Welcome from the Executive Director
Welcome to the website of the International Handbell Committee (IHC) – the organisation which enables handbell ringers to make links with, meet and make music with handbell ringers in different countries.
If you are a handbell ringer, you know what a beautiful sound they make. If you don’t play handbells and have never heard them, please do click on one of the links on this page or elsewhere on this website, to hear the wonderful sound! This sound is the main reason why most people take up handbell ringing…..it’s a sound which humans have been making and listening to for three thousand years (since Babylonian times – 1,000 BCE). Bells strike a chord in our brains which somehow demands attention, and this is why they have traditionally been used to mark the passage of time, to accompany rituals and to make beautiful music.
Our showcase event is the International Handbell Symposium, which takes place every two years and is hosted in turn by each of the eight handbell societies (guilds) which are members of the IHC. There is more information about International Handbell Symposia on this page and on other pages of this website.
The two most recent International Handbell Symposia have taken place in Nashville (USA) in 2022 and Hamamatsu (Japan) in 2024. The 2026 Symposium will take place in Aberdeen, Scotland, and the venue in 2028 will be Singapore. So you can see that ringing handbells can give you lots of exciting opportunities to travel, meet new people and understand other cultures.
Meeting new people and understanding other cultures are important for many musicians and handbell ringers are no exception. Understanding and living in harmony with other people and other cultures is an important way of promoting world peace. For members of the IHC, this idea is so important that we have drawn it into the “mission” of our organisation, as you will see elsewhere on this Home page.
The International Handbell Symposium is our biggest event, but handbell musicians have more opportunities to attend events in other countries and can be sure of a warm welcome when they do. Have a look at other sections of this website to find out more about what we do.
If you are interested in handbell ringing but you are not yet a member of your national guild, that’s probably a good place to start. Your national (or provincial) guild will help you find a handbell group as close to your home as possible and will keep you informed about international opportunities. If you would like to contact me, or another member of the IHC, then please get in touch with your national guild secretary, who will be able to put you in touch.
I hope you enjoy finding out more about the IHC, and enjoy your handbell ringing.
With all good wishes,
Tim Willetts
Executive Director, International Handbell Committee
The International Handbell Committee
The International Handbell Committee was formed in 1990 to set standards and goals for the biannual International Handbell Symposium. The committee is made up of the presidents and other representatives of the seven guilds that currently share in hosting the event – Handbell Ringers of Japan, Handbell Society of Australasia, Korea Handbell Association, Handbell Musicians of Canada, Handbell Ringers of Great Britain, Handbell Association of Hong Kong, Handbell Ringers of Singapore, and Handbell Musicians of America.
Mission & Vision
The Mission Statement of the International Handbell Committee is the promotion of the art of handbell ringing throughout the world. We, the International Handbell Committee, share a passion for the love of music expressed through handbells. As the International Committee dedicated to this art, we articulate our vision for the future to promote:
- Communication between nations
- Handbells as a musical art
- World peace through the spirit of music
Members
Mr. Arthur Syin, International Liaison, Handbell Ringers of Japan
Ms. Noriko Musha, Executive Director, Handbell Ringers of Japan
Ms. Annie Hergott, President, Handbell Musicians of Canada
Mrs. Patsy Andrews-Vert, Handbell Musicians of Canada
Mr. Keith Rowland, Chair, Handbell Ringers of Great Britain
Mrs. Jacky Cooper, International Liaison Officer, Handbell Ringers of Great Britain
Mr. John InChul Lee, President, Korea Handbell Association
Mrs. Carmel Daveson, President, Handbell Society of Australasia
Mr. Jacky Chi Yu Chan, Handbell Society of Australasia
Ms. Emily Li, President, Handbell Association of Hong Kong
Ms. Alice Lee, Secretary, Handbell Association of Hong Kong
Ms. Foon Lyn Yap, President, Handbell Ringers of Singapore
Dr. Damien Lim, Executive Director, Handbell Ringers of Singapore
Mr. Greig Ashurst, President, Handbell Musicians of America
Ms. Linda Onorevole, Executive Director, Handbell Musicians of America
Mr. Tim Willets from Handbell Ringers of Great Britain is executive director of the International Handbell Committee.
International Handbell Symposium
What happens at a Handbell Symposium?
Lots of handbell ringing! Click on the link nearby to see and hear the wonderful sound. (You will hear “massed ringing” – that is, all the ringers ringing together). In addition, there are workshops and demonstrations, concerts, trips to nearby places of interest and lots of food!
Who can take part?
Anyone who rings handbells. There is no entry requirement or audition, although you will probably enjoy it more if you are a reasonably competent ringer and musician. They are popular events, with between 500 and 800 ringers attending, from 10 or more countries.
When do they take place?
During the first part of August every two years. The dates are publicised well in advance. On the pages of this website you will find links to other websites which give information about the next two symposia.
Why are they special?
Whatever your favourite pastime, (soccer, baseball, rugby football, singing, or an academic subject) there is something wonderful about attending an international event, and getting to know people from all over the world who enjoy the same thing that you enjoy. Some handbell ringers have friends in many other countries and these friendships started at a Handbell Symposium. Of course, the music is usually pretty good too!
Who organises an International Handbell Symposium?
Each of the member guilds (currently eight) organises a symposium, in turn. This means currently that there is a 16-year cycle. If you look at the list of past symposium venues and organising guilds on this website you will be able to trace that cycle.
If you would like to attend, what do you do next?
Contact your national guild to find out more about local arrangements for attending a symposium – if the symposium is taking place in another country it may be that you can apply through your guild, or maybe you will be able to join a group that is planning to attend.