Welcome to
Area 12

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

Join Today

Neon City Rhythms - June 18-20, 2026 in Las Vegas, NV

Plan on joining Area 12 members ringing together for our biennial conference!

Registration opens February 1, 2026.

2026 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BRONZE VISION AND SPRING RING with BARBARA MEINKE

Friday, May 1 and Saturday, May 2, 2026
St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 1450 South Melrose Dr., Oceanside, CA 92056

It’s time for the 2026 Southern California Spring Ring!  Our festival this year will again be in beautiful Oceanside, in San Diego County, at St. Thomas More Catholic Church. Our site hosts, Douglas Lynn and the Tower Bells, are looking forward to seeing all of you there once again, with Barbara Meinke returning as our clinician this year and she has picked some GREAT music!

Click for registration information

Nominations open for elected officers

It is that time to prepare for elections. We are looking for nominations for the three elected positions: Chair (6-year-cycle), Secretary (2-year cycle), and Treasurer (2-year cycle). We need two candidates to be placed on the ballot for each position. Would you or someone you know be interested in a nomination for the ballot?

If you are interested in or know of someone who might be interested in any of these elected or appointed positions, please contact Marci Nuoffer at pastchair.area12@handbellmusicians.org with any nominations.

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.)

Click Here

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 volunteering to serve on the board. Openings include Membership Director, Member-at-Large,and Event Director.
Contact the Chair if interested in serving on the board.

Click Here

Area Website 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!  Click for details.

Click Here

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.

Click Here
Donate to Area 12

Calendar

  • 2026 Southern California Spring Ring

    May 1, 2026 - May 2, 2026 @ 

    Two day workshop featuring Barbara Meinke conducting.  Bronze ensemble and massed ringing.
     
    https://area12.handbellmusicians.org/southern-california/ 
     
    This is a Handbell Musicians of America Sponsored event.
     
    ################################

    See more details

  • Handbell Spring Concert with Concordia University handbell ensembles

    May 1, 2026 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
    Abiding Savior Lutheran Church of Lake Forest - Food Distribution Center, 23262 El Toro Rd, Lake Forest, CA 92630, USA

    Concert Handbells
    Spirit Handbells
    Resound

    Save the date for a world-class handbell concert from one of the nation's top handbell programs. Concordia's Handbell Spring concert is a showcase of sacred, classical, popular, and new music - using over 140 handbells, handchimes, 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. 

    Tickets: Tickets are free (Free will offering) 

    https://www.simpletix.com/e/handbell-spring-concert-tickets-233457 

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

    See more details

  • 2026 Southern California Spring Ring

    May 1, 2026 - May 2, 2026 @ 

    Two day workshop featuring Barbara Meinke conducting.  Bronze ensemble and massed ringing.
     
    https://area12.handbellmusicians.org/southern-california/ 
     
    This is a Handbell Musicians of America Sponsored event.
     
    ################################

    See more details

  • America! Patriotic, Folk, Spirituals Handbell Concert with Echoes of Faith Handbell Ensemble & Faith Lutheran HS Handbell Ensemble

    May 2, 2026 @ 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
    Faith Lutheran Middle School & High School, 2015 S Hualapai Wy, Las Vegas, NV 89117, USA

    Location: Rm. 201 (Sandra Youmans Choir Room)
     
           

         This free handbell concert will feature American patriotic, folk, and spiritual songs such as "The Star-Spangled Banner" arr. by Brian Childers and "Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho" arr. by Kirtsy Mitchell. Echoes of Faith Handbell Ensemble is a community ensemble based as an alumni group of Faith Lutheran MS & HS. The Faith Lutheran High School Handbell Ensemble is the high school class of grades 9-12. We are excited to share some fun music with you!

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

    See more details

  • 2026 SoCal Spring Ring Final Concert

    May 2, 2026 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm
    St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 1450 S Melrose Dr, Oceanside, CA 92056, USA

            Join us at 5:30pm on Saturday May 2 for the closing concert of our weekend of preparation featuring individual and massed ensembles, under the direction of Barbara Meinke.         

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

    See more details

  • Concordia Community Handbell Ensemble Concert: A Tapestry of Harmonies

    May 2, 2026 @ 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
    Borland-Manske Center Charlie and Ling Zhang Orchestra Hall, 1530 Concordia West Irvine, California 92612

    The Concordia Community Handbell Ensemble presents an evening of beloved, classic favorites along with modern handbell repertoire.

    The Concordia Community Handbell Ensemble is open to adult handbell ringers in Orange County. They rehearse Friday evenings and perform in local churches, Concordia handbell events, and other public performances. 

    Location:  Zhang Hall (Concordia's Music Building)

    Tickets: This is a free, non-ticketed event. Donations appreciated. 

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

    See more details

  • Cathedral Bells of St. John's Lutheran Church in concert

    May 3, 2026 @ 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
    St. John's Lutheran Church of Orange, 185 S Center St, Orange, CA 92866, USA

     Join us at 4:00pm on Sunday May 3 for a wonderful afternoon of handbell excellence. The choir under the direction of Alex Guebert will perform several new compositions along with several cherished favorites.

           

            https://www.stjohnsorange.org/event/24075203-2026-05-03-cathedral-bells-concert/

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

    See more details

  • Sierra Spring Ring

    May 9, 2026
    Sparks United Methodist Church, 1231 Pyramid Way, Sparks, NV 89431, USA

    Massed ringing and classes for beginning and intermediate ringers.

    tintintabulations.com

    This is a Handbell Musicians of America endorsed event.
    ##################################

    See more details

  • Melodies That Bind Us with LA Bronze Handbell Ensemble

    May 9, 2026 @ 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
    Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 6020 Radford Ave, North Hollywood, CA 91606, USA

    The Story in the Score - Join us for a delightful journey through melodies from many famous movies. Sing along or tap your toes through familiar tunes to warm your heart.
     
    https://www.labronzehandbells.org/projects-8
     
    #############################################  

    See more details

  • Melodies That Bind Us with LA Bronze Handbell Ensemble

    May 16, 2026 @ 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
    Cal Heights Methodist Church, 3759 Orange Avenue Long Beach, CA 90807

    The Story in the Score - Join us for a delightful journey through melodies from many famous movies. Sing along or tap your toes through familiar tunes to warm your heart.
     
    https://www.labronzehandbells.org/projects-8
     
    #############################################  

    See more details

  • Melodies That Bind Us with LA Bronze Handbell Ensemble

    May 30, 2026 @ 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
    First Lutheran Church and School, 2900 W Carson St, Torrance, CA 90503, USA

    The Story in the Score - Join us for a delightful journey through melodies from many famous movies. Sing along or tap your toes through familiar tunes to warm your heart.
     
    https://www.labronzehandbells.org/projects-8
     
    #############################################  

    See more details

  • Melodies That Bind Us with LA Bronze Handbell Ensemble

    May 31, 2026 @ 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
    Hope Lutheran Church Palm Desert, 45900 Portola Ave, Palm Desert, CA 92260, USA

    The Story in the Score - Join us for a delightful journey through melodies from many famous movies. Sing along or tap your toes through familiar tunes to warm your heart.
     
    https://www.labronzehandbells.org/projects-8
     
    #############################################  

    See more details

Recent News

April newsletter

Apr 1, 2026 | , ,

Check out the latest issue of the Area 12 Twelfth Tone newsletter.   Preview a number of upcoming events, including June's Neon City Rhythms.  Plus elections call.

read more

Area 12 at DBE 2026

Mar 14, 2026 |

Check out the happy crew of Area 12 folks (and Neon City Rhythms clinician Michael Glasgow) at Distinctly Bronze East from February 2026  

read more

Neon City Rhythms registration is open

Feb 1, 2026 | ,

Neon City Rhythms Registration with guest clinician Michael Glasgow opens February 1, 2026!  Please register HERE. You can check out everything related to the conference at https://area12.handbellmusicians.org/ncr2026/.

read more

January board meeting

Jan 17, 2026 |

Your Area 12 board met today, virtually, to discuss the 2026 conference and other topics. (Area 12 members are welcome to attend board meetings.)

read more

Subscribe to Our Newsletters

* indicates required

 

Newsletter Subscriptions

You will automatically be subscribed to National emails. Additionally, you may subscribe to emails from any of the Areas by checking them below