Area 5 - Handbell Musicians of America

10/01/2026

Did you know that Area 5 provides scholarship support for qualified attendees at Area 5 festivals, Area 5 directors workshops & seminars, and national Handbell Musicians of America events?

The scholarship period is open NOW and we invite YOU to apply! View the full scholarship policy and apply here: https://area5.handbellmusicians.org/scholarships/

10/01/2026

Please join us in welcoming the incoming members of the Area 5 board! We look forward to working with these fine folks in the coming years. Congratulations, Kim, Susan, and Martha!

09/30/2026

The season of Fall usually brings a season of change to Area 5, and today we would like to invite our followers to join us in congratulating our outgoing board members on their service to Area 5! We are so grateful for the dedication, time, and talents they have shared with the Area 5 community over the past four years. Thank you, Brenda, Lora Lee, Abby, and Cheryl!

09/23/2026

Area 5 is proud to support IMEA and youth ringers by offering scholarships to take part in the Indiana All-State Handbell Choir. Know an Indiana high schooler who you think would benefit from attending? See the link below for details!

Calling all Indiana high school handbell ringers: You're invited to apply for the IMEA All-State Handbell Choir! Some quick facts:

🔔 The All-State Handbell Choir will rehearse/perform on Jan. 14-15, 2027, in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
🔔 Ringers must be nominated by a director, who submits the application. The deadline is Oct. 7, 2026.
🔔 Cost of participation is $245 (includes hotel and meals). Area 5 offers scholarships to attend; click the link below for more information.

For more information, visit https://www.imeamusic.org/all-state-handbell-choir

09/20/2026

Under the Direction of Brenda Austin, the Back to Basics workshop hosted by Embellish and Campana was a tremendous success! Thank You to all who attended!

Photos provided by Brenda Austin.

08/25/2026

Our incoming Membership Chair Susan J. Haight had the opportunity to attend the International Handbell Symposium in Abderdeen, Scotland!

She wrote an excellent piece on her experiences which includes a recording of the final concert!

Thank You Susan for sharing this with us!

08/23/2026

We would like to remind our followers that there is still time to register for the Area 5 Directors Workshop on September 12th in Rocky River, Ohio!
Join H. Dean Wagner in Rocky River, Ohio, for a session featuring practical demonstrations, a directors' roundtable, and resources you can put to use right away.

Learn more and register for the workshop here: https://area5.handbellmusicians.org/directors-workshop-2026/

08/21/2026

The Bay View Week of Handbells was a resounding success! 108 ringers gathered under the direction of Maestro Fred Gramann to perform a mass of different music from the rock hit “Eye of the Tiger” to the jazz classic “St. Louis Blues” to the timeless hymn “Jesus, Lover of My Soul.”

Thank You to our ringers, to our Maestro Fred Gramann, and to all who attended!

Photos taken from the Bay View Week of Handbells page

08/18/2026

After a successful meeting, the Area 5 Board is excited to welcome our new members and thank our retiring members for their services!