RING IN SPRING
HANDBELL FESTIVAL
FESTIVAL OVERVIEW
Come for a fun-filled day of making ​friends and music! Led by clinician Michael Joy, the Ring In Spring Handbell Festival includes ringing, lunch, and a free public concert to showcase the day's work. You will also have the opportunity to hone your bidding skills at our silent auction.
EVENT DETAILS
FESTIVAL INFORMATION
Date
Saturday, April 5, 2025
Location
Herndon United Methodist Church
701 Bennett Street
Herndon, VA 20170
Time
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8:30 am - Choirs start arriving for setup
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9:30am - Rehearsals Start
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4:00pm - Free Public Concert
Clinician
Michael Joy
Cost* (Lunch is included)
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$45/Individual​ (+ optional processing fees)
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$275/Group of maximum 13 participants
(+ optional processing fees)​​
*No refunds will be issued after March 15​​
FESTIVAL SCHEDULE
(Subject to change)
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8:30 to 9:30 Arrival/Set-up
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9:30 to 12:00 Rehearsal
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12:00 to 1:00 Lunch (provided)
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1:00 to 3:30 Rehearsal
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3:30 to 4:00 Concert Prep
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4:00 to 4:45 Public Concert (Free)
REPERTOIRE
Carillon of Praise
Cathy Moklebust
Level 3-
Choristers Guild CGB1089
3-6 octave Handbells. optional 3-5 octave Handchimes
Wild Mountain Thyme
arranged by Sandra Eithun
Level 2+
GIA GIG11301
3-6 octave Handbells, optional 3-5 octave Handchimes, optional C instrument
​Courage and Grace
Michael W. Joy
Level 3-
Hope Publishing Co. 3030
3-6 oct Handbells
The Spirit’s Love
arranged by Michael W. Joy
Level 2+
GIA D-11258
3 or 5 octave Handbells, 3 octave Handchimes
All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name
arranged by Jason Krug
Level 3+
Grassy Meadow Music GMH 350044
3-6 octave Handbells, optional 3-6 octave Handchimes, optional B-flat trumpet
The music can be purchased at your favorite music supplier!
You are responsible for purchasing and rehearsing music ahead of the festival. Virginia Bronze is committed to upholding the copyright laws of the United States and protecting the rights of our publishers, arrangers and composers. All music must be legally purchased and no photocopies will be allowed on the ringing floor.
Virginia Bronze is committed to upholding the copyright laws of the United States and protecting the rights of our publishers, arrangers and composers. All music must be legally purchased and no photocopies will be allowed on the ringing floor. If you wish to use a tablet computer to hold your music in place of standard paper copies on a music stand, you must contact the publisher of each piece of music to first obtain permission to convert a purchased piece of music to the format required for the tablet you are using. Copies of the written permission received from publishers must be presented on request from Virginia Bronze. Permission from a publisher for one piece does not imply permission for other pieces from the same publisher. The title of each piece used in this format must be included in the written permission received. Attendees should also have legally purchased copies of all music with them for verification. Titles originally purchased in a digital format do not require permission from the publisher, however, please have a copy of your purchase receipt available.
For any questions, please contact festival@vabronze.org
ABOUT THE CLINICIAN
MICHAEL JOY
Born and raised in Canton, Ohio, Michael Joy has lived in Philadelphia, PA since 1974. He received a Bachelor of Music Degree in Theory and Composition from Baldwin-Wallace University. He studied handbells with Donald Allured and handbell composition with Arnold Sherman. For the last 46 years Michael has been the Music Director at First Presbyterian Church in Ambler, PA where he started the handbell program in 1978.In 2019 Michael retired from The Shipley School in Bryn Mawr, PA where he taught for 21 years and developed the handbell program there.
Michael is the Executive Editor for the GIA Foundations Series, designed specifically for developing handbell ensembles in schools. He is the co-author (with Sandra Eithun) of Pathways to Musical Ringing, a new reproducible series from Choristers Guild. Michael is a published composer and has taught at Handbell Musicians of America Area festivals and National Seminars, PMEA district and state conferences, and the 2008 International Handbell Symposium. He was the inaugural director of the first College Ring-In from 2016-2018. In June of 2019, Michael was the inaugural conductor for Reaching for Bronze, a handbell event for ringers who aspire to become advanced level ringers. He received the Donald E. Allured Original Composition Award for 2011. Jeffers Publishing Company named Michael Composer of the Year for 2004 for his composition Dorian Dance. Michael also served two terms as the Secretary for Area 2 of the Handbell Musicians of America.