Mission

The mission of Virginia Bronze is to support and grow the music and handbell community of Northern Virginia.

Virginia Bronze promotes and showcases handbell ringing in Northern Virginia through programs that:
● Entertain audiences with advanced handbell performances
● Inspire individuals to learn the art of handbell ringing
● Motivate composers to create new and innovative handbell music
● Support the performing arts community through collaborative efforts

The organization’s primary outreach activities are concert performances, workshops, and festivals, and it actively seeks opportunities to educate the public about handbells. Most recently, Virginia Bronze has focused on community outreach in the Northern Virginia area by partnering with ArtsFairfax, community centers and Title 1 schools in Fairfax County to expand access to handbells and handchimes.

​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 up to 16 qualified and committed handbell ringers for the next season. Currently members come from at least three Northern Virginia counties, the City of Alexandria, Washington, D.C. and Bethesda, MD. Neither the ringers nor the Executive Committee are paid for their activities. We rehearse two 1/2 hours each week and perform 5-6 concerts per season.

History

Virginia Bronze, 2006

Virginia Bronze, Dec 2023

Virginia Bronze began with a few ringers who wanted the challenge of ringing at a higher level. Since their first performance in October 2006, VAB has gained local and national recognition. 

As a top community handbell ensemble, just across the river from our nation’s capital, we have had the opportunity to perform with the Washington Chorus, the Cathedral Choral Society, Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, DC, the Children’s Chorus of Washington, Strathmore Children’s Chorus and the Alexandria Symphony. It has been a part of First Night Alexandria, and an artist-in-residence at the George Washington Masonic National Memorial. They have also performed at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the Music Center at Strathmore.

Virginia Bronze was honored to perform a lunchtime concert at the 2010 Pinnacle Conference (a Handbell Musicians of America festival) in Nashville, TN. We performed at the HMA National Seminar as a feature concert in July 2019 in St. Louis. 
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VAB performs on 6 and a half octaves of Schulmerich handbells (78 bells: G2-C9); 6 octaves of Malmark Choirchimes® (73 chimes: C2-C8); 2 octaves of Schulmerich Silver Melody Bells® (25 bells: C5-C7) and 3 octaves of Petit & Fritsen handbells (37 bells: C4-C7).