Advertising Policy
Advertising is accepted from vendors, performance groups and individuals as well as for performance and educational events not directly sponsored by Area 11.
Rates are listed here.
Volume 19 • Issue 5 • Fall 2025
Notes from the Chair
Greetings Area 11,
Every September, a new chapter begins for Area 11 as our Board of Directors holds an annual in-person meeting to plan for our upcoming year. This year, our Board met at our 2026 Ringing Up! Festival location at the Embassy Suites and Conference Center in Loveland, Colorado. From September 12-14, we spent time finalizing upcoming events, planning for the future, and dreaming about some short, medium, and long term goals for our upcoming Festival and Area. It was a productive and inspiring weekend connecting with our Festival Committee, C.H.I.M.E. Chair, and celebrating our 5 states.
Over the course of the weekend, we expanded upon our Strategic Plan and decided to enact the following things:
- Host a Virtual Directors Seminar on November 8, 2025 from 9:00 am – 12:00 pm. This event is going to feature two presentations and a roundtable discussion led by Anne Kelley and LeAnna Willmore. You can register for the event on our webpage here:
- Create an opportunity for youth ringers by hosting a Youth Workshop in each of 5 states. This one-day event will provide youth ringers an opportunity to prepare and rehearse pre-decided music with a local Area 11 Clinician. We are going to pilot this event in Arizona this upcoming spring and expand it to all of our states in 2027.
- Moving forward, we will offer two Area 11 Camps. Starting in 2027, we will host a Youth Camp in Utah and continue our traditional Intergenerational Camp in Colorado.
- Update our Website to make all of our Event pages more informative and information for Site Hosts and Event Chairs more readily accessible.
- Show our appreciation for our Area 11 Leadership by acknowledging our current and past Area 11 Leaders on our website.
There were many other ideas, conversations, and decisions discussed, but these are a few specific updates that you’re going to see this upcoming year. Our Board also welcomed our brand new Chair Elect, Sharon Schmidt. Sharon joins our board with a wealth of knowledge, great questions, and a desire to learn and serve our Area.
As I enter my last year as Chair, I’m overwhelmed with joy and excitement for this upcoming year and the future. We have some really exciting additions and our entire board is looking forward to seeing how these additions help continue our mission to expand the art of handbell and handchime ringing. These new events not only bring new opportunities to serve and connect to our members, but it also brings an opportunity to get involved and help shape the history of these new events for our Area. If you’d like to get involved, please don’t hesitate to reach out to myself or one of our Board Members. We’ve got some inspiring events to look forward to and I can’t wait to see how these continue to serve our handbell community. I hope everyone has a wonderful Fall Season, and I’ll see participants at our Directors Seminar in November.
Love and Bells,
Anne Kelley
Chair Elect
What do Thunder and Mountain Chic have to do with Area XI?
Sept 12-14 was my first Area XI board meeting, and both those topics were discussed as well as the amazing things Area XI is doing in 2025-2026! Our board meeting was held at the Embassy Suites & Event Center in Loveland, CO – site of the 2026 Area XI Festival “Ringing Up.” Thunder (the Bronco’s mascot) was present at a fund-raising event for an equine therapy non-profit, and we took a break to see him. Along the way through the Event Center, we saw many versions of mountain chic. My husband and I were attending a gala in Golden the next week, and I had asked the group what a mountain chic dress code meant. I learned that my Midwest wardrobe is not really up for the challenge as I don’t have boots, a proper hat, or that many sequins! In addition to those two living-in-the-west items, I learned how Area XI provides so many resources for you, our members. Did you know that in 2026, there are at least 16 in-person events – 15 at the state level plus the June Festival. One of my tasks, which will serve to educate me about the Festival format, is to create a bullet-point description of Festival and what benefits it offers to handbell musicians in Area XI. Watch for that when Festival registration opens.
Area XI Ring of Fame
Another duty of the Chair-Elect is to collect nominations for the Area XI Ring of Fame. The Area 11 2002-2004 Board established the Ring of Fame to recognize exceptional service and commitment to handbell/handchime ringing in general.
You can learn more about the selection criteria here: https://area11.handbellmusicians.org/ring-of-fame/
Do you know someone who has made exceptional contributions to our art? You can nominate them! The link above contains links to both a digital and PDF nomination form. Nominations are due by January 1, 2026. If you have any questions about Ring of Fame, please contact me.
Past Ring of Fame Inductees
Until next time, just keep on ringing!
Sharon Schmidt
Upcoming Events
Director's Seminar - Virtual
We are excited to annouce our new virtual event just for directors. This event is for directors of all experience levels. It will include presentations by Anne Kelley and LeAnna Wilmore as well as a roundtable discussion including Sharon Schmidt.
Topics covered will include music selection, ringing assisgnments, tips on teaching bell techniques and many others.
Dates:
Saturday, November 8th, 2025
Time:
9:00 am – Noon MST
Location:
On your computer via Google Meet (a link will be sent after registration)
Read and Ring
Read and Ring is an annual event with locations in each state. For this fun morning event, ringers gather to do some sight reading. Music is also available for purchase with no shipping cost.
Music for each state’s Spring Ring as well as the Area 11 Ringing Up Festival will be available for purchase at this event (with not shipping cost!)
Date:
Saturday, February 21, 2026
Time:
9:00-12:00 local time
Locations:
If you are interested in hosting a Read and Ring, please contact our Desert or Mountain Area Chairs.
More Information
Save the Date – Festival 2026!!
June 11-14, 2026 in Loveland, CO
Area 11 Ringing Up Festival will feature Dave Harris as our clinician. It will be hosted at the Embassy Suites Loveland Convention Center. This beautiful facility is located with a view of the Rocky Mountains and is located just an hour away from scenic Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park.
Registration coming soon
Bulletin Board
ISO Handbell Director Church at Litchfield Park, AZ
The Church at Litchfield Park is seeking a handbell director starting this fall. Our historic church with great acoustics for handbells is located in a beautiful suburb, west of Phoenix, just across the street from the Wigwam Resort in Litchfield Park. Rehearsals are once per week and we play during worship once a month, plus Christmas Eve. We have a five octave set of handbells, plus chimes. Members of our two handbell choirs are experienced and dedicated ringers. The handbell music library has an extensive selection of music to select from. Our director retired and we would love to be able to start up again in September. If interested, contact the church at 624-935-3411 or by email at [email protected].
ISO Bell Choir Director Good Shepherd United Methodist Church - Thornton, CO
Come join the amazing bell ringers at Good Shepherd United Methodist Church in Thornton, CO. Our current director is retiring after 25 years of service, and we want you to help us continue this amazing ministry of music.
Bell Choir meets August through May, with practice once per week. Currently, practice is Thursday night at 6pm. The bell choir plays every third Sunday on average at both the 9:00 contemporary and the 10:30 traditional services. There are a few special events, too, such as Good Friday, Christmas Eve, and cantata services as needed. There are 13+ members and five octaves of bells! The participants are delightful and ready to continue to ring.
The bell choir director is budgeted at $5000 over eight months. The current bell choir director estimates between 5-8 hours per week in preparation and in leading the group.
Please contact the church at 303-457-9267 or email [email protected] for information or to set a time to come meet us!
ISO: Director for Church Ensemble in Salt Lake City, UT
Our handbell choir of 12 people needs a new director! We rehearse on Monday nights 7-8:30 and play in church on the third Sunday morning of the month from September through May, We have 5 octaves of bells and a fun group. The church is at 17th and 17th. There is a stipend for this position. Interested? Please call Lisa Vitkus @ 216-965-5605 or email at [email protected].
ISO: Ringers at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Sandy, UT
Have you been looking for a bell choir? Well, we’re looking for you! We’re a church choir located in Sandy, Utah, at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. We have all levels of experience some members have been part of the choir for over 15 years, others just 5. We usually ring L2+ -L3 pieces with a 12 ringer ensemble, but we’ve shrunk! Due to illnesses, moving out of the area, and retirements, we now have a 7-member choir. We have five octaves of bells, and three of chimes. We’ve been playing 2-octave material but we yearn to get back to those full-bodied songs! Our 4 and 5 octaves of bells are feeling abandoned! Please help us let our bells know we love them and want to get them singing again! We practice at the church every Monday, from 6 – 7:15 pm, except during the summer. Ages 14 and up, with the ability to read music are welcome! Please call Kate McGuire at (925) 435-0096 and leave a message with your name and number. Or call Good Shepherd at (801) 255-8181.
Looking forward to ringing in 2025 with you!
Kate
Handbell Tables for Sale -Denver, CO
|
2 Wood handbell tables. 30″x36″ rectangle, independently adjustable legs. Portable with folding legs. Free Schulmerick Case D 4th Octave for G3-B3 and C#7-G7. Perfect condition both inside and outside of the case. No wheels
|
Fall Tune Up
Board Member Spotlight
Youth Representative
My name is Megan Hansen, and im so excited to be the Youth Chair!!
Im from Brigham City, Utah, and have lived here my whole life. I’ve been playing handbells for 4 years, and I have loved every minute of it!
Im a huge music nerd and love doing choir and musical theater. My goal is to pursue theater full time in New York!
I am so excited to bring a new perspective to the board for the youth of our area. Our numbers have been growing! (at least in little old brigham) I hope to bring new insight and help the youth gain more experiences geared towards them. I’m happy to be here!
Area 11 at Bayview Week of Bells
Area 11 at 2025 Bayview Week of Bells
Area 11 was well represented at the 2025 Bayview Week of Handbells. Bay View Week of Handbells was founded in 1978 by Donald E. Allured. This five-day event has become a destination for advanced handbell ringers from throughout the world and is a rich part of our American Handbell tradition. In the photo are: Karen Kaneko-Baker (AZ), Breezy Winkle (AZ), Irene Brown (AZ), C.J. Leoncini (UT), Anne Kelley (AZ), Paul Young (UT), Kieran Boilesen (CO), Nikki Evans (CO).
Joyfully Ring!
News from National
Virtual Winter Workshop.
A weekend of learning with a wide range of expert instructors on an assortment of handbell related topics. Take advantage of this chance to learn, grow, and share your enthusiasm for handbells from home. The only equipment required is your computer and a solid internet connection. Having bells at home may enhance the experience of some of the courses but are not required. The $99 registration fee provides the opportunity to attend 11 live sessions over three days, and watch the recordings of all sessions for 90 days following the event.
January 23-25, 2026
National Seminar 2026
Pre-Sale is available now through December 31st.
Dates: July 14-18, 2026
Location: Cinncinati, Ohio
Handbell Musicians of America will host our 2026 National Seminar at the Sharonville Convention Center in Cincinnati, Ohio, July 14 – 18. We return to our more traditional format for this event, with one additional day, more shopping hours in Handbell Commons, full session showcases from our Exhibiting Partners, and an All-Star Choir. This national event will be designed for handbell musicians of all levels and interests, with special focus on classes and activities for handbells in sacred spaces.
The call for class sessions and instructors will come in the fall. If you are interested in teaching, please start thinking about what you would like to submit for consideration. Stay tuned for upcoming deadlines and instructions!
Newsletter Archive
Click here to see any of our previous newsletters starting from 2012.
Articles for Newsletter
Want to share an exciting experience or tips and tricks with our handbell community?
Deadline to add articles for the newsletter is the 25th of the previous month. Articles may be submitted to the Communications Chair in .doc format and with a picture of the author in .jpg format.
