We are excited to share our 2026 Spring Ring information with you!
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Introducing this year's director/clinician, Brian Childers.
Brian Childers is an accomplished composer, conductor, and clinician. His choral, instrumental, and handbell works are performed throughout the world, and he is in demand as a featured clinician at music conferences and festivals across the United States. Brian’s compositions and arrangements are available through a variety of publishers. Brian has earned degrees from Appalachian State University and the M. Christopher White School of Divinity at Gardner-Webb University. He has conducted church and community groups and has served churches in the southeast, building vibrant programs for choirs, handbells and instrumentalists at each. He currently serves as director of handbells and children and youth music at Myers Park United Methodist Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he oversees a comprehensive handbell ministry to children, youth, and adults. In the spring of 2024, he was named artistic director of the Charlotte Bronze Handbell Ensemble. Brian shares his insights into the role of music and worship through Cued In, a blog on sacred music in worship sponsored by JW Pepper. He also serves as music advisor for Handbell Musicians of America, helping to promote the wealth of handbell music in their AGEHR catalog. Brian is married to Keely Childers, a professional counselor, and has two adult children, Hannah and Spencer, both of whom served as drum majors in their respective high school and college marching bands. Brian is an avid runner and a rabid fan of the San Antonio Spurs. You can learn more about Brian, his compositions, his handbell devotional book Ringing Deeply and his children’s book Boo and His Amazing Bells at BrianChilders.org. |
Spring Ring | 2026
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What is Spring Ring?
Saturday Massed Ringing Rehearsals, and a Concert: The Bay Area Spring Ring is a massed ringing event that normally involves ringing time and class instruction. Because the Handbell Ventures Board realizes many handbell groups have spent the past few years away from the handbell tables and may not have had a chance to ring much, we have reformatted the Spring Ring this year to give musicians a full day of ringing. Expect some teaching from the podium. Barbara Walsh is an amazing teacher and conductor. MASSED RINGING: Add your notes to those of other ringers and groups to make glorious music together. Please purchase and prepare the music for Massed Ringing in advance. Our massed rehearsal time is SHORT! Barbara will work on the interpretation of the music, not the assignments or notes and rhythms. Although there are five pieces on the massed ringing repertoire list, individuals or full ensembles may choose to sit out of any piece as needed. We want this to be fun and rewarding! Please note that three of the five pieces are arranged for 2 octaves, and that both pieces with brass can be adapted to work for 2 octaves with organ accompaniment. CONCERT: It's more fun to play for an audience! But we need YOU to invite them! 6:30 p.m. at Sunnyvale Presbyterian Church. Though it is FREE, we will take a free-will offering. Please invite family and friends to the concert featuring YOU! Tables: All tables will be provided and will already be set up when you arrive. You will need to provide your own foam, bells, and accessories. (mallets, binders, music, gloves, etc.) Music Exchange: We will once again have a table where you may lay out music you no longer use. Feel free to help yourself from the FREE exchange. Snacks and drinks: We will provide coffee, tea, and water. Want snacks? Please bring some to share during the breaks! |
2026 Spring Ring Repertoire
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Intense Ring | 2026
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Dear "Want to be Challenged" Ringer,
If you have not participated in this event before, it is a chance to play music under a seasoned director, at a more advanced level than you might experience with your home choir. You will work the repertoire up to performance level in just one day, with rehearsal on Saturday morning, and a run-through right before the concert: it's intense! But if you love to ring, it's also very fun! To register for this event, simply click on the Intense Ring Registration link and submit. The deadline to apply is April 5. Assignments will be made by April 12. With only a few weeks to prepare, you will want to order your music as soon as you send in your fees. Once you have your music and receive your assignments you can get started making sure you really know your part. There are no classes involved with this additional activity—just ringing, ringing, and more ringing—but you will learn a great deal in a short amount of time! Fill out the form, wait for confirmation, and enjoy! |
2026 Intense Ring
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