Into the Forest

Did you know that Louise Frier had the idea for what would become bell trees when she saw her high school students string some bells together to help carry more bells at once during concert teardown? On June 22, 2023, thirty bell tree enthusiasts gathered at Messiah Lutheran Church in Lakeville, Minnesota, for three days of everything bell trees. The attendees represented 17 states, Canada, and most areas of HMA, with skills ranging from brand new to bell trees to experienced performers. Equipment was borrowed from all over the city, and 22 bell trees were set up for classes, mentoring sessions, and concert rehearsals. We also had publishers, composers, and vendors present for this two-and-a-half-day event.

Excerpts of the concert may be seen on this playlist: https://bit.ly/forest23playlist.

Into the Forest participants open the concert with bell tree pioneer Louise Frier’s “The Journey” as a processional.

Karen Van Wert, Kath Wissinger, and Barbara Brocker spent over a year cultivating, planning, and overseeing this event. The overall theme was that everyone had something to learn and everyone had something to share, so classes were collaborative and we spent much time sharing ideas.

Barbara Brocker’s contribution to the art of bell trees could be felt throughout the event. We were quite surprised by how many people specifically called out Barbara as the person who brought bell trees into their lives or inspired them to learn them. It was nearly everyone at the event, including both of us.

Barbara Brocker and Linda perform Barbara’s arrangement of “Flower Song.”

This event was unique in that it specifically focused on bell trees. So many handbell events occur across this country every year, and a scattered few include bell tree classes, but this was a one-of-a-kind event, specifically focusing on advancing the artistry of bell trees.

We had classes for beginners, focusing on how to set up trees on the stand and practicing learning how to play them, focusing on good mallet technique. There were classes on how to choose non-bell tree music to play on bell trees, classes on how to memorize bell tree music, and classes on using four mallets on a tree, not just to play two notes at the same time, but to make bell tree ringing more fluent and with an economy of motion (this blew both of our minds, we’re still talking about it and hope to master this skill someday!).

We saw stick bell trees, bell trees that folded down into a small traveling case, and speaker stands used as bell trees—it was fascinating to see how inventive and resourceful bell tree ringers can be!

A tabletop bell tree stand, one of the unique finds at Into the Forest.

Kathleen Wissinger’s traveling bell tree setup.

The emphasis of this event was to share, explore, and grow. We were encouraged to share our bell tree experiences, look at new concepts, and play around with the different bell trees that were available. Pop-up performances were a highlight of the event, sight reading music to demonstrate a concept or an idea. Everyone found new music and went home with new ideas and friendships to further their personal bell tree journey.

The final concert of Into the Forest was the first-ever bell tree concert! It was well-attended and opened with a tribute to Louise Frier, with 19 ringers playing The Journey as a processional. The concert’s 14 pieces demonstrated the many creative uses of bell trees: solo, duet, single string, processional, table to bell tree, adapted music, and bell tree with chimes and handbells. One of the concert participants was playing bell trees for the first time. Excerpts of the concert may be seen on this playlist: https://bit.ly/forest23playlist.

Into the Forest participants.

We want to especially thank the committee, Karen Van Wert, Kath Wissinger, and Barbara Brocker, for putting this amazing event together. We both learned so much!

Did you know that Louise Frier had the idea for what would become bell trees when she saw her high school students string some bells together to help carry more bells at once during concert teardown? On June 22, 2023, thirty bell tree enthusiasts gathered at Messiah Lutheran Church in Lakeville, Minnesota, for three days of everything bell trees. The attendees represented 17 states, Canada, and most areas of HMA, with skills ranging from brand new to bell trees to experienced performers. Equipment was borrowed from all over the city, and 22 bell trees were set up for classes, mentoring sessions, and concert rehearsals. We also had publishers, composers, and vendors present for this two-and-a-half-day event.

Excerpts of the concert may be seen on this playlist: https://bit.ly/forest23playlist.

Into the Forest participants open the concert with bell tree pioneer Louise Frier’s “The Journey” as a processional.

Karen Van Wert, Kath Wissinger, and Barbara Brocker spent over a year cultivating, planning, and overseeing this event. The overall theme was that everyone had something to learn and everyone had something to share, so classes were collaborative and we spent much time sharing ideas.

Barbara Brocker’s contribution to the art of bell trees could be felt throughout the event. We were quite surprised by how many people specifically called out Barbara as the person who brought bell trees into their lives or inspired them to learn them. It was nearly everyone at the event, including both of us.

Barbara Brocker and Linda perform Barbara’s arrangement of “Flower Song.”

This event was unique in that it specifically focused on bell trees. So many handbell events occur across this country every year, and a scattered few include bell tree classes, but this was a one-of-a-kind event, specifically focusing on advancing the artistry of bell trees.

We had classes for beginners, focusing on how to set up trees on the stand and practicing learning how to play them, focusing on good mallet technique. There were classes on how to choose non-bell tree music to play on bell trees, classes on how to memorize bell tree music, and classes on using four mallets on a tree, not just to play two notes at the same time, but to make bell tree ringing more fluent and with an economy of motion (this blew both of our minds, we’re still talking about it and hope to master this skill someday!).

We saw stick bell trees, bell trees that folded down into a small traveling case, and speaker stands used as bell trees—it was fascinating to see how inventive and resourceful bell tree ringers can be!

A tabletop bell tree stand, one of the unique finds at Into the Forest.

Kathleen Wissinger’s traveling bell tree setup.

The emphasis of this event was to share, explore, and grow. We were encouraged to share our bell tree experiences, look at new concepts, and play around with the different bell trees that were available. Pop-up performances were a highlight of the event, sight reading music to demonstrate a concept or an idea. Everyone found new music and went home with new ideas and friendships to further their personal bell tree journey.

The final concert of Into the Forest was the first-ever bell tree concert! It was well-attended and opened with a tribute to Louise Frier, with 19 ringers playing The Journey as a processional. The concert’s 14 pieces demonstrated the many creative uses of bell trees: solo, duet, single string, processional, table to bell tree, adapted music, and bell tree with chimes and handbells. One of the concert participants was playing bell trees for the first time. Excerpts of the concert may be seen on this playlist: https://bit.ly/forest23playlist.

Into the Forest participants.

We want to especially thank the committee, Karen Van Wert, Kath Wissinger, and Barbara Brocker, for putting this amazing event together. We both learned so much!

Teri Gregory has been ringing handbells since her church received its first set of bells and chimes in the Fall of 1992. Handbells instantly became a passion. Since then, Teri has participated in nearly every Distinctly Bronze East since 2009, several Distinctly Bronze West events, Virtuoso, International Symposium, and many Area 3 and Area 1 festivals. Teri currently rings with Capital Carillon in the metro Washington, D.C., area and continues to ring with her church choir, Jubilate Bronze, as one of only two founding members of the choir still active in the group. Over the years, Teri has expanded her handbell experience to include solo, duet, and quartet music and has recently developed a passion for bell trees. This fall, Teri will join the Area 3 board and is eager to see what the future holds for handbells in her life.

Linda Krantz, Solo Handbell Artist, has been wowing audiences with her artistry and skill since 2005. Linda combines the fluidity of a dancer with her virtuosity, creating an emotional, musical journey through grace and elegance. Across the country, Linda teaches the techniques and skills necessary for a solo handbell musician, encouraging young handbell musicians along the way. She is considered the leading expert in Traveling 4iH, upholding the legacy of her mentor, Nancy Hascall. Linda is the founding member of L.A. Bronze and a regular guest artist of the Pasadena Symphony’s Holiday Candlelight Concert.