RING IN SPRING
HANDBELL FESTIVAL
EVENT DETAILS
FESTIVAL INFORMATION
Date
Saturday, April 18, 2026
Location
Herndon United Methodist Church
701 Bennett Street
Herndon, VA 20170
Time
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8:30 am - Choirs start arriving for setup
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9:30am - Rehearsals start
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4:00pm - Free public concert
Clinician
Sandra Eithun
Cost* (Lunch is included)
-
$45/Individual​ (+ optional processing fees)**
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$275/Choir of maximum 13 participants
(+ optional processing fees)​​
*No refunds will be issued after March 28.
**Bells and equipment will be provided for individuals.
​
REPERTOIRE
You are responsible for purchasing and rehearsing music ahead of the festival.
A Bach Pastorale
Barbara Kinyon
Hope Publishing Co. | L3
Exuberant Joy
Arnold Sherman
Choristers Guild | L2
​
There is a Happy Land
Mitchell Eithun
Composers Music Co. | L2-
​
The Waiting
Sandra Eithun
Hope Publishing Co. | L3
​
Grand Chorus
Joel Raney
Hope Publishing Co. | L2
FESTIVAL SCHEDULE
(Subject to change)
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8:30 to 9:30 Arrival/Set-up
-
9:30 to 12:00 Rehearsal
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12:00 to 1:00 Lunch (provided)
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1:00 to 3:30 Rehearsal
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3:30 to 4:00 Concert Prep
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4:00 to 4:45 Public Concert (Free)
The music can be purchased at your favorite music supplier!
Virginia Bronze is committed to upholding the copyright laws of the United States and protecting the rights of our publishers, arrangers and composers. All music must be legally purchased and no photocopies will be allowed on the ringing floor.
Virginia Bronze is committed to upholding the copyright laws of the United States and protecting the rights of our publishers, arrangers and composers. All music must be legally purchased and no photocopies will be allowed on the ringing floor. If you wish to use a tablet computer to hold your music in place of standard paper copies on a music stand, you must contact the publisher of each piece of music to first obtain permission to convert a purchased piece of music to the format required for the tablet you are using. Copies of the written permission received from publishers must be presented on request from Virginia Bronze. Permission from a publisher for one piece does not imply permission for other pieces from the same publisher. The title of each piece used in this format must be included in the written permission received. Attendees should also have legally purchased copies of all music with them for verification. Titles originally purchased in a digital format do not require permission from the publisher, however, please have a copy of your purchase receipt available.
For any questions, please contact info@vabronze.org
ABOUT THE CLINICIAN
SANDRA EITHUN
Sandra Eithun, M.M.Ed–is a graduate of Silver Lake College in Manitowoc, WI, with an emphasis in the Kodály teaching method, keyboard, and flute. She is currently on the faculty at Holy Family Conservatory of Music in Manitowoc, WI leading the handbell program there. She served as Director of Music Ministry, handbell director, children’s choir director, organist and choral accompanist at First Congregational United Church of Christ in New London, WI from 1992-2021. She directed the Silver Lake College Handbell Ensemble from 2009-2020, is an active member of the Handbell Musicians of America and has served on their Area VII Board of Directors. She has been commissioned to write music for many events and for numerous individual handbell ensembles. Most recently, she received the honor of being given the esteemed Donald E. Allured Original Composition Award for the 2020 Week of Handbells in Bay View, MI.
​
She has over 600 pieces for handbells in publication as well as several sacred keyboard books and teaching collections for the incorporation of handbells in the music classroom. In 2013, Sandra had the honor of working alongside Doc Severinsen and the Fox Valley Symphony to include handbells in his holiday show, Jingle Bell Doc at the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center in Appleton, WI. Sandra’s compositions have been recently featured on the PBS Christmas special Holiday Handbells as well as concerts by noted groups across the country including the Bells on Temple Square in Salt Lake City. She continues to work as a handbell clinician and conductor at numerous festivals and workshops throughout the United States. She has four grown children and currently resides in Appleton, WI.