Community Partners
The Southern Colorado Handbell Festival would not be possible without the support of the community. Below are some of the organizations that have contributed significantly to the festival in recent years.
Church in the Wildwood (Green Mountain Falls, CO)
For the last several years, Church in the Wildwood has loaned their platforms for our clinician podium, which is a vital part of the festival! With this many choirs participating, the clinician has to be elevated to be visible to several rows of ringers.
About Church in the Wildwood:
Church in the Wildwood is a member congregation of the United Church of Christ. We share commitment to worship and study, fellowship and mutual care, and the wider community. God calls us as a people to be one body in Christ, living in service and mission to the community. We are as committed to caring for people and Creation outside our church as within it.
Find Church in the Wildwood on Facebook!
First Lutheran Church
For years, First Lutheran Church partnered with the Southern Colorado Handbell Festival to provide printing for the concert programs. In addition, most meetings of the Southern Colorado Handbell Festival Committee are held at First Lutheran.
About First Lutheran Church:
It is the mission of First Lutheran Church to equip members to be fully committed followers of Jesus Christ, who seek to glorify Almighty God in their lives and share with others the joy and salvation of the Christian faith.
Find First Lutheran Church on Facebook!
Forté Handbell Quartet
In addition to the entire quartet being members of the Southern Colorado Handbell Festival Committee, Forté as an organization has also taken on printing costs for the festival’s concert programs and Forté’s artistic director, Luke Nabeta, provides, sets up, and runs the sound system for amplification of the clinician and committee members when speaking to the ringers during the day and to the audience for the concert.
About Forté Handbell Quartet:
Forté is an advanced quartet marked by artistry, energy, and dedication to their craft. In pursuit of musical excellence, Forté strives to explore, innovate, inspire, and glorify God through the gift of music. The musicians of Forté – Luke Nabeta, Megan Reishus, Dillon Ekle, and Tory Marting – continually challenge themselves to “Rethink Possible,” expanding their musical and performance horizons and adding original compositions and arrangements to their ever-expanding repertoire, while challenging audiences’ perceptions of what handbells can really do.
Find Forté Handbell Quartet on Facebook!
Heritage Ringers Community Handbell Choir
Though newer to the festival (simply because the choir was formed more recently), the Heritage Ringers are an important partner to the Southern Colorado Handbell Festival. Since they began attending as a participating group, they have provided snacks to sustain ringers’ energy throughout the day.
About Heritage Ringers:
Heritage Ringers is a community handbell choir located in Colorado Springs, Colorado. We ring five octaves of Schulmerich handbells and chimes and another four and a half octaves bells and chimes. In addition to performing at the Southern Colorado Handbell Festival, we also have many outreach programs. In particular, we have ring-from-stands programs, which makes us a very portable choir for smaller spaces. With 20 or more Heritage Ringers, we can perform as small ensembles or as a full choir. Our primary goal is to bring handbell ringing to the public and share our enthusiasm and love for handbells.
Find Heritage Ringers Colorado Springs on Facebook!
Mu Phi Epsilon
The Southern Colorado Handbell Festival has had a long partnership with Mu Phi Epsilon. For years, MPE has provided coffee and tea during setup and morning rehearsal, energizing the participating ringers for a long day of work and fellowship. They don’t charge for the beverages, but collect a free-will offering at the table.
About Mu Phi Epsilon:
Mu Phi Epsilon is a co-educational International Professional Music Fraternity. Its purpose is to recognize scholarship and musicianship and to develop a bond of friendship among the members. The goal of the fraternity is to advance music in the community, nation, and world through promotion of musicianship, scholarship, therapy, and education, with an emphasis on service through musicianship. Membership is open to former Mu Phi Epsilon members and musicians with a history of extensive service in the community who have not affiliated with another fraternal organization.
Funds earned at the Southern Colorado Handbell Festival go into the Fraternity’s scholarship fund.
Find Mu Phi Epsilon Colorado Springs on Facebook!