Handbell Ringer Groups in California

The American Guild of English Handbell Ringers Inc. (AGEHR) is dedicated to advancing the musical art of handbell/handchime ringing through education, community, and communication. It is an organization that funds handbell projects. This organization is a great resource for handbells in America.

Handbells were initially recognized as tuned instruments providing music around the turn of the 18th century. Developed by the Cor brothers in Wiltshire, England, tuned sets of handbells, such as the ones made by the Cor brothers, were used by change ringers to rehearse outside their towers. They could sit comfortably indoors while they practiced the complicated algorithms of change ringing. The handbell sets used by change ringers had the same number of bells as in the towers — generally six or 12 tuned to a diatonic scale. 

When handbells were officially presented by Whitechapel Bell Foundry in England to an American around 1902, a set of 10 handbells from Londoner Arthur Hughes, the U.S. gracefully and slowly embraced the new instruments. You'll  often have opportunity to hear the bells in concert during the Christmas season. Handbell groups and choirs ring in the holidays with delightful sounds that are delicate and pleasant.

California

Bells' Angels of Saint Andrew's Episcopal Church - Saratoga, CA  - magicbells.com/bellsangels
Campanile - Los Angeles, CA -  campanilemusic.com
Carillons Handbell Choir - Redding, CA
Carillons - Our Savior Lutheran Church, Arcadia, CA
Cathedral Bells at St. John's Lutheran Church, Orange, CA
Concordia University - Concert Handbells, Spirit Bells, Chapel Bells, Resound Quartet, and Alumni Ringers - Irvine, CA - web.mac.com/hgeisler/Concordia_Handbells/Welcome.html
Divine Jubilation - Morgan Hill, CA
Mount of Olives Lutheran Church Handbell Ensemble - Mission Viejo, CA
Opus Handbell Ensemble - Modesto, CA - opushandbell.org/
River Bells - Sacramento, CA
San Diego Harmony Ringers - San Diego, CA  -  sdhringers.ms11.net/
The Shepherd's Bells - Goleta, CA  -  gslcms.org/bells.shtml
Sonos Handbell Ensemble - Berkeley, CA  -  sonos.org/
Trinity Presbyterian Handbell Choir - Modesto, CA  -  tupc.org/handbell.htm
Upland First Presbyterian Church Handbell Choir - Upland, CA  -  fpc-upland.com
Voices in Bronze - Santa Clarita, CA  - voicesinbronze.com/
Wesley Bronze - Fresno, CA
Westminster Ringers - Sacramento, CA  - westminsac.org/go/wms/westminster_life/Music/westminster_ringers/index.cfm