Totally Tins
Date:
Saturday, Oct. 24, 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM
Location:
Event Schedule
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8:30-9:00: Check in and set up
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9:00-10:15: Workshop #1
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10:15 – 10:30: Break
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10:30-11:45: Workshop #2
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11:45-12:30: Lunch (bring your lunch and water bottle)
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11:45-12:30: Optional music purchase
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12:30-2:30: Repertoire reading (break as needed)
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2:30: Pack up, clean up and travel home safely
Contacts
Laurie Kubik
Chair, NH Region
Handbell Musicians of America, Area 1
NH.area1@handbellmusicians.org
978-866-6264
Susan Schultz
Event Registrar
Handbell Musicians of America, Area 1
registrar.area1@handbellmusicians.org
978-273-2226
Event Details
Join fellow ringers from throughout New England for Totally Tins Workshop for Beginners and Others. This event is designed to help even the most beginning ringers focus on creating a broad palette of musical sounds. Clinicians Carlene Ruesenberg and Gina Williams will lead participants through workshops and repertoire reading for Tins and Massed pieces from the 2027 Conference repertoire while focusing on building expressive, healthy ringing techniques.
All theTins and Massed music for 2027 conference/festival will be available for purchase at a discounted rate. Registrants for the full day will receive “Hashivenu” included in your registration fee to be used for the “Marking Your Music” workshop. During the repertoire reading and ringing time, we will be using Jeffers Handbell music store’s borrowed music and therefore don’t fold, spindle, mark or mutilate the music. If you purchase the music, you most certainly can do those things to your music.
Clinicians
Carlene Ruesenberg has been playing handbells since 2004 and directing and teaching since 2011. For three years, she was the director of the Senior and Junior Handbell Choirs at the Lee Church Congregational, and is currently the director of the Memorial Bell Choir at South Congregational Church in Concord, NH. As a ringer, she was a founding member of the Granite State Ringers where she played for six years. In 2014, she joined the Merrimack Valley Ringers from Chelmsford, MA, where she currently rings. She served as Chair of Area 1 of Handbell Musicians of America and organized its biennial Festival Conference in 2022. She has taught many clinics and classes throughout New England. She has a Bachelor of Music in Bassoon Performance from Arizona State University, and a M.ED from Plymouth State University. She also has a Level 1 Certification from the Handbell Musicians of America.
Gina Marie Williams lives in Ledyard CT and has been ringing for 27 years. She became the Director of Music and Worship Technology at St. Luke Lutheran Church in Gales Ferry, CT in 2013 where she directs three handbell choirs and a senior vocal choir. Previously as the “church musician” Gina directed two of the beginning youth handbell/handchime choirs beginning in 2011. Gina has led repertoire-reading sessions at Area 1 Handbell Festivals and has led the tin choirs at Family and Friend Handbell Camp in 2024 and 2026. When she is not directing and finds the time, she is an avid arranger of handbell music as well as music for concert band and other various small ensembles. Commissioned by the Houston Chamber Ringers, her arrangement of “I Can See Clearly Now” premiered at the National Convention in St. Louis in 2019. She has two handbell arrangements also published by “From the Top” music – “Black Magic Woman” and “Waltz No 2” by Dmitri Shostakovich. Gina is currently a member of the New England Ringers.Ringing Repertoire
Workshops
- Hashivenu (Rise Up and Sing) (2-3, L2) (Tins) arranged by B. Austin. $6.50 Hope Publishing
Afternoon sightreading and ringing
Afternoon sightreading and ringing will attempt to read/ring through all 2027 conference Tins and Massed pieces. Digital downloads are available from the publisher.
Tins
- Contemplations(2-5 oct, L2) – R. Mallory; AGEHR Publishing, AG25003
- Hashivenu (Rise Up and Sing)(2-3 oct, L2) – arr. B. Austin; Hope Publishing, HP3047/HP3028
- Great Is Thy Faithfulness(2-3 oct, L2) – arr. M. Eithun; Ring Out Press, RO3387/RO3388
Massed
- Rejoice He Is Risen (Rejoice in the Spirit)(2-3 oct, L3) – C. Moklebust; Choristers Guild, CGB720/CGB721
- Triumphant Spirit(2-3 oct, L3) – N. Hanson; Choristers Guild, CGB841/CGB842
- Moonrise (Eventide Celebration)(3-6 oct, L2) – B. Childers; Red River Music, RRBL5114
- Peals of Praise(2-3 oct, L2) – K. Buckwalter; Choristers Guild, CGB1321/CGB1322/CGB1323
Food
Light snacks, coffee, and Crystal lite lemon tea will be provided; please bring your own brown-bag lunch and water bottle
Who Should Attend & What to Bring
All are welcome at this event. Each ringer should bring gloves, comfortable shoes, handbell music folder, and a music stand if you wish. If you have a very specific position you want to ring in, please bring your own bells, chimes, and mallets. There is no need to bring music. Don’t forget your lunch and water bottle.
Registration Information
Registration available through October 14, 2026.
All participating ringers must register.
| Registrant Type | Registration Fees |
| Full Day Ringer | $25 |
| Afternoon Repertoire Only | $10 |
| Wesley UMC Ringer | $6.50 |
Youth ringers are welcome! Please register at least one Adult as a chaperone for every ten registered ringers under the age of 18.
Cancellation Policy
Cancellations may be made by contacting the Area 1 Registrar via email at registrar.area1@handbellmusicians.org. Refunds will be issued for cancellations submitted before October 17, 2026 in the amount charged less a $2 processing fee. No refunds can be issued after that date.
Scholarships Available
Scholarships are available on a variety of levels for members of the Handbell Musicians of America and the ensembles they direct. If you are in need of financial assistance in order to attend this event, please review the scholarship information and application directions on the scholarships page of the Area 1 website.