Great Lakes Region
Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio
Region Leadership
Upcoming Events
Handbell Webinar Series
Starting a Handbell Choir
January 26, 2023
Recording and resources below
Handbell Maintenance
Malmark Handbell Maintenance
March 1, 2023
Kathy Ebling Shaw from the Malmark Bellcraftsmen will discuss maintenance of Malmark handbells and chimes. Recording coming soon!
Schulmerich Handbell Maintenance
March 8, 2023
Bethan Neely of Schulmerich Bells will discuss maintenance of Schulmerich handbells and chimes. Recording coming soon!
Handbell Techniques - Basic and Advanced
March 22, 2023
1:00-2:00ET
Wendy Warner Ransom will present an educational session introducing handbell techniques including ring touch, shake/trill, hand damp, thumb damp, pluck, mart, mart lift, echo, gyro, and tower swing.
View the webinar handout here.
Later webinars in the series will include rhythm, healthy ringing, and bell trees.
Is there a handbell topic you'd like to be covered? Reach out to any of the officers of the Great Lakes Region above. We welcome your suggestions.
Past Virtual Events
Starting a Handbell Choir
Handbell Webinar Series #1
January 26, 2023
Join presenters Janet Langhorst, Ann Wood, and David VanderMeer with moderator Sandra McDonald for this presentation about starting a handbell choir. Participants receive suggested resources, techniques, and exercises for starting a handbell choir in their context.
To view the resource page from the webinar click here.
Em-Bell-ishing Advent & Christmas
November 16, 2022
Panelist David VanderMeer, Ann Wood, Janet Langhorst with moderator Sandra McDonald discuss creative ways to use handbells during the Advent and Christmas seasons.
Collaborative Worship Planning
August 18, 2022
This virtual event was led by David VanderMeer, Minister of Music and Fine Arts at First Presbyterian Church of Ann Arbor. In this 30 minute session David talks about about what collaborative worship planning is and how to implement it in your congregation.
Nourishing the Soul - A Spiritual Practice
March 22, 2022
Come away for an hour and tend to your soul through a series of guided experiences and invitations to nurture: your breath, the four great connections in life, gratitude, and life-giving experiences that feed your soul.
This virtual event was led by Tracy DePue, trained Spiritual Director and Founder of InsideOut Spiritual Living.
Liturgical and Visual Arts Panel
January 25, 2022
This virtual panel discussion features Lisa Longo, Sandra McDonald, and Ellen Phillips, moderated by David VanderMeer. The panel discussed liturgical/visual arts and implementing arts in a congregational setting.