Los Angeles Metro

Erik Der – Regional Coordinator

[email protected]

Irvine, Orange County, CA

Erik Der is a lifelong handbell musician who appreciates the instrument for its emphasis on ensemble, movement, and rich sonic textures. He is an active ringer and has directed a variety of age groups (middle school, high school, college, adult). He is currently the Director of Handbell activities at Concordia University Irvine where he directs the Spirit Bells ensemble, teaches handbell methods, and leads CUI’s annual handbell invitationals and festivals in partnership with his colleague Alex Guebert. 

Quality event programming, community engagement, and education are all important to expanding handbells in our communities. If you are a director or ringer interested in learning more about handbell opportunities in Orange, Los Angeles, or adjacent counties, please be in touch with Erik! 
UPCOMING EVENTS
April 26, 2024

  • Concordia Handbell Home Concert

    April 26, 2024 @ 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
    CU Center, Irvine, CA 92612, USA

    Concert Handbells Alex Guebert, director

    Spirit Handbells Erik Der, director

    Save the date for a world-class handbell concert from one of the nation's top handbell programs. Concordia's Home Handbell Concert is a showcase of sacred, classical, popular, and new music - using over 127 handbells, hand chimes and other instruments. 

    Concert Handbells and Spirit Bells are the touring ensembles of Concordia, representing a program that has become highly respected internationally for its performances and for its preparation of handbell musicians and directors. They have performed in 12 nations of Asia, Europe, and Australia as well as 38 states and provinces of North America. Together, they perform some of the highest difficulty of handbell repertoire at a virtuosic level, including original compositions written by faculty and student composers.  They are also featured annually across the nation during Concordia’s made-for-TV PBS Special.

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April 28, 2024

  • Ringing Dusk to Dawn - The Bell Music of the Night

    April 28, 2024 @ 4:00 pm - 5:15 pm
    35522 Camino Capistrano, San Clemente, CA 92672, USA

    South County Community Handbell Choir in concert.

    The concert will start with selections from Phantom of the Opera and end, fittingly with Here Comes the Sun. We will explore all sorts of "Night Music." Come and check out the fantastic music that handbells can make. They are not for just church anymore.
     
    For more information: http://schandbell.org
     
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