Advancing the Art of Handbells in Northern Virginia

I’ve Got Rhythm… I’ve Got Music!

Sunday, June 3, 2012

4:00 p.m. at the George Washington Masonic Memorial, Alexandria, VA

Concert is in the auditorium, accessible from the parking lot side.

Virginia Bronze’s final concert of the 2011-2012 season features percussionist Doug Wallace. The program of truly percussive music includes Rock Around the Clock, Classical Gas, Bach’s Prelude and Fugue No. 2 in C Minor and original pieces for handbells.

Purchase tickets online or at the door.

Auditions for the 2012-2013 Season

Virginia Bronze will audition all ringing positions for the 2012-2013 season. Audition appointments are available on the evenings of Tuesday, June 5 and Wednesday, June 6 at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Arlington.

To schedule an audition or request more information, please contact us at vab@vabronze.org or call 1-888-824-2541. Please let us know your name, phone number, email address, and mailing address.

Advanced knowledge of bell ringing and musicianship with an emphasis on rhythmic understanding is required. Auditions consist of on-site preparation of music, rhythm drills, and sight-reading pieces at various positions. Virginia Bronze rehearses on Tuesday evenings at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Arlington.

Virginia Bronze on the cover of Overtones

Virginia Bronze was featured on the cover of the Jan/Feb issue of Overtones, the magazine of the Handbell Musicians of America. Our November joint concert with the Westminster Ringers of Maryland was the subject of the cover story.

Final concert of the 2010/2011 season: “An American Journey”

Thank you to all who attended our final concert of the 2010/2011 season, “An American Journey,” on Sunday, June 5, 2011 at the
George Washington Masonic Memorial in Alexandria, VA.

Review by Rev. C. Milton Rodgers, III, Minister of Music and Organist Grace United Methodist Church: Drums, cymbals, interesting historical narration, clarinet, and, by the way, handbells, were all a part of the exciting “An American Journey” concert held by the Virginia Bronze Handbell Ensemble at the George Washington Masonic Memorial Auditorium on Sunday June 5. This was an American Music History tour told excitingly on the handbells.

Each piece had been thoroughly researched and many were even transcribed by the director of the group, Carol Feather Martin. The Virginia Bronze played each piece masterfully. It was a treat for the listeners to hear Scott Joplin, Cole Porter, Duke Ellington and John Philip Sousa all played on the same medium, handbells, and yet played with so many texture differences. In some pieces, drums were played. In one piece a clarinet was played. The surprise of the whole concert was the addition of the piccolo to John Philip Sousa’s “The Stars and Stripes Forever.” The audience left the concert better informed about American musical history. They also had the thrill of hearing these classics of American Music History played by a masterful handbell choir.

Photos from March 20, 2011 Concert

Photos from the March 20, 2011 concert “Alphabet Soup” at the George Washington Masonic Memorial Temple in Alexandria, VA.

Virginia Bronze ringers performing March. Credit: Wayne Stocks

Interested in joining Virginia Bronze?

Regular auditions for the 2011-2012 season were held on June 7-8, 2011. For more information about auditioning, please contact Director Carol Feather Martin. Any person considering membership must be available for rehearsal on Tuesday evenings throughout the year.

Advanced knowledge of bell ringing and musicianship with an emphasis on rhythmic understanding is required. Auditions consist of on-site perusal and preparation of music and rhythm drills and sight-reading pieces at various positions.

Contrasts CD

Our first recording, Contrasts, features wide-ranging repertoire, from classical to jazz, Japanese melodies, and arrangements exclusively available to Virginia Bronze.

“Carol Feather Martin and Virginia Bronze have already taken their place along side groups like Embellish and The Agape Ringers, to name a few. This thirteen track work is filled with energy expression, a bit of percussion and violin. Each piece seamlessly fit one after another and covered a wide range of musical style and emotion.” – Robert Stocks

Order online.