Embellish Handbells

Summer Tour: Send-Off Concert & Dinner
2025-07-06 18:00 - 20:00 (America/Detroit) | Calvin Christian Reformed Church, 700 Ethel Ave SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 49506, United States
Join Embellish for a magical evening as we celebrate the kick-off of our summer tour to Wichita, Kansas, with dinner and a concert! Enjoy a delicious pasta dinner and enjoy the musical offerings of our own West Michigan handbell ensemble at the “Pinnacle” of their musical year! Dinner is served at 6 pm, and our concert will begin at 7 pm. Take a break from making dinner and join us!

Online Dinner + Concert ticket sales have ended. Tickets for concert-only attendees will be available at the door beginning at 6:30pm on July 6th for $15 each.

VIP Individual Tickets: $40VIP Table (6 tickets): $220 Save $20!

Includes front row concert seats

VIP Meal: Lasagna and Fettucine Alfredo, Garden Salad, Breadsticks, Brownie or Chocolate Chip Cookie, Ice Cream Sundae

Dinner and a Show Tickets: $25Dinner and a Show Table (6 tickets): $130 Save $20!

Meal Option #1: Spaghetti with Meat Sauce, Garden Salad, Breadsticks, Ice Cream Sundae

Meal Option #2: Fettuccine Alfredo (Vegetarian), Garden Salad, Breadsticks, Ice Cream Sundae

Meal Option #3: Gluten-Free Rotini with Meat Sauce, Garden Salad, Ice Cream Sundae

Student Dinner and a Show Tickets: $10

Concert Tickets Only: $15

Student Concert Only Tickets are Free!

Handbell Open House: Prospective Ringers & Community Welcome
2025-05-06 18:00 - 19:30 | Faith Community Church, 2600 7th St NW, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 49504, United States
Join us on May 6th at 6pm for our Embellish Open House! Anyone who is interested in the “behind the scenes” of Embellish & Campana is welcome!

Prospective ringers are invited to come learn what it takes to be part of the group, whether you are interested in potentially ringing with Embellish or Campana.

Local handbell ringers and/or directors can stay (or join) at 7pm to see how we run an Embellish rehearsal. We will have additional bells set up so that you can join in ringing with us as well!

Community musicians interested in partnering with Embellish are welcome to attend as well, to meet Brenda E. Austin – The Embellish Family’s Music Director.

RSVPs appreciated via this Facebook Event or to Embellish@EmbellishHandbells.com.

Schedule for Open House:6:00pm – An informal time to talk with our Music Director, Brenda Austin7:00pm – Embellish will rehearse beginning at 7:00 and you are welcome to watch the rehearsal, or join in and ring with the group.

Spring Handbell Concert: "There's No Place Like Home"
2025-05-04 15:00 - 16:30 | Matthews Performing Arts Center at Cornerstone University, 3000 Leonard St NE, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 49525, United States
Join Embellish Handbells as we perform songs around the theme of “There’s No Place Like Home” for our Spring Concert!

Online ticket sales have closed, but tickets will be available at the door for $14 each! Kids and students receive free admission.

Perennials for Sale at Concert:

An assortment of quart and gallon pot sized perennials will be available to take home (Suggested donation price: $15 each, cash or credit).

We’ll have Proven Winners® and Walters Gardens varieties of plants for sun and shade, courtesy of Walters Gardens.

All proceeds will support the Embellish Tour Fund.

Donate Your Old Sneakers to Help Support Embellish!

If you have any old pairs of shoes laying around, please bring them as a donation to help support Embellish! We are partnering with GotSneakers to recycle and repurpose old footwear, with proceeds from this fundraiser going directly to support Embellish’s Tour Fund.

We will have a donation box in the lobby at our Spring Concert, and appreciate any donations!

Accepted shoes must be donated as a pair, and only the below “styles” of shoes are eligible for this program.

Embellish Family Night at Applebee’s
2025-05-01 16:00 - 21:00 | Caledonia Applebee’s, 1685 Market Place Drive SE, Caledonia, Michigan, 49316, United States
Support Embellish by dining out! When you order to dine in or take out at the Caledonia Applebee’s on Thursday, May 1st, mention you are with Embellish, and 20% of your meal’s price will be donated back to Embellish!

We will also be holding this same fundraiser opportunity on Monday, April 28th.

We hope you will join us, and don’t skip dessert (it’s for a good cause! )

RSVP to the event here: https://www.groupraise.com/events/301665

Embellish Family Night at Applebee's
2025-04-28 16:00 - 21:00 | Caledonia Applebee’s, 1685 Market Place Drive SE, Caledonia, Michigan, 49316, United States
Support Embellish by dining out! When you order to dine in or take out at the Caledonia Applebee’s on Monday, April 28th, mention you are with Embellish, and 20% of your meal’s price will be donated back to Embellish!

We will also be holding this same fundraiser opportunity on Thursday, May 1st.

We hope you will join us, and don’t skip dessert (it’s for a good cause! )

RSVP to the event here: https://www.groupraise.com/events/301767

Campana Mini Concert
2025-03-18 19:00 - 19:45 | Faith Community Church, 2600 7th St NW, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 49504, United States
Join Embellish’s sister ensemble Campana for their upcoming mini concert! Admission is free, and we hope you will join us for a celebration of handbells!

Winter Warm Up
2025-03-15 08:30 - 14:30 | Kansas
Winter’s chill got you down? Warm up your handbell skills with Embellish! We’re hosting a relaxed day of classes for ringers of all levels – from newbies to seasoned pros. We’ve got coffee, muffins, treats, and lunch covered. All you need to do is register and join the fun! We’ll handle the rest.

There will be four class sessions, lunch, and a mini-concert by Embellish.

When & Where:

We are just days away from Winter Warm Up 2025! With over 80 ringers registered, we’re sure to have a fun day enjoying all things bell related! Below is some info you will want to review before Saturday.

Where to go: Rush Creek Bible Church, 2334 76th St SW, Byron Center, MI 49315.

Registration: Begins at 8:30 and goes until 9. A light breakfast snack will be available.

Class Schedule: At registration each ringer will receive their personalized class schedule for the day.

What to bring:

gloves if you have them

water bottle

dress comfortably, especially shoes. We recommend tennis shoes or sneakers of some sort. The church has requested that we do not wear black soled shoes in order to help protect their gym floor.

Speaking of shoes, you have the opportunity to donate your old sneakers to help support Embellish! We are partnering with GotSneakers to recycle and repurpose old footwear, with proceeds from this fundraiser going directly to support Embellish’s Tour Fund. If you have any old pairs of shoes laying around, please bring them to Winter Warm Up. We will have a donation box in the lobby, and appreciate any donations! Accepted shoes must be donated as a pair, and only the “styles” of shoes below are eligible for this program.

What to bring:

Gloves (bells and other equipment will be provided)

Dress comfortably (especially shoes, but please no black soled shoes per the church’s request)

Schedule:

8:30—Registration begins

9:00—Welcome & announcements

SESSION 1

SESSION 2

SESSION 3

LUNCH (included)

SESSION 4

Mini Concert by Embellish

Registration Information:

Registration is now closed! If you missed this year’s event, please make sure to sign up for our email list so you’ll be notified of the next workshop that Embellish hosts!

2025 Class Offerings

Based on feedback from previous workshops we have added new classes and brought back some of your favorites! Have each ringer read through the list below and choose the top 6 classes they would like to attend. They can indicate their choices on the Ringer Class Request Form provided.

Back-to-Basics: Learn the basics from picking up your bells to laying them down, and everything in between. This class will start from the beginning and will reinforce basic ringing techniques for bells and chimes.

Beyond Ringing: Once you’ve mastered how to ring, come discuss all that’s involved beyond ringing. Thumb damps, marts, plucks, mallets, tower swings…the list goes on and on. This class will discuss the proper way to do all things “beyond ringing.” Come learn the finer details of all the techniques above and learn ones you may not have ever heard of!

Big Bass Bells: If you’ve always wanted to ring the monsters, this class is for you. This class will discuss different techniques for ringing B3 on down, ideas for assignments, and healthy ringing.

Conducting Masterclass: Directors: improve your groups’ performance by improving your own. Brenda Austin, internationally known conductor, clinician and composer, will observe you “at work” and give you pointers. Each participant should bring with them copies of music they would like to conduct. It could be something you are working on with your bell choir currently. We will provide ringers for you to conduct. Brenda will give guidance, in the style of a masterclass, to improve your conducting and communication with your groups.

Dynamic Directing: Every director faces their own unique challenges. Whether you’re starting a beginning group, troubleshooting hard-to-ring passages or looking for your group to ring more musically, you are not in this alone. Brenda Austin is an internationally-recognized director and clinician who has directed groups of all levels and ages, and will share her insights from the other side of the podium.

Embellishments: Want to achieve that WOW factor from your congregation or audience? Learn how to “embellish” your performance by adding instrumentation and percussion. Explore sounds beyond bells that will create a knock-out performance. This class will allow ringers to have hands-on experience with different types of bells, chimes, and percussion instruments like wind chimes, tambourine, Djembe, Cajon, and many more!

From Start to Finish: This sight-reading session will allow ringers to work a piece from start to finish. Find a new stand partner, and experience ringing a new position while learning and perfecting a piece in a very short period of time. This class will ring a mid-level piece and is open to all abilities.

Practice Prep: Are you the type of ringer that wishes you had more time in rehearsal each week? There are so many things you can do to help learn a piece faster and more efficiently. Embellish will share thoughts on marking music, page turns, bell assignments, and individual work that will maximize your time spent as a group.

Rhythm and Games: Bell ringers are percussionists. Rhythm is our jam. But we don’t go it alone. Ringing in a group takes teamwork and trust. This class will improve rhythm using a fun team approach and will address how posture, body movement, and mood all contribute to ringing in time and on time.

Solo & Small Ensemble Ringing: Have you ever wanted to ring it all? This class will address the ins and outs of solo and small ensemble ringing so that you can take the stage on your own. Come learn what it takes to separate from the pack and go it alone.

Tackling Treble – Beginner: Come try your hand at treble. Ringers will learn how to ring multiple bells and will be introduced to shelly and 4-in-hand techniques. Basic techniques on bells and chimes will be covered.

Tackling Treble – Intermediate/Advanced: If you already ring multiples, come refine your technique and learn 6-in-hand in this advanced session. This class will also discuss how to mart, mallet, thumb damp, and pluck those hard-to-ring passages.

Tricks of the Trade: Do you want your performance to go from good to great? Sometimes we get in our own way and make things harder than they need to be. This class will share Embellish’s “secret sauce” on challenging passages, impossible measures, and the key to making it look easy. This class will also address the finer details of polishing your performance once the notes are mastered.

Weaving with Bells: This is not a crafting class! Weaving is a ringing technique – really!! It will help you get to that accidental or through those quick passages with bells and chimes. Learn how to take the confusion out of picking them up and putting them down.

‘Tis the Season to Embellish, feat. Campana – Holiday Concert
2024-12-21 15:00 - 17:00 | Rush Creek Bible Church, 2334 76th St SW, Byron Center, Michigan, 49315, United States
A second date for our Holiday Concert has been added! Join Embellish + Campana for our celebration of the holidays! This year, our concert theme will be “Journey to Joy.”

Discounted Group Tickets are available for just $9 each for groups of 10 or more tickets. Please contact us at Embellish@EmbellishHandbells.com to purchase your group tickets.

Tickets will be available for purchase at the door.

'Tis the Season to Embellish - Holiday Concert
2024-12-17 19:30 - 21:00 | Mayflower Congregational Church, 2345 Robinson Rd SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 49506, United States
Join Embellish for our celebration of the holidays! This year, our concert theme will be “Journey to Joy.”

Discounted Group Tickets are available for just $9 each for groups of 10 or more tickets. Please contact us at Embellish@EmbellishHandbells.com to purchase your group tickets.

Tickets will be available for purchase at the door.

Bells & Brews
2024-11-01 19:00 - 20:30 | Creston Taproom, 1504 Plainfield Ave NE, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 49505, United States
Join us at Creston Taproom in their Golden Age Room for an entertaining evening of “Bells & Brews.”

Embellish will bring the Bells, Creston Taproom will have the Brews, and we hope that you’ll join us for this upbeat concert!

We’ll have interactive games and contests in between songs to help support Embellish, so you’re encouraged to bring cash if you’d like to participate in the fun (all donations go 100% towards supporting The Embellish Family).

If you’ve never seen Embellish Handbells perform before, this concert will be a great introduction to modern handbell ringing!

Tickets: $14 at the door

All ages welcome. The Golden Age Room will have a full bar, and limited snacks & appetizers available for purchase.

Embellish Auditions
2024-05-21 18:00 - 20:30 | Faith Community Church, 2600 7th St NW, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 49504, United States
Calling all handbell musicians!

Auditions for Embellish’s 2024-25 season will be held by appointment only the evening of May 21st.

If you are interested in scheduling an audition, please contact us at Embellish@EmbellishHandbells.com prior to May 14th to secure your spot.

Open House: Prospective Ringers & Community Welcome!
2024-05-07 18:00 - 19:30 | Kansas
Join us on May 7th at 6pm for our Embellish Open House! Anyone who is interested in the “behind the scenes” of Embellish is welcome!

Prospective ringers are invited to come learn what it takes to be part of the group, whether you are interested in potentially ringing with Embellish or Campana.

Local handbell ringers and/or directors can stay (or join) at 7pm to see how we run an Embellish rehearsal.

Community musicians interested in partnering with Embellish are welcome to attend as well, to meet Brenda E. Austin – Embellish’s new Music Director.

RSVPs appreciated via our Facebook Event Page.

Embellish Handbells Spring Concert: 'Bell'ebration
2024-05-05 15:00 - 17:00 | Matthews Performing Arts Center at Cornerstone University, 3000 Leonard St NE, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 49525, United States
Celebrate music with us!Big or small come and celebrate music with Embellish on May 5th. Together we’ll take a “Walk in the Park” to see the “Frolic Flight of the Hummingbird.”

It will be a “Celebration” of our first year with a new director.

You will be changed “For Good” and find that “You’ve Got a Friend” in Embellish.

CONCERT DETAILS:

Sunday, May 5, 2024 – 3:00 pm

Matthews Performing Arts Center at Cornerstone University

3000 Leonard St NE, Grand Rapids, MI

TICKETS:

ONLINE ADVANCED TICKET SALES HAVE CONCLUDED. TICKETS WILL BE AVAILABLE AT THE DOOR!

Tickets at the Door: $14

Children and students receive free admission.

Discounted tickets available for groups of 10+

Winter Concert with Embellish & Campana
2024-03-19 19:00 - 20:30 | Trinity United Methodist Church, 1100 Lake Dr SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 49506, United States
Campana & Embellish present their Winter Concert

Pre-Sales have concluded. Tickets will be available at the door for $12.

GR Symphony Holiday Pops, featuring Embellish Handbells
2023-12-23 19:00, 2023-12-23 14:00, 2023-12-22 19:00, 2023-12-21 19:00 | Kansas
BOB BERNHARDT conductor | SHAYNA STEELE vocalsGRAND RAPIDS SYMPHONY CHORUS, PEARL SHANGKUAN directorGRAND RAPIDS YOUTH CHORUS, LEAH IVORY directorEMBELLISH HANDBELL ENSEMBLE, BRENDA AUSTIN director

Join us for this long-standing holiday tradition with Bob Bernhardt the Grand Rapids Symphony, the Grand Rapids Symphony Chorus, the Grand Rapids Youth Chorus, Embellish Handbell Ensemble, and frequent GRS soloist Shayna Steele!

Hear your seasonal favorites including “Joy to the World,” “O Come All Ye Faithful,” John Williams’ selections from the movie Home Alone, a “Christmas Sing-Along,” and the “Hallelujah” Chorus from The Messiah.

Plus—a surprise visit all the way from the North Pole!

'Tis the Season to Embellish - Holiday Handbell Concert
2023-12-12 19:30 - 21:00 | Mayflower Congregational Church, 2345 Robinson Rd SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 49506, United States
12/10/23 Ticket Update:

We are overwhelmed by all of the support and excitement for this Tuesday’s concert!

There will be a VERY LIMITED number of tickets available for purchase at the door on Tuesday, as we are close to hitting the seating capacity at the venue.

As of Sunday 12/10 online ticket pre-sales have been closed.

Join the Embellish Family for this year’s Holiday Handbell Concert!

This year’s concert will feature both Embellish and Campana performing songs in the theme of “Angels & Demons.”

For discounted group tickets for 10 or more tickets, please contact us at Embellish@EmbellishHandbells.com

Raleigh Ringers in Grand Rapids
2023-07-11 19:00 - 21:00 | East Grand Rapids Performing Arts Center, 2211 Lake Dr SE, Grand Rapids, MI, 49506, United States
Please join us in welcoming the Raleigh Ringers to West Michigan!

Hosted by Embellish Handbells

“Noted for their creative, artistic interpretation, The Raleigh Ringers have established themselves as America’s premiere professional ensemble.”
Dr. William A. Payn, Retired Chair, Department of Music, Bucknell University

Concert time:

7pm-9pm on Tuesday, July 11th

Doors will open at 6:30pm

Location:

East Grand Rapids High School Performing Arts Center

2211 Lake Dr SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49506

Ticket Prices:

Tickets will be available at the door on Tuesday. Cash or credit card accepted.

$22 Adult Ticket at the door

$17 Student Ticket at the door – Ages 13+

$20 Groups of 8+ Ticket at the door

Children 12 & under free

All tickets are general admission

More about the Raleigh Ringers

Founded in 1990, The Raleigh Ringers is an Emmy-nominated, internationally-acclaimed concert handbell choir based in Raleigh, North Carolina. The group has been dazzling audiences with unique interpretations of sacred, secular and popular music, including rock ‘n’ roll tunes that the group has become noted for, along with original compositions written just for The Raleigh Ringers.

Under the direction of David M. Harris, The Raleigh Ringers has performed in 39 States and the District of Columbia, France, England, and Canada; live on the nationally syndicated “Bob and Tom Show” radio show; and on the “Hour of Power” at the Crystal Cathedral in California. In addition to six albums, The Raleigh Ringers has released two full-length holiday concert videos. From those videos, three one-hour concert specials were created and broadcast on over 250 American Public Television stations in 45 states. The most recent PBS special aired over 400 times in 38 states in its first year of national distribution.

Raleigh Ringers Equipment

The Raleigh Ringers performs on one of the most extensive collections of bells and bell-like instruments owned by any handbell ensemble in the world. The current grand total is 35 octaves composed of 377 individual pieces of equipment. Each individual handbell set has its own unique sound. By mixing the sounds of these instruments, members of The Raleigh Ringers are able to create contrasting moods and highlight melodic lines, bringing richness and depth to the music they perform.

Embellish at Grand Rapids Festival of the Arts
2023-06-03 18:30 - 19:30 | Grand Rapids Art Museum, 101 Monroe Center St NW, Grand Rapids, 49503, United States
Join Embellish at our final performance of the season as part of the Grand Rapids Festival of the Arts!
This is a free performance, open to all!
