June 26-27, 2025 – Fort Myers, FL
Clinician: John Behnke
Area 4 Handbell Musicians of America is excited to welcome advanced ringers to Bronze Under the Sun 2026, taking place June 26-27, 2026, at Gateway Trinity Lutheran Church in Fort Myers, Florida, featuring clinician John Behnke.
Bronze Under the Sun is an advanced ringing event for handbell musicians in Area 4 and beyond, bringing together experienced ringers to perform challenging music, sharpen their skills, and collaborate in an engaging festival setting.
The weekend will conclude with a public Showcase Concert on Saturday at 3:00 PM, giving participants the opportunity to share their work in performance.
A Saturday lunch will be provided. Housing information is coming soon.
Because space is limited, early registration is encouraged. Registration is open now, and the deadline to apply is May 22, 2026. A video audition is required for most applicants; full details are available in the audition information tab.
We hope you can join us for this exciting event! If you have any questions, please contact Florida Chair Katherine Lamb Chico at FL.Area4@HandbellMusicians.org.
- Repertoire
- Application Process & Online Registration
- Schedule & Hotel Information
- Clinician John Behnke
2026 Bronze Under the Sun Repertoire
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.
Click Here to Register
Tentative 2026 Bronze Under the Sun Schedule
Friday, June 26, 2026
10:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Registration and 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
Dinner
On your own
Saturday, June 27, 2026
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
Break / Prepare for Concert
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Concert
4:00 PM
Pack up and safe travels home
Hotel Information: Coming soon!
Meet John Behnke
John Behnke is a respected church musician, conductor, and composer with nearly 600 published compositions and arrangements for handbells, choir, and organ. His music is published by numerous publishers in the United States and abroad, including his own imprint, JAB John Behnke Publishing.
He currently serves as Minister of Traditional Music at Lakeside Lutheran Church in Venice, Florida, where he plays organ and directs both vocal and handbell choirs. His distinguished career also includes service as Music Editor for Handbell Musicians of America, director of the Milwaukee Handbell Ensemble, and Emeritus Professor of Music at Concordia University Wisconsin, where he taught and directed Concordia’s touring handbell choir for 29 years.
Learn more at his biography page and JAB Publishing.