Dear Friends of BBR,

Welcome to our second decade! Our celebratory year of 2013-14 brought us our third CD release, our 10th Anniversary celebratory concert, a recording aired on CBS’ “48 Hours” and of course our annual donation of handchimes to a local Boston elementary school through the generosity of the attendees of the Boston Handbell Festival. We finished off the year with the inaugural performance of our commissioned piece, “Sonata in Baroque Style” by Michael Helman, and enjoyed Michael’s presentation at a BBR-sponsored community handbell workshop that same weekend. Finally, we toasted Norah Piehl who has stepped away from the administrative leadership of BBR after 8 fabulous years of dedicated service! Thank you, Norah.

As I step into fill those very large shoes, I am energized by the history of this wonderful organization, by the incredible musicians, donors and guests that I am working with, and by the forward-looking goals of the group into the next decade. I invite you to walk the journey with us — join us in the summer ring, come to auditions, attend our concerts, buy a CD. But mostly keep this wonderful form of music alive and well!

— Donna Matson
Executive Director, Back Bay Ringers