About Us

Virginia Bronze is a community-based auditioned handbell ensemble composed of 16 ringers, one music director, and an Executive Committee. We received our federal tax-exempt 501c(3) status in March 2006.

We rehearse at Hammond Middle School in Alexandria, Virginia, on Tuesdays from 7-9 p.m. from September through May.

Handbells are a percussive musical instrument cast with an alloy of tin and copper. Virginia Bronze rings with 5 octaves (72 bells). We perform a wide range of handbell music including secular, sacred, popular, original and regional pieces. Several pieces in our current repertoire include additional instrumental accompaniment.

Mission

The mission of Virginia Bronze is to advance the art of English handbell ringing through a community-based forum in Northern Virginia. Specific goals of Virginia Bronze are:

1. For handbell ringers, to create and nurture a performance-oriented, community-based opportunity for advanced handbell ringers to improve their skills and explore new realms in handbell music;
2. For musicians, to inspire creativity towards new handbell music;
3. For the community, to perform a unique instrument as an outreach service;
4. For educators, to provide assistance for educating students of all ages on the art of English handbell ringing;
5. For Virginia, to celebrate and perform the music of and from Virginia.

Virginia Bronze's primary outreach activity is through our concert performances. We actively seek concert venues within existing concert series, retirement community centers, churches and educational institutions, and conferences sponsored by our national organization, the American Guild of English Handbell Ringers.

Membership in Virginia Bronze is open to all persons who are either qualified handbell ringers or persons interested in promoting the purposes of the organization. Virginia Bronze holds annual auditions and selects the 16 most qualified and committed handbell ringers for the next season. Currently members come from 3 Northern Virginia counties. Neither the ringers nor the Executive Committee are paid for their activities. We rehearse two hours each week and perform 5-6 concerts per season.

Performing at the Inova Executive Leadership Retreat, December 2006
in Fairfax, Virginia