Dear Friends of BBR:

Greetings from snowy Boston. I’m writing to tell you about our exciting spring program, although as mother nature gifts us with another 1-2 feet of snow, it’s getting hard to think about Spring!  As we refocus our mission on Education and the Art of Handbell Ringing, our theme this season will be “Childhood Memories.”

We are thrilled to announce that BBR has received a grant from the Cambridge Arts Council, a part of the Massachusetts Cultural Council.  Our funding will be used to participate in this year’s Cambridge Science Festival on Saturday, April 25, where we’ll be teaching two classes on the “Science of Handbells.”

In the spirit of our spring theme, we are looking forward to performing at a new children’s festival called Boston Hubbub on Saturday, June 20 — look for us out on Copley place, under the tent.

And of course, it wouldn’t be spring without the Boston Handbell Festival, Tuesday, May 19, at Old South Church. As part of BBR’s commitment to education, we use the proceeds of a freewill donation during BHF to raise money for a set of choir chimes to be given to a local school. For music educators interested in applying to the Chime Donation program, please see our application here.

You can join us for our spring “Childhood Memories” concerts on Sunday, June 7, in Hanover at St. Andrews Episcopal Church, or Friday, June 19, at the First Congregational Church in Melrose.  Visit our events page on BBR’s website for details.

Thanks for your wonderful support of BBR over our winter concert season.  We rang for large, enthusiastic crowds each time, and truly enjoyed sharing our instrument through the many large and small ensemble appearances.

Finally, I’m delighted to report that we had a successful kickoff for our Capital Campaign to refurbish the donated Whitechapel 3-octave set of handbells.  Thanks to  your generosity we are halfway to our goal — watch for updates in coming newsletters!

Donna Matson
Executive Director