Welcome to
Area 12

Serving California, Nevada, Hawaii and Guam (and other US Pacific Islands)

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2026 Conference Composition Content

Area 12 is holding a composition contest to provide a piece for the 2026 conference.  Deadline for submissioin: October 15, 2025.  Click for details.

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Do you want to be a mentor?

Would you like to be a resource for handbells in Area 12? Please click to submit your information to be added to the Area 12 list of teachers and mentors.

(If you are looking for a mentor, please contact the Education Coordinator.)

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Volunteer to serve on the Area 12 Board

There are many appointed positions on the Area 12 Board.  Do you have a few hours every month?  Consider voluntering to serve on the board. Openings include Membership Director, Historian and Event Coordinator.
Contact the Chair if interested in serving on the board.

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Area Webiste Banner Advertising now available!

Do you have an upcoming handbell event? Have a concert? Sell handbell items?  You can now advertise on the Area 12 website right here!

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Check out the latest issue of the 12th Tone Newsletter

Learn more about what upcoming events are happening and what the Area 12 board is up to.

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Donate to Area 12

Calendar

  • Bay View Week of Handbells final concert

    August 14, 2025 @ 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm

    Check out the final concert from Bay View week.

    https://www.youtube.com/@BayViewMichigan

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    See more details

  • Jump Start Your Ringing Season

    August 16, 2025 @ 8:30 am - 1:00 pm
    United Methodist Church of Vista, 490 S Melrose Dr, Vista, CA 92081, USA

    South County is proud to be partnering with Stevie Berryman for a late summer workshop - Jump Start Your Ringing Season.

    The 4-hour workshop offers education and a terrific opportunity to ring in a massed setting for all levels of handbell musicians. Learning moments during the workshop will focus on technique, articulations and rhythmic drills to enhance skills and foster group cohesion needed for confident performances. Participant will explore two handbell pieces with renowned clinician Stevie Berryman. The South County Community Handbell Choir and friends will act as mentors in addition to the group instruction, participant will ring alongside handbell musicians from more experienced choirs to learn through observation and individual attention.
    Everything will be supplied for the participants and no prior preparation is needed. The 2 pieces we will be using during the workshop are:

    When Dreams Take Flight by Ron Mallory and
    Abide with Me by Jason Krug

    Refreshments will be provided for the breaks.

    In addition, directors attending the workshop will be invited to participate in a director's roundtable discussion with Stevie over lunch. (You pay for your lunch.)

    You may register at https://bit.ly/JumpStartHandbellsRegistration

    Hours
    Registration - 8:30 am
    Workshop 9:00 am - 1:00 pm

    Fees
    $35 per person
    $175 per choir of 6 or more

    Questions
    [email protected]
     
    schandbell.org
     
    This is a Handbell Musicians of America Endorsed event.
     
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    See more details

  • Shine with Timbre

    August 17, 2025 @ 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
    233 Harrison Ave, Claremont, CA 91711, USA

    See more details

  • HMA Master Series

    August 18, 2025 - August 21, 2025 @ 
    Livonia, MI, USA

    HMA event for folks who want to become better directors, composers, solo ringers. 

    https://handbellmusicians.org/event/master-series-2/

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    See more details

  • HMA Master Series

    August 18, 2025 - August 21, 2025 @ 
    Livonia, MI, USA

    HMA event for folks who want to become better directors, composers, solo ringers. 

    https://handbellmusicians.org/event/master-series-2/

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    See more details

  • HMA Master Series

    August 18, 2025 - August 21, 2025 @ 
    Livonia, MI, USA

    HMA event for folks who want to become better directors, composers, solo ringers. 

    https://handbellmusicians.org/event/master-series-2/

    ##################################

    See more details

  • HMA Master Series

    August 18, 2025 - August 21, 2025 @ 
    Livonia, MI, USA

    HMA event for folks who want to become better directors, composers, solo ringers. 

    https://handbellmusicians.org/event/master-series-2/

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    See more details

  • HMA Into the Forest

    August 21, 2025 - August 23, 2025 @ 
    Livonia, MI, USA

    Opportunity for folks who want to learn and develop their skills on bell trees.

    https://handbellmusicians.org/event/into-the-forest-2025/
     
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    See more details

  • HMA Into the Forest

    August 21, 2025 - August 23, 2025 @ 
    Livonia, MI, USA

    Opportunity for folks who want to learn and develop their skills on bell trees.

    https://handbellmusicians.org/event/into-the-forest-2025/
     
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    See more details

  • Into The Woods concert

    August 23, 2025 @ 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
    Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Livonia, Michigan

    The handbell musicians of Into the Forest will perform a free concert on Saturday, August 23 at 4:00 PM eastern. The performance is the culmination of three days of educational sessions, and soloists and small ensembles will perform contemporary and classical repertoire.
     
    https://www.youtube.com/@holycrosslivonia/streams 
     
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    See more details

Recent News

Area 12 at Pinnacle 2025

Aug 15, 2025 |

Check out all the folks from Area 12 at Pinnacle in Kansas, including the Concordia University choir who performed in a showcase concert.

read more

August 12th Tone – upcoming events

Aug 9, 2025 | ,

Check out the latest issue of the 12th Tone here. Read up on some upcoming events (for directors and ringers) in Southern Nevada, Northern Nevada, Southern California, Northern California,  And a recap of some of the events folks traveled to this summer including...

read more

Neon City Rhythms – seeking class suggestions

Aug 7, 2025 |

The Conference Committee invites you to propose classes for 2026 Neon City Rhythms. If you’ve got an idea for a class you’d like to teach, please use the form linked here. If you’ve got ideas for classes you’d like to see offered at the conference, but you don’t...

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June Board Meeting

Jun 17, 2025 |

On June 14, you Area 12 Board met via Zoom to handle Area 12 business, including the upcoming 2026 biennial conference in Las Vegas, NV, Neon City Rhythms.

read more

Check out the June 12th Tone newsletter

Jun 7, 2025 | ,

Are you finishing things up for the season?  How about checking out upcoming events in Area 12 and around the country (should you be traveling) that might be of interest. A couple of fall events are mentioned in the latest issue.  You can read it here.

read more

March board meeting

Mar 15, 2025 |

Your Area 12 Board met in Las Vegas March 14-15 to check out site for the 2026 conference (more details coming soon).  And other business.

read more