June 7-8, 2025 – Tampa, FL
Clinician: Brenda Austin
Area 4 – Handbell Musicians of America is excited to announce the 2025 Bronze Under the Sun weekend! This year’s event for Bronze-level ringers will take place June 7-8 in Tampa, FL, at Hyde Park United Methodist Church. We are thrilled to welcome Brenda Austin as our clinician and look forward to an inspiring weekend of music and growth.
Bronze Under the Sun is an advanced ringing event designed for handbell musicians in Area 4 and beyond, and provides an opportunity to perform challenging music, expand their skills, and connect with others who share a passion for handbells.
We hope you can join us for this exciting event! If you have any questions, please contact Florida Chair Katherine Lamb Chico at [email protected].
- Repertoire
- Application Process
- Online Registration
- Schedule & Hotel Information
- Clinician Brenda Austin
2025 Bronze Under the Sun Repertoire
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Allegro Grandioso – Michale Keller – AGEHR Publishing – L3+
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A Platinum Celebration – Brenda Austin – Beckenhorst – L5
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Exultate – Josh Bauder – AGEHR – L4
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Gethsemane – Nancy Hascall – Red River Music – L3
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Por Una Cabeza – Brenda Austin – Hope – L4+
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Rolling in the Deep – Nick Hanson – Hope – L3+
Application Process
- Participants may register individually or as a group.
- A video submission is required unless you have previously participated in Bronze Under the Sun or Distinctly Bronze East/West. Group registrations do require a video submission with a majority of participating ringers included.
- Registration fees must be paid at the time of registration and will be fully refunded if not accepted.
- Acceptance and ringing positions (unless assigned by a group director) will be determined on a first-come, first-served basis and communicated via email to allow for early music preparation.
Tentative 2025 Bronze Under the Sun Schedule
| Friday, June 7, 2025 | |
| 10:30 am – 1:00 pm | Registration & Set Up |
| Lunch on your own | |
| 1:00 pm – 1:15 pm | Announcements |
| 1:15 pm – 3:15 pm | Rehearsal |
| 3:15 pm – 3:30 pm | Break |
| 3:45 pm – 5:15 pm | Rehearsal |
| 5:15 pm – 5:30 pm | Break |
| 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm | Rehearsal |
| 7:00 pm | Dinner on your own |
| Saturday, June 8, 2025 | |
| 9:00 am – 10:30 am | Rehearsal |
| 10:30 am – 10:45 am | Break |
| 10:45 am – 12:15 pm | Rehearsal |
| 12:15 pm – 1:15 pm | Lunch Provided |
| 1:15 pm – 2:45 pm | Rehearsal |
| 2:45 pm – 3:00 pm | Get Ready/Break |
| 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm | Concert |
| 4:00 pm | Pack up & safe travels home |
Hotel Information – Coming Soon!
Meet Brenda Austin
Brenda Austin is in demand internationally as a conductor and clinician because of her dynamic and energetic approach to connecting musicians through handbells. In 2019, Brenda joined the team at Hope Publishing Company in Carol Stream, IL as Editor. In 2023, she was named Music Director for Embellish Handbells. Before joining Embellish, she served as the Artistic Director for the Detroit Handbell Ensemble since 2016. Under her baton, DHE was honored to open the Handbell Musicians of America National Seminar in 2018 and be the featured concert for HMA’s AREA 2 2019 Festival in Lancaster, PN. Additionally, she has served First United Methodist Church in Eaton Rapids, MI, as Director of Music since 2003. She is also active in the community directing Children’s musical theatre.
Brenda graduated with degrees in Vocal Performance from Western Michigan University and a Master of Music in Choral Conducting from the University of Missouri – Kansas City. She studied with Craig Arnold, Steve Zegree and Eph Ehly. Brenda is sought after as a handbell clinician throughout the year and has been the conductor and clinician at numerous festivals and workshops including HMA National Seminar, and many of the Areas’ festivals. Additionally, she has had more than 100 titles published for handbells and sacred choral since 2015.
For more information about Brenda, please visit her website at www.BrendaEAustin.com