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Volume 20 • Issue 3 • Summer 2026
Notes from the Chair
Happy Summer, Area 11!
I hope everyone is staying out of the heat and enjoying this wonderful season. We’ve had a lot happen since our last newsletter. We hosted the Wyoming Spring Ring, held an election, celebrated our Area 11 Festival, and piloted a Youth Workshop Event in Arizona. As I write this, I’m on my way home from a fantastic few days at our 2026 Area 11 Festival in Loveland, Colorado. It was an incredible experience for everyone involved, and it was all thanks to our Board of Directors, Festival Committee, and our Events Coordinator, Anne Kleve. Thank you to all of our attendees, faculty members, guests, audience members, and our fantastic clinician, Dave Harris. It was truly an unforgettable experience.
Tier 1 events are my favorite because they provide an opportunity to connect with people from across our Area, the United States, and the world! This year, we welcomed participants from across the United States and even a few from Hong Kong. The purpose of these events is to connect, learn, and celebrate our beautiful art form.
Our Area is known for the outstanding events we offer our members. We have three major recurring events each year: Fall Tune-Up (September), Read and Ring (February), and Spring Rings, which typically take place in the spring, with dates varying by state. We are currently finalizing site hosts and registration information for Fall Tune-Up. It is currently scheduled for Saturday, September 19, in Arizona, New Mexico, Wyoming, and Colorado, and Saturday, September 12, in Utah.
If you are looking for an opportunity to connect with ringers across our Area, recruit members of your congregation or community for your bell choir, and brush up on handbell pedagogy and techniques, I highly encourage you to attend or consider serving as a site host. If you would like more information or are interested in hosting at your place of ringing, please email one of our Mountain or Desert Sub-Area Chairs.
Our fiscal year begins on September 1. In September, Sharon Schmidt will serve as Chair, Karen Kaneko-Baker as Chair-Elect, Irene Brown as Treasurer, and I will transition to the role of Past Chair.
Although we still have a few months left, I would be remiss if I did not take this opportunity to thank our Area 11 Leadership Team and all of our Area members for the incredible work, experiences, and joy we have shared during my time as Chair. It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve on this board, and I am grateful to every person who has read our newsletter, participated in an event, or worked alongside our organization to further the art of handbell and handchime ringing. It truly takes a village, and I am beyond thankful to have had the very best people by my side throughout this journey.
If you are attending one of our upcoming events, please stop by and say hello! If you ever have questions, please reach out to any member of our Board of Directors. If you are attending National Seminar, be sure to visit me at the Area 11 booth and pick up a sticker.
Thank you to everyone who made our 2026 Festival such an incredible experience. There is truly nothing like Area 11.
Love and Bells,
Anne Kelley
Chair Elect
2026 Resolution
The months of May and June have continued the progress on my resolution to Meet people in Area 11. May was the Wyoming Spring Ring in Casper, and of course, June was the Area 11 Festival!
I didn’t have time to prepare to ring at the Wyoming event, and so I enjoyed watching the ringers working with Brian Childers, and listening to the standing-room-only final concert. Lunch time was a great chance to chat with ringers about that event and the upcoming Festival.
Festival was a whirl-wind for me between massed and Copper Lite rehearsals, teaching, and helping with unpacking bells – from a horse trailer! – as well as tearing down at the end. I loved the opportunity to interact with folks in my classes. I hope that those of you who attended the Festival will tell your ringing friends about the benefits of attending events to connect, learn, and make music together – Area 11 offers a wealth of events in every state.
Upcoming Events
If you have Youth Ringers, it’s not too early to start planning to attend the Area 11 Youth Ringer’s Camp in Coalville, UT June 13-17, 2027. Youth Camp Chair Casey Turner and Youth Chair Megan Hansen have done a fantastic job of creating a pirate-themed event for youth ages 10-18. Registration is open now at our events page.
We’re in the midst of identifying sites for Fall Tune-Ups, Read & Rings, and Spring Rings. If you’d be interested in hosting any of these events, contact me or any board member – you can find emails here: https://area11.handbellmusicians.org/board-of-directors/
Looking Forward
My two-year term as Chair begins October 1, when we will bid farewell to Past Chair LeAnna Willmore and Secretary/Treasurer Jill Persichetti and welcome new Chair Elect Karen Kaneko-Baker and Secretary/Treasurer Irene Brown. I am excited to continue working with this group of dedicated handbell enthusiasts for the next two years.
Please contact me as you think about what Area 11 can do to help you with your handbell journey. I’d very much like to hear how we can be better together!
Until next time, just keep on ringing!
Sharon Schmidt
Festival Wrap Up
Thank You!!
Area 11 would like to send out some thank yous for the 2026 Ringing Up Festival
Festival Committee
We would like to thank our local committee for all of their hard work in planning and helping with many, many things for this year’s festival. If you see or talk to any of these people, please tell them thank you for their hard work.
Ingrid Daniel, Michelle Girard, Susan Harding, Kathryn Rudd, Kathy Schlecht, Nathan Kleve, and Becky Stevens
Area 11 Board
The Area 11 Board has put countless hours into planning and execution of the Ringing Up Festival. We would like to recognize the dedication of our Area 11 board.
Events: Anne Kleve, Chair: Anne Kelley, Chair-Elect: Sharon Schmidt, Past-Chair: LeAnna Wilmore, Desert Sub-Area Chair: Nancy Roberts-Small, Mountain Sub-Area Chair: Andrew Smith, Treasurer: Jill Persechetti, C.H.I.M.E. Loan Chair- Shirley Culp, Youth Representative: Megan Hansen, Registrar: Lilly Hatch
Families of Festival Committee and Area 11 Board Members
We would like to thank all of the families of Festival Committee and Area 11 Board for their sacrifices from loved ones committment to Festival. Family members help in so many ways including; loss of family time, helping their loved ones cope with stress from planning Festival, brain-storming ideas to help solve problems, and so much more. Thank you families!!
Clinician
We would also like to thank Dave Harris, our wonderful clinician for his long hours leading and directing our various ringing tracks at Festival.
Concert Performers
Heartfelt Thanks to all of the wonderful performers for the concerts at Festival this year.
Bells of the Rockies, Denver Bronze, Heritage Christian Academy Bells, and Forté Handbell Quartet.
Sponsor
Thank you to Schulmerich Bells for sponsoring the Forté Handbell Quartet Concert.
Vendors
Thank you Jeffers Handbell Supply and Forté Handbell Quartet for having merchandise available for purchase at Festival.
Venue
We would like to thank the Embassy Suites and Convention Center, Loveland for hosting this year’s Festival. The entire staff is much appreciated for all of their efforts, with an extra thank you to Lisa Plahuta, our liason.
Faculty
A huge thank you to all of our faculty for sharing their time and knowledge during this year’s Festival (some with very little notice). We value our workshops and the passing on of knowledge as part of our purpose as an organization.
Equipment Loan
For all of you who loaned equipment to Festival: bells, pads, bell trees, bass guitar, amps…. We couldn’t have done this without your generous support and the use of your equipment. Thank you
Summit of Peace Lutheran Church, Smoky Hill United Methodist Church, Heartland Ringers, Hilltop United Methodist Church, Bells of Joyful Sound, Christ on the Mountain Catholic Church, Christ Greenfield, Hays First United Methodist Church, St Paul Presbyterian Church, First Congregational Church, Cherry Creek Presbyterian Church, Immanuel Lutheran Church, Zion Lutheran Church, King of Glory Lutheran Church, Harmony Presbyterian Church, Wellshire Presbyterian Church, Michael Kastner, Lutheran Church of Hope, FUMC Loveland, Denver Bronze, First Presbyterian Church of Fort Collins, Risen Savior Lutheran Church, Nadine Hunt, Mountain View Presbyterian Church, St Frances Cabrini, Trinity Lutheran Church of Fort Collins, St. Timothy Episcopal Church, Mt Olive Lutheran Church, Coyote Ridge Elementary, Sunrise United Methodist Church, and Trinity Lutheran Church Loveland
Festival Statistics
Total Registrations: 131
Ringers: 121
Faculty (including roundtables): 30
Number of Bells Used: 1236
Total Feet of Pads: 414
Festival Photo Gallery
Most photos compliments of Andrew Smith. More pictures available on the Festival Hub for those who attended.
Upcoming Events
Host Sites Needed!
Fall Tune Up is right around the corner. We are looking for host sites (and hosts) for this event all around Area 11.
Your Sub-Area Chair is ready to help you make hosting as seamless and easy as possible.
If you are interested in hosting, please contact your Sub-Area Chair!
Mountain Sub-Area – (Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming ) – Andrew Smith
Desert Sub-Area – (Arizona and New Mexico) – Nancy Roberts-Small
Fall Tune Up!
Saturday September 19th
Saturday, September 12th for Utah locations
Fall Tune Up is a half-day event that helps ringers get ready for the ringing season. Ringers of all ages and experience get instruction on ringing techniques to help advance ringing skills. Classes vary by location. Look for a Fall Tune-Up close to you!
For more information, contact our Mountain or Desert Sub-Area chairs.
Youth Ringers’ Camp 2027
Dates: June 13-17, 2027
Location: Pinecliff Camp, East Coalville, Utah
Clinician: Nathan Kleve
$250 per Youth Ringer
$125 per Adult Chaperone
We are excited to announce a Youth Ringers’ Camp for Summer 2027. This camp allows us to give youth a time to connect with each other and grow as handbell musicians. This camp will not replace our all-ages camp, but will be a fun-filled addition to our Area 11 events.
Our clinician for Youth Ringers’ camp is Nathan Kleve, an up-and-coming figure in handbells. He is also a former Area 11 Youth Representative as well as a composer of handbell music.
★ What is it?
- This 5 Day- 4 Night Camp is a Youth ONLY camp to help youth develop more ringing skills, learn new music, and have a lot of fun!
- The theme for Youth Camp is Pirates
★ Where is it?
- Located in the foothills of the Uintah Mountains, less than two hours from Salt Lake, Utah, Pinecliff Camp offers a rustic atmosphere to experience the outdoors.
★ Who is it for?
- The event is open to YOUTH handbell ringer ages 10 – 18.
- Area 11 includes the states of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming, and Utah, but there is no need to limit participation according to where you may be located.
- Chaperones for the youth will also be needed.
Other News
Meet your new Board Members
Chair Elect – Karen Kaneko-Baker
Getting to know Karen
Karen grew up primarily in Glendale, CA after starting school in Honolulu, HI. She was raised in a multigenerational home and has an identical twin sister. So….are you really talking to Karen or could it be her twin, Kate? Karen’s music background includes smatterings of piano lessons through the years and performing soprano recorder for medieval events during junior and senior high. A favorite memory is of her grandmother playing the organ in the evenings.
Throughout school, Karen accelerated in math and science, so getting a degree in engineering was a natural next step. This led to a career in electrical engineering as an RF designer, people manager and program manager. Early in her career, work moved Karen to Tucson, AZ where she put down roots marrying her husband and raising their kids. Other hobbies include bicycling, reading, camping and crocheting amigurumi.
After being drafted in her early teens to ring Griffin’s arrangement of Handel’s Passacaglia with the church handbell choir, Karen has been hooked on handbells! She has continuously rung in church choirs in California and Arizona. Joining community ensemble, Sonoran Bells, in 1999 as a founding member has been a joy and continues to be fun and fulfilling musically. Karen participates in other ringing opportunities, HMA Area 11 events, HMA National Events, Bay View WoH, and International Handbell Symposium, to grow her musicianship.
Karen loves handbells and is excited to serve as your Chair Elect starting in September.
Secretary/Treasurer – Irene Brown
I started ringing handbells in 1996 at Trinity United Methodist Church in Idaho Falls and rang with this choir until moving to Arizona in 2020. I have been ringing with Gold Canyon Methodist Church since 2021. I attended the Area X events for many years along with the Big Sky Handbell Conference and then started ringing in National Bronze level events in 2014. I have held an individual HMA membership since 2014.
Do you have a graduating senior looking for a place to ring handbells?
Check out these resources for finding either an ensemble or a college handbell program.
Bulletin Board
Concert Bells of Fort Worth Composition Contest
WE NEED NEW MUSIC
Concert Bells of Fort Worth, an advance handbell ensemble, under the direction of Stephanie Rhoades is seeking submissions for our first ever Composition Contest! The winning submission will be featured in our Spring 2027 concerts. The winning prize is $1500 and the submission deadline is January 15, 2027. We are looking for original works which are non-holiday themed. Full contest language and requirements can be found on our website at www.concertbells.com
You can also contact the chair, former Area 11 member, Josh Fitzgerald at Contest@concertbells.com for submissions and questions.
We hope the talented musicians in the handbell community will consider writing something for us to play!
ISO Handbell Director - Green Mountain United Methodist Church, Lakewood, CO
Green Mountain United Methodist Church is looking for a handbell director, as our current director is retiring.
The church is located in Lakewood, Colorado, a suburb of Denver. We have a thriving handbell program, consisting of 2 choirs: one playing 3+/4- music, and one playing 1+/2- music. Several of our ringers have been playing together for over 30 years! We have 5 octaves of Schulmerich bells as well as 5 octaves of Schulmerich chimes.
The advanced choir plays at the Sunday service monthly and also on Christmas Eve; the lower-level choir plays a few times a year. The rehearsals are held late August through mid-May. We have a permanent, dedicated space for the bells. No need to set up or tear down!
This is a paid position.
For more information, please contact: deannahanna2@gmail.com
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 info@clp.church.
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 vitkuslisa@gmail.org.
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
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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
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Joyfully Ring!
National Seminar 2026
Concerts at National Seminar will be available to view live on YouTube, July 13 -18!
For more information, visit the HMA website for National Seminar Concerts.
Upcoming Board Meetings
July 5, 2026, 7:30pm MST
Newsletter Archive
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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.
