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Area 10 Fall Ringing Round-up 

Area 10 debuted its Fall Ringing Round-up event in October 2025.  Following decreasing attendance at the area-wide biennial conferences, Area 10 surveyed ringers in Area 10 and learned they preferred shorter events, closer to home, with less up-front preparation time and lower registration fees.

Area 10 responded with the Fall Ringing Round-up.  This Friday evening, Saturday event is held in multiple locations throughout the area, strategically located to be within a 3 hour drive time of major populations, with registration fees beginning at $40.  Area 10 provides the music and equipment.  Ringers just show up on Friday with an empty music binder and gloves.  Friday evening, the ringers meet their bells, their music, and their clinician.  Two hours of workshop time is devoted to studying the music and other preparatory skills.  Saturday is a full day of ringing, with additional instruction from the podium.  The event ends with a late-afternoon informal concert.

While the development of this event was focused on the advanced beginner to intermediate ringer, more skilled ringers can still expand their skill set by playing positions they don’t typically play and by reinforcing proper techniques.

In 2025, Fall Ringing Round-up events were held simultaneously in Bend, OR; Spokane, WA; Olympia, WA; and Great Falls, MT.

In 2026, the event is moving to September to also help ringers “get the rust out” and, more practically, have more daylight for the return drive on Saturday.  The event is being held in 6 locations: Billings, MT; Whitefish, MT; Yakima, WA; Seattle, WA; Eugene, OR; and Boise, ID.

Area 10 will host its traditional, 3-day, area-wide conference in June 2027 in the Portland area.

The Fall Ringing Round-up will continue in 2028 and 2029.  And so on.

2026 Area 10 Fall Ringing Round-up

* Area 10 is actively working to hold an event in Idaho Falls, ID.  We will know for sure before registration opens.

Registration opens June 1.

Registration Fees

June 1 to August 31: $40 HMA member; $45 non-member
September 1 to event: $50 HMA member; $55 non-member
Optional lunch: $15

Registration Fee Refund Policy when Cancelled by the dates shown

100% Refund up to July 31 — 50% Refund  Aug 1 – 31 — 0% Refund after September 1

Click here (after May 31) to register an individual.
Click here (after May 31) to register an ensemble (2 or more individuals).

For more information, contact the Area 10 Events Chair, Diane Barnes.
For help with the registration form, contact the Area 10 Webmaster, Joann Wallenburn.

This event is sponsored by Handbell Musicians of America, dedicated to uniting people through the musical art of handbell and handchime ringing.  www.handbellmusicians.org.

12th Annual

Snake River Handbell Conference

February 2027

Central Elementary Gym

1415 6th Street S

Nampa, Idaho

Come and join many other handbell musicians ringing six great pieces under the direction of a well-known handbell clinician. Previous clinicians include Nick Hanson, Brenda Austin, Sandy Eithun, Matt Compton, David Harris and more.  The pieces are level 2-3 incorporating various music styles, techniques, and seasons. The weekend begins with set-up Friday in the late afternoon with the opening rehearsal at 6:30 pm. It continues Saturday beginning at 9:00 am and concludes with a concert for the community at 6:30 pm.

Registration typically opens in early to mid- December.  In 2026, the cost was $60 per person. This includes all conference activities plus snacks on Saturday. A $10 discount is offered for 2 or more from the same immediate family. The first family member pays full price; each additional person from the family is $10 less.

This event is sponsored by Handbell Musicians of America, dedicated to uniting people through the musical art of handbell and handchime ringing.  www.handbellmusicians.org.

Coppers Classic

April 1-4, 2027

Clackamas, OR

Coppers Classic – About

Coppers Classic is a massed ringing event for advanced coppers handbell musicians held annually in March or April, in Portland, Oregon with participants from all over the United States and Canada. Musicians rehearse for three days, Friday through Sunday and present a public concert on Sunday afternoon.

Our handbell musicians are solidly coppers musicians. They have good handbell skills, a commitment to their ensemble and are the backbone of their choir. Passion and the desire to learn and grow as a handbell musician are the qualities that characterize those who will have a great Coppers Classic experience.

Do you love handbells? Do you have a passion to learn, to create the most musical experience of each composition and to celebrate your music making with others who share your joy?  Then Coppers Classic is definitely for you!

Ellie Hodder

ELLIE HODDER is the Founder/Director of Coppers Classic.  

Click here to view past repertoires.  Lots of fun music!

Visit the Coppers Classic website for all the details and to register.  Registration typically opens in October.

This event is sponsored by Handbell Musicians of America, dedicated to uniting people through the musical art of handbell and handchime ringing.  www.handbellmusicians.org.

Big Sky Handbell Festival

44th Annual

April 23-24, 2027 – Billings, MT

The Public is invited to attend the final concert on Saturday evening

Kathryn Jurado

The Big Sky Handbell Festival is a 2-day massed-ringing event, typically held in the last full weekend of April.  The event venue varies each year between major centers in Montana and Idaho.  The 2026 event, in Livingston, MT was attended by 16 choirs and 170 ringers.  The clinician was Handbell Musicians of America President-Elect Kathryn Jurado.

Massed ringing rehearsals are held on Friday evening and all day Saturday.  The event culminates with a public concert on Saturday evening.

This event is endorsed by Handbell Musicians of America, dedicated to uniting people through the musical art of handbell and handchime ringing.  www.handbellmusicians.org.