Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Summit 2020 has been CANCELLED

Frequently Asked Questions

1) Will Summit 2020 have reading sessions?
2) Will there be enough for me to ring at Summit 2020?
3) What classes are being offered at Summit?
4) Will there be concerts at Summit?
5) Will there be an All-Star Ensemble opportunity at Summit 2020?
6) Where should I stay during Summit weekend?
7) Can I register for a single day?
8) Can I attend as an individual ringer?
9) Is there going to be something for ringers of all skill levels?
10)  Where is Waco? What is there to do outside Summit?
11)  How do I rent tables or tell you how many tables I am bringing to Summit?
12) How can I pay for my registration with a check?
13) Where do I mail a check to pay for my registration?
14) What is the fee to rent tables at Summit 2020?
15) Where do I park and unload at Summit 2020?

Will Summit 2020 have reading sessions?

We will have plenty of reading sessions at Summit 2020. Check out our Exhibitor Educations on the Classes page for more information.

Will there be enough for me to ring at Summit 2020?

Absolutely! You will get to participate in the massed ringing, path (division) ringing, class ringing, and so much more.

What classes are being offered at Summit?

We will have classes and exhibitor education sessions on techniques for treble to bass, solo ringing, beginning to advance conducting, handbells in worship and education, musicality, percussion and rhythm, managing and building a handbell program, and so much more. Whether this is your first day or fiftieth year with handbells, we will have something to fit your needs! Keep an eye on the Classes page for all of the educational opportunities available at Summit 2020!

Will there be concerts at Summit?

Definitely! Some of the best artists in the country will be performing right here in Area 9. Take a peek at the Concerts page to see all of the details and learn about this year’s performers.

Will there be an All-Star Ensemble opportunity at Summit 2020?

We will not be having an All-Star Ensemble at Summit 2020, but we will have so many opportunities for advanced ringers to learn from faculty. There will also be reading sessions to let you flex those sight-reading muscles.

Where should I stay during Summit weekend?

You can pick your path to rest and relaxation as there is no event hotel for Summit 2020. Waco is served by most of the large hotel brands and offers many local options. For those who are not internet research warriors, our friends at the Waco Convention & Visitors Bureau have offered to help you find the best place to rest your head.

Can I register for a single day?

You sure can! Single-day registrations are available for each day of Summit 2020. Just remember to select that option on the registration page.

Can I attend as an individual ringer?

Absolutely! While we encourage groups to attend so that they can build camaraderie and learn together as an ensemble, we also know that this isn’t always possible for some groups. It’s just as great for individual ringers to be able to experience everything they can at Summit, and then to take that experience and new knowledge back to their ensemble at home! All classes, reading sessions, and paths (divisions) are individually based. An individual ringer is only required to bring a binder, music, and gloves. We will make every effort to find a place for you to ring within the groups and bells provided for massed and path (division) ringing.

Is there going to be something for ringers of all skill levels?

Most definitely! New and experienced directors, beginning and seasoned ringers, and even those who ring in a community or auditioned ensemble will have opportunities to learn and develop their skills behind (and in front of) the table! Take a peek at the Classes page for all of the educational opportunities available at Summit 2020!

 Where is Waco? What is there to do outside Summit?

We love this question! Waco is located on I-35 between Austin and the Dallas/Fort Worth metro. A quick walk (yes, we said walk!) from Columbus Avenue Baptist Church (our venue) will have you visiting Dr. Pepper Museum & Free Enterprise Institute, Balcones Distillery, and Cameron Park. You can also enjoy a trail tour of the Brazos River with Brazos Bluffs Ranch or browse the internationally-renowned shelves of Magnolia Market at the Silos.

Still need more? Find the real heart of Texas on the Waco Convention & Visitor Bureau’s website for a calendar of events, places to eat, and even more to explore.

How do I rent tables or tell you how many tables I am bringing to Summit?

You will be given the option to tell us how many tables you are renting or bringing for Summit 2020. Our new registration system makes this process very simple. Just remember that only one person per group needs to tell us this information; individual ringers, you won’t even see this question to keep your registration easy.

How can I pay for my registration with a check?

After you enter the attendee information we need, you’ll see the payment options. The credit card option will be selected by default; all you have to do is click “Mail Check” to switch your payment method.

Where do I mail a check to pay for my registration?

If you selected to “mail check,” below is the information you will need to mail in your payment to secure your registration(s) for Summit 2020.

● Please make checks payable to: HANDBELL MUSICIANS OF AMERICA AREA 9
● Please mail payments to: Chris Burton, c/o First United Methodist Church, 1004 N Mays St, Round Rock, TX 78664
● Please put your RegFox order number on the memo line of your check.

What is the fee to rent tables at Summit 2020?

There isn’t one! We were able to secure free table rental for all attendees to Summit 2020. Remember to select the “I need to RENT tables” answer on the registration form to tell us how many tables you will need. Hurry to reserve your tables before we run out!

Where do I park and unload at Summit 2020?

When you arrive at Columbus Avenue Baptist Church in Waco, TX, we’ll have signs around the building pointing you to the best door for unloading your instruments and equipment. There is plenty of parking across the street for single vehicles, church vans, trucks with trailers, buses, or whatever you bring to Summit 2020.

Area 9 reserves the right to cancel any portion or all portions of Summit 2020
if the number of registrations is deemed insufficient.

Firearms or weapons of any type are strictly prohibited at Summit 2020.
Columbus Avenue Baptist Church is a smoke/vape/tobacco free facility.

Summit 2020 Sponsors

To learn how to become a sponsor of Summit 2020, please click here.

Use of Tablets to Hold Music

Handbell Musicians of America is committed to upholding the copyright laws of the United States and protecting the rights of our publishers, arrangers, and composers. If you wish to use a tablet computer to hold your music in place of standard paper copies on a music stand, you must contact the publisher of each piece of music to first obtain permission to convert a purchased piece of music to the format required for the tablet you are using. Copies of the written permission received from publishers must be presented on request from the event organizer, event chair, or Handbell Musicians of America staff. Permission from a publisher for one piece does not imply permission for other songs from the same publisher. The title of each song used in this format must be included in the written permission received. Attendee should also have legally purchased copies of all music with them for verification.