Smoky Mountain Ring

08/13/2025

Our special guest clinician this year is Greig Ashurst. Greig Ashurst is a highly accomplished music educator, conductor, clinician, and performer with a career spanning over four decades. His expertise encompasses music education, educational philosophy, technology, musical instrument design, and music performance. And, he has made significant contributions to the field of handbells.
Learn more about Greig at www.knoxvilleareahandbellfestival.com.

10/11/2024

The 2025 Smoky Mountain Ring will be held on April 4-5, 2025 at Grace Lutheran Church in Knoxville, TN. Our clinician will be Brenda Austin.
Brenda E. Austin is a dynamic and energetic conductor, clinician and composer connecting musicians through handbells. She is the editor of the Hope Publishing Company in Carol Stream, IL, and in 2023 she was named Music Director for Embellish handbell ensemble. Before joining Embellish, she served as the Artistic Director for the Detroit Handbell Ensemble since 2016.
Visit our website at https://www.knoxareahandbellfestival.com/ to sign up your choir for this exciting musical event!

09/16/2023

The 2024 Smoky Mountain Ring will be held on April 12-13, 2024 at Grace Lutheran Church in Knoxville, TN. Our clinician this year is Andrew Duncan, arranger and composer, organist, publisher and Assistant Director and Masterworks Accompanist of the Knoxville Choral Society and Knoxville Chamber Chorale. Learn more at https://www.knoxareahandbellfestival.com/.

08/01/2022

The 2023 Festival has been scheduled for April 14-15, 2023 at Grace Lutheran Church in Knoxville, TN. Our clinician will be freelance composer and arranger Jason Krug. Go to https://www.knoxareahandbellfestival.com/ for more information.

12/28/2021

The Knox Area Handbell Festival is now officially the Smoky Mountain Ring! Our 2022 Festival will be held April 1-2, 2022 at Grace Lutheran Church in Knoxville, TN. Our special guest clinician will be Nick Hanson, Director of Handbell Ensembles at Potomac School in McLean, Virginia and Handbell Director at Bush Hill Presbyterian Church in Alexandria, Virginia. Find out more information at knoxareahandbellfestival.com.

03/12/2020

In an abundance of caution and to support the overall well being of the handbell community, we have made the decision to cancel the 2020 Knox Area Handbell Festival in light of the global outbreak of COVID-19. It is unfortunate, but we feel this is the best decision based on existing circumstances. We are working with our clinician and festival site host on dates for next year, where we hope to utilize much of the same music. Please stay tuned to our website and page for updated information as it becomes available.

We hope everyone stays healthy and sound, and your ensembles enjoy a prosperous season.

07/22/2019

We are excited to announce our clinician for the 2020 KAHF Festival will be Stephanie “Stevie” Berryman, Artistic Director of the Houston Chamber Ringers! Read more: https://knoxville-handbells.squarespace.com/our-clinician-1

12/10/2018

Dear bell directors: get this bell ostinato for Silent Night free this month! Use the code GIFT18 on checkout.

This LV handbell ostinato was written by Andrew Duncan to accompany congregational singing of “Silent Night”. (10 Bells Needed: F5, G5, A5, Bb5, C6, D6, Eb6, F6, G6, Bb6)

05/30/2018

Bearden UMC is located at 4407 Sutherland Ave, off Kingston Pike in Bearden.

CONCERT - THE RINGS OF THE LORD
Wednesday, May 30 at 6:30 p.m.

Do you have a favorite song that you find yourself humming throughout the day? Do you get a smile on your face or recall some favorite time in your past when a certain tune comes to your ear? Well, our handbell choir is the same way, and this year, they want to perform their favorite selections that have been swirling in their heads over the past 14 years for you! Please join The Rings of the Lord on Wednesday, May 30 at 6:30 p.m. for a concert of their song favorites, entitled "My Favorite Rings." They will be joined by special instrumentalists as well as our own Chancel Choir. Don't miss this special event!