We are excited to announce the 2027 Iowa City Handbell Choir Festival on April 9 & 10 at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church with clinician Brian Childers.
Brian Childers is an accomplished composer, conductor, and clinician. His choral, instrumental, and handbell works are performed frequently throughout the world. He is in demand as a featured clinician and conductor at music conferences, festivals and workshops across the nation. Brian serves as Music Advisor for Handbell Musicians of America, helping to promote the wealth of handbell music in the AGEHR Catalog.
He has served several churches throughout the Southeast, building vibrant programs for choirs, handbells and instrumentalists at each. He is on the music staff at Myers Park United Methodist Church in Charlotte, NC. In the spring of 2024, he was named as the Artistic Director of the Charlotte Bronze Handbell Ensemble.
Taking your 2026 evaluations into consideration about sight-lines and sound, the 2027 registration will be capped at 80 ringers. March 1, 2027 is the deadline for registration, although there is a chance registrations may reach 80 and close before March 1 so don't delay! Requests received after March 1 will be accepted only if there is space, and choirs registering after March 1 will be required to provide their own tables.
Festival schedule:
The April 9 (Friday) reading session & social is from 6:30-8:30 p.m. and is included with the registration fee.
April 10, Saturday
8-8:45 a.m. set-up
8:45-9 a.m. welcome
9-10:15 a.m. rehearsal
10:15-10:30 a.m. break
10:30 a.m.-Noon rehearsal
Noon-1 p.m. lunch and shopping time
1-3 p.m. rehearsal
3-3:30 p.m. concert prep break
3:30 p.m. concert
Fee: $50 HMA members, $60 non-HMA members. The fee includes the Friday evening session and Saturday lunch.
We hope that you are planning on registering for the festival. Individuals, partial handbell choirs, and full handbell choirs are welcome. All information is in the registration link here:
https://forms.gle/uRbDH4J8Mhrc1w3h9
The repertoire is listed below. Brian has chosen music for each liturgical season so you can prepare once and use twice. You will also find this info on the registration form. Music is available from Heitz Handbells with a 15% discount with code ICHF27 or from the included links.
Please reach out to me with questions or comments. Hope to see you in April!
Laura Kastens
Director of Handbell MInistries
St. Andrew Presbyterian Church
Repertoire:
1. All Nature Sings (Childers); Level 2+, 3 or 5 ot. Opt. Flute, opt. Percussion
2. Glorious Light (Childers) Level 2+; 3-7 oct (This is priced for reproducible purchase that allows for individual purchases, provided copies are purchased for each ringer.
3. Christ is Lord, Praise His Name (Starks); Level 3-; 3 or 5 oct., Opt. C instrument
4. Crown Him With Many Crowns (Compton); Level 3; 3-5 oct
5. Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus (Moklebust); Level 2, 3-5 oct. Opt. Percussion (2-3 and 3-5 octave versions available)
