SAVE the DATE for Summit 2026
Brenda Austin, Clinician
June 19-20, 2026
Massed Ringing and Classes
Event begins Friday at 1 p.m. and concludes Saturday by 5 p.m.
Peace Lutheran Church
941 W. Bedford Euless Road
Hurst, TX 76053
Registration is now open.
$125 per person Early Bird Rate through March 15, 2026
$150 per person March 16, 2026 through May 15, 2026
$175 per person after May 15, 2026
Registration Deadline is June 5, 2026
BRENDA AUSTIN, festival conductor
BRENDA AUSTIN (b. 1972)is a native of Southwest Michigan, has been serving First United Methodist Church in Eaton Rapids, MI, as Director of Worship and Music since 2003. At the church, Brenda directs several handbell choirs of all ages and levels, as well as directing the Chancel Choir and Praise Band. She is the newly appointed Artistic Director for the Detroit Handbell Ensemble. Brenda is active in the community directing Children’s musical theatre and handbell choirs at the elementary school. Each year, in partnership with Chelsea United Methodist Church, the church hosts an annual handbell festival where Brenda has served as conductor and clinician. Additionally, Brenda is a freelance handbell composer, arranger and clinician.
Brenda graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Vocal Performance from Western Michigan University. She completed her Master’s of Music degree in Choral Conducting at the University of Missouri – Kansas City under the tutorship of Master Conductor Eph Ehly. Brenda received many awards for her conducting including being a semi-finalist in the ACDA National Student Conducting Competition in Washington D.C., and a finalist in the Graduate ACDA Student Conducting Competition in San Diego, CA.
Since her first publication in 2015, she has had compositions and arrangements published at Beckenhorst Press, the Lorenz Corporation, SoundForth, Jeffers Publishing, Alfred Publishing, GIA Music, From the Top Music and Chorister’s Guild.
Massed
Acclamation in G Minor, Karen Thompson
L 2+, (two compatible versions) 2-3 octaves AG23046 or 4-6 octaves AG46030
AGEHR Publishing
VIEW AND LISTEN
All Things Bright and Beautiful, Brenda Austin
L3, 3-5 octaves, JMG1333
Jubilate Music Group/Alfred
VIEW AND LISTEN
Peals of Praise, Karen Buckwalter
L2, (two compatible versions) 2-3 octaves CGB1322; 3-5 octaves CGB1323
(incorporates “Westminster Chimes”)
Chorister’s Guild
VIEW AND LISTEN
Intermediate Division
Somebody’s Knockin’ at Your Door, Brenda Austin
L2+, 3-5 octaves, 3071
Hope Publishing
VIEW AND LISTEN
I’ve Got Peace Like a River, Sandra Eithun
L2+, 3-6 octaves, 2892
Hope Publishing
VIEW AND LISTEN
Advanced Division
Appassionata, Michael Joy
L3, 3-6 octaves handbells, HB490
Beckenhorst Press
VIEW AND LISTEN
Milele, Jason Krug
L3+ with percussion 3-6 octaves HB and percussion RRBL5087
Percussion parts RRBL5087P
Red River Music/Handbell World
VIEW AND LISTEN
Summit 2026
Adventures in Bronze
June 19-20, 2026
Brenda Austin, Clinician
Tentative Schedule
Friday
1 -2 p.m. Load in and set up
2 p.m. Welcome and Introductions
2:15-3:45 p.m. Massed Rehearsal
3:50-4:40 p.m. Intermediate rehearsal/Advanced classes
4:50-5:40 p.m. Advanced rehearsal/Intermediate classes
5:45 – 6:30 p.m. Massed Rehearsal
6:30 p.m. Dinner on your own
Saturday
8:30-9:40 Massed rehearsal
9:50-10:40 Advanced rehearsal/Intermediate classes
10:50-11:40 Intermediate rehearsal/Advanced classes
11:45 a.m. Box Lunch (provided) and Biennial meeting
1 p.m. Concert by BHE
1:45-2:45 Final Massed Rehearsal (run through)
3 p.m. Concert
4:00 Pack up
$125 per person Early Bird Rate
through March 15, 2026
$150 per person
March 16, 2026 through May 15, 2026
$175 per person
after May 15, 2026
Registration Deadline is June 5, 2026
World Cup Soccer is in the DFW metro area the week before and the week after Summit 2026. Make your reservations now before rooms are sold out!!
The following are recommended hotels very near the event.
Holiday Inn Express & Suites
DFW West – Hurst
820 Thousand Oaks Dr, Hurst, TX 76054
1-817-427-1818
Hampton Inn & Suites
Dallas-DFW ARPT W-SH 183 Hurst
1600 Hurst Town Center Dr
Hurst, TX 76054
1-817-503-7777
How to Flirt
Stevie Berryman
It’s about more than smiling. Learning your music is just the first step in an
engaging performance. Once you’ve learned the notes, there’s a nonverbal language you
should master to truly captivate your audience. Demystify the art of connecting with your listeners using some surprisingly simple changes. “All performance is flirtation.” So…how’s your game?
Balls
Stevie Berryman
Take a break from ringing, but not from improving your skills! Learn how a bucket of raquetballs can provide a year’s worth of games for your handbell choir that teach rhythm, recovery, reading ahead, coordination, ensemble skills, and more. Participation is expected. Protective gear is optional.
Now What?
Amy Thomas
Are you a beginning ringer who wants to know more? Maybe you are not ready for 4-in-hand or bass bells? This class will help you discover how to mark your music, handle those pesky page turns, set up your position for ringing success and other “bell gems” that long-time ringers have already mastered. Come and let us help you improve your beginning knowledge!
When bells are on the keyboard layout- the Bell tree and Cymbell 1.0
Cloud Wang
This is a beginning – intermediate level session of bell tree and cymbell. You will especially learn how to build bell trees and string them on the stand, used by 2 mallets to play.
When bells are on the keyboard layout- the Bell tree and Cymbell 2.0
Cloud Wang
This is an advanced level bell tree and cymbell session. Several topics to discuss including to build the full bell tree keyboard layout from G4-G7, and how to use 4 mallets to play.
Reading Sessions
There will be reading sessions for grade 2/2+ intermediate music, grade 3/3+ advanced music, and seasonal music.
Conducting Basics
Stephanie Rhoades
Directors are not the only ones who need to know basic conducting terms and skills. If you are a ringer and do not know what all of the “arm waving” means, then the conducting gesture is useless. In this class, we will explore basic conducting patterns, entrances, cutoffs, and more. The class is for directors and ringers.
Learning (and Teaching) Multiple Bell Skills
Bob Avant
For those who see one person ringing multiple bells and wonder “how do they do it?”, this session is for you. For those who want to gain confidence in teaching this topic to your ringers, this session is for you. Learning how to ring multiple bells is the gateway to a comfort level and success with ringing more challenging music from Level 2+ and up. Bob will break down and develop the skills needed to be successful in ringing more bells than you have hands whether they are in a stepwise sequence or in a more complex order. Those who will teach this to others will benefit from the instructional approach and handouts.