Welcome to
Area 12

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

Join Today

Rev Up Your Handbell Engines

Enjoy  some fun ringing with friends and work on a couple of pieces

The Area 12 Board wants you (to volunteer 😀 )

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 Event Director.
Contact the Chair if interested in serving on the board.

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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.

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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

  • Internationa Symposium 2026

    August 3, 2026 - August 8, 2026 @ 
    Aberdeen, UK

    Opportunity to join the worldwide handbell community in Scotland. Ringing, socializing, learning.

    Early bird registration now open until January 16, 2026.

    https://ihs26.handbells.org.uk/

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    See more details

  • Internationa Symposium 2026

    August 3, 2026 - August 8, 2026 @ 
    Aberdeen, UK

    Opportunity to join the worldwide handbell community in Scotland. Ringing, socializing, learning.

    Early bird registration now open until January 16, 2026.

    https://ihs26.handbells.org.uk/

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    See more details

  • Internationa Symposium 2026

    August 3, 2026 - August 8, 2026 @ 
    Aberdeen, UK

    Opportunity to join the worldwide handbell community in Scotland. Ringing, socializing, learning.

    Early bird registration now open until January 16, 2026.

    https://ihs26.handbells.org.uk/

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    See more details

  • Internationa Symposium 2026

    August 3, 2026 - August 8, 2026 @ 
    Aberdeen, UK

    Opportunity to join the worldwide handbell community in Scotland. Ringing, socializing, learning.

    Early bird registration now open until January 16, 2026.

    https://ihs26.handbells.org.uk/

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

    See more details

  • Internationa Symposium 2026

    August 3, 2026 - August 8, 2026 @ 
    Aberdeen, UK

    Opportunity to join the worldwide handbell community in Scotland. Ringing, socializing, learning.

    Early bird registration now open until January 16, 2026.

    https://ihs26.handbells.org.uk/

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

    See more details

  • Internationa Symposium 2026

    August 3, 2026 - August 8, 2026 @ 
    Aberdeen, UK

    Opportunity to join the worldwide handbell community in Scotland. Ringing, socializing, learning.

    Early bird registration now open until January 16, 2026.

    https://ihs26.handbells.org.uk/

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

    See more details

  • Rev Up Your Handbell Engines

    August 15, 2026 @ 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
    Pacific Coast Church, 2651 Calle Frontera, San Clemente, CA 92673, USA

    Rev Up Your Handbell Engines - A workshop to tune up your handbell skills & learn two cool songs.
    Saturday - August 15, 2025, 9:00 am to 3:00 pm

    Description
    The workshop offers education and a terrific opportunity to ring in a massed setting for all levels of handbell musicians. Starting at 9:00 am, if participants want to participate, they have a choice of three hands on coaching and mentoring sessions:

    • Weaving,
    • 4-in-hand, and
    • New to ringing/festivals/marking music for the day.

    Then at 10:00 am all participants will explore two handbell pieces with clinician Anne Kelley, from Apache Junction, AZ. Anne is currently the Chair of Handbell Musicians of America (HMA), Area 11. The workshop will focus on technique, articulations, and rhythmic drills to enhance skills and foster group cohesion needed for confident performances throughout the ringing season. The South County Community Handbell Choir and friends will function as mentors. In addition to the group instruction, participants will ring alongside handbell musicians from more experienced choirs to learn through observation and individual attention.

    Almost everything will be supplied for the participants, and no prior preparation is needed. Participants will be asked to bring gloves, risers if needed, and binders. There will be some of these items available for loan. Lunch is on your own and refreshments will be provided for the breaks.

    This event is endorsed by Handbell Musicians of America, Inc. Handbell Musicians of America is dedicated to advancing the musical art of handbell/handchime ringing through education, community, and communication.
    ​
    Registration
    You can register at https://bit.ly/WorkshopRevUpRegistration
     
    Venue
    Pacific Coast Church - 2651 Calle Frontera, San Clemente, CA 92673
     
    Hours
    Registration – 8:30 am for those participating in the Coaching Sessions; 9:30 am for the rest of the workshop.
    Workshop - 9:00 am/10:00 - 3 :00 pm with breaks and 75 minutes for lunch.

    Fees
    $35 per person 
    $200 per choir of 6 people or more; maximum 10
     
    Music (no concert associated with the workshop)

     

     
    Questions
    Sharon Guilliams - schandbell@gmail.com
      
    schandbell.org

    This is a Handbell Musicians of America endorsed event.
     
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    See more details

  • HMA Into the Forest

    August 20, 2026 - August 22, 2026 @ 
    Myers Park United Methodist Church, Charlotte, NC

    Registration opens 12/1/2025 9am PT
     
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    See more details

  • HMA Into the Forest

    August 20, 2026 - August 22, 2026 @ 
    Myers Park United Methodist Church, Charlotte, NC

    Registration opens 12/1/2025 9am PT
     
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    See more details

  • HMA Into the Forest

    August 20, 2026 - August 22, 2026 @ 
    Myers Park United Methodist Church, Charlotte, NC

    Registration opens 12/1/2025 9am PT
     
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    See more details

  • Into the Forrest Showcase

    August 22, 2026 @ 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
    Myers Park United Methodist Church, 1501 Queens Rd, Charlotte, NC 28207, USA

    Showcase from Into the Forrest bell tree event.
     

    Live streamed on HMA YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/@HandbellMusicians
      
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    See more details

Recent News

Election results!!

Jun 29, 2026 |

We are excited to announce our newly elected members of the Area 12 board! Beginning in September, the following people will be serving on our executive committee. Chair-elect - Tessique Houston Secretary - Carol Flint Treasurer - Marc Davidson Congratulations to...

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June 2026 Area 12 Board Meeting

Jun 6, 2026 | ,

Your Area 12 board meet today via Zoom to finialize some things for the Area 12 biennial conference coming up in less than TWO WEEKS!!  (Registration still open.)  Plus some other things the board is working on. And a reminder:  Area 12's biennial elections are open. ...

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June 12th Tone issue available

Jun 6, 2026 | , ,

Check out the latest edition of the Area 12 newsletter, the Twelfth Tone. Issue looks at the ramping up to the Neon City Rhythms (in two weeks!), ongoing elections (deadline to vote June 20). Summarizing a few spring activities and looking forward to some (late)...

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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

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