Central California

Maggie Paton – Regional Coordinator

Union City, Alameda, California

[email protected]

Maggie Paton discovered her passion for handbells in high school when she enrolled in “Introduction to Handbells” as a fun and unique Fine Arts class. Over twenty years later, her love for ringing has only deepened. Maggie has played with the Wisconsin Lutheran College Tower Ringers, Madison Area Concert Handbells (Madison, WI), and, since 2014, the Opus Handbell Ensemble in Modesto, CA. She also directs the Laudate Ringers of St. Joseph Catholic Church / Mission San Jose in Fremont. Besides being an avid choir ringer, Maggie likes playing small ensemble and solo pieces. When she’s not making music, Maggie works as a software developer in healthcare revenue management.

Check out the calendar below, and feel free to Contact us for more information about handbells in the Central California area.
UPCOMING EVENTS
November 2, 2025

  • Bells of Blessing Festival and Benefit Concert

    November 2, 2025 @ 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm
    Trinity United Presbyterian Church, Telle Center 1600 Carver Rd, Modesto CA 95350

    We are pleased to invite you and your ringers to our Bells of Blessing Handbell Festival on November 2, 2025! This event began in 2011 and has taken place each year with the exception of 2020 and 2021 (during the pandemic) and also last year, when the Opus Handbell Ensemble, our headliner bell choir, changed directors with Rich Colla's retirement after 29 years. We are excited to once again plan this meaningful afternoon of handbell music.

    In addition to Bells of Blessing being a time for us to ring together and to meet some new ringers and directors, we have the opportunity to raise funds to benefit the work of The Salvation Army, Modesto. TSA leadership provides personnel to assist us during the afternoon and during the concert will offer a brief video presentation about their vital work.

    The festival format will be much as it has been in previous years. We encourage each participating group to perform a piece of their choice. As always, if you'd like your ensemble to ring a separate piece but are short a person or two, we will have ringers available who would be happy to fill in.

    We'll conclude the concert with the massed ringing of three selections.
    4:00pm Concert
    Free & open to the public; offering will be taken for TSA
     

            https://opushandbell.org/

     
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December 18, 2025

  • Opus Handbells at the Haggin Museum

    December 18, 2025 @ 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
    Haggin Museum, 1201 N Pershing Ave, Stockton, CA 95203, USA

    This fourteen-member group from the California Central Valley performs on five octaves of Malmark handbells and five plus octaves of Malmark hand chimes. Opus has been featured guest artists for several community concert series and has rung with the Modesto Symphony Orchestra. They have shared this unique instrument and their music locally, nationally, and internationally.

    1st and 3rd Thursday events vary from special guests to live music and everything in between. This evening, hosted by the Junior Women’s Group, is perfect for a night out with friends or a date! Enjoy a complimentary glass of wine, beginning at 6:30 pm, as you socialize with friends before the program starts at 7 pm.

    This program is included with regular museum admission. The museum and store are open until 9 pm. Seating at events varies and is limited to ensure the safety of visitors and the museum’s collection.

    Regular admission prices
    $8 Adults (ages 18-64)
    $7 Seniors (ages 65+) & Military
    $5 Youth (ages 10-17) & Students (with school ID)
    Free admission for:
    Haggin Museum Members
    Children under age 10, accompanied by an adult
           

            https://opushandbell.org/

     
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