration Deadline April 15, 2016

To have your event listed in Ringing News and on the Area’s website, please visit area9.handbellmusicians.org today.

Concerts in Area 9

Houston Bronze Concert
April 24, 2016 @ 4:00p
Trinity Klein Lutheran Church
5201 Spring Cypress Rd., Spring, TX

Houston Bronze Concert
May 13, 2016 @ 7:30p
Match
3400 Main St., Matchbox 3

Oklahoma City Handbell Ensemble
May 14, 2016 @ 2:30p &7p
Coleman Theatre
103 N. Main St., Miami, OK

Oklahoma City Handbell Ensemble
May 15, 2016 @ 2:00p
First United Methodist Church
2525 Piedmont Rd. N., Piedmont, OK

Houston Bronze Concert
May 17, 2016
Moody United Methodist Church
2803 53rd St., Galveston TX

Oklahoma City Handbell Ensemble
May 20, 2016 @ 7:30p
First Unitarian Church
600 NW. 13th St., OKC, OK

Oklahoma City Handbell Ensemble
May 21, 2016 @ 7:30p
Church of the Resurrection
13112 N. Rockwell Ave., OKC, OK

Getting Social

Advertise in
Ringing News

Advertising in Area 9 has never been easier! With full-color, digital ads that link directly to your web site, you can reach handbell enthusiasts, ringers, and directors right in their e-mail inbox. For ad dimensions, pricing, due dates, and more, please visit area9.handbellmusicians.org today.

March 2016 Ringing News

Final Boarding Call!

Registration Deadline is March 31, 2016

Events Abound! Are You Going?

There are a few things that break my heart in life. Often there is not much that I can do to remedy many heartbreaking things! However, I can be a cheerleader in the handbell community and try to make one of the heartbreakers better. One heartbreak I have is hearing that a handbell ringer or ensemble has never had a ringing experience except in the church, school, or a local choir.

Read More

Do We Love to Play Bells or Not

Handbell ringers like to play bells; we like the music. So why are bell players so somber and unexpressive when they play? Most will say they are concentrating, but I suggest it is because we do not practice that portion of the bell performance! I am a dancer. Music moves me physically as well as spiritually. I can usually follow the instructions to move with the music and not to stand completely still. When asked to smile or express the music on my face, I have to work at that. Just as standing there stiff as a board hampers bell playing, not reflecting the music in your face produces a less than optimal result.

Read Full Article Here

Oh Say Can You Be…A Ringer!

Would you love to ring the national anthem before a Major League Baseball game? Area 9 Invites you to save the date of Saturday, August 13, 2016, because Area 9 is going to give every ringer in the land that exact opportunity! Watch for more information in the coming weeks on the Area 9 website and social media. This event will be open to groups and individuals. Registration will be required.

Get Your Concert Listed

Does your community group or church choir have a handbell concert coming up? If your answer is yes, then you need to let Area 9 help you get your concert in front of thousands of eyes all over Oklahoma and Texas. Simply complete the quick form at area9.handbellmusicians.org, and we get to work spreading the news with listings on our website and here in our newsletter. We also invite our Facebook fans and Twitter followers to check our listing regularly. The best part is that this is free to our members!

If you want some extra attention for your concert, take a peek at our affordable concert advertising options at area9.handbellmusicians.org.

Remember: Area 9’s system and the national office system are not the same for concert listings. A few extra minutes means you get more people helping you spread the news.

We found this new humans page while poking around the outer edges of the internet. It appears the curators need some help finding us humans of handbells. Take a peek at the blog with its few entries at humansofhandbells.com. Maybe even think about submitting yourself or a friend. If Humans of New York took over the world, why can’t we?!

Why We Need More Events Like the College Ring-In

In 2013 I attended my first National Seminar in Portland, Oregon. At that Seminar I went to a round table discussion about university handbell ensembles lead by Jessica Westgard-Larson, one of the members of the Handbell Musicians of America Board of Directors. After that class, Jessica and I talked for a while about what a college aged ringing event would look like. Little did I know that three years later I would be at the first ever College Ring-In and that the event would be every bit as wonderful as I imagined.

Read Full Article Here

Summit 2016 Scholarship Update

As of February 27, 2016, Area 9 received no applications from members or non-members for Summit 2016. We are saddened to say that the scholarships will be unused this year.

To see all of the scholarships offered by Area 9, please visit area9.handbellmusicians.org/education/scholarships/. We want to see you at the next Area 9 event!

Area 9 Voting Ballots Coming Soon

This does seem to be the year of elections of all kinds – council persons, senators, representatives, presidents, and more. Area 9 wants to remind you that this is a voting year for new officers. Be watching your snail mail for the slate of officers and your ballot. Your vote counts and guides Area 9 for the years to come!

Please contact any of the 2014-2016 Area 9 board members with ideas, suggestions, questions or concerns.

Chair – Ruth Seiwell
Chair Elect – Wilson Van Tine
Treasurer – Marci Corey
Secretary – Patty Highland
Past Chair – Michelle Tejada
Financial Advisor – Wilson Van Tine
Education – Venita Gorman
Publications – Kari Daelke
Social Media/Communications – Jeremy Springer
Oklahoma Representative - Paula Barnes
Texas Representative - Adam Samuels
Texas Representative - Dellinda Ebeling

Are You Getting Certified?

The Handbell Musicians of America Certification has been developed as a comprehensive curriculum program designed to address all levels of training and experience withhandbell and handchime instruments. There are three levelsof certification available, eachrequiring from four to sixsubjects. Classes within each subject are currently offered at various National events. Eventually, classes will also be offered at regional and Area events, and some will be available online.

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National Address Update Reminder

Please send national payments including membership renewal, contributions, event registration payments, invoice payments, etc. should go to:

Handbell Musicians of America
PO Box 145400
Mail Location 521
Cincinnati, OH 45250

All national general correspondence that does not include a check payment should be sent to:

Handbell Musicians of America
201 E. Fifth Street
Suite 1900-1025
Cincinnati, OH 45202

Our National Organization