Bay View Week Of Handbells

08/22/2026

The 2026 Bay View Week of Handbells pre-concert photo, with all the participants, and director Fred Gramann. Thanks to our official photographer Kim Finison, who does very well at capturing a photo where no one's blinking! 😊🎶

08/21/2026

What an amazing week we all had! We want to say a HUGE thank you to the event's director, Maestro Fred Gramann. Fred has been directing the Bay View Week of Handbells since 2018, and he brings so much talent and skill to the event.

Fred works tirelessly in the months before the Week of Handbells. His attention to detail helps every ringer to know exactly what's expected of them, and ensures that even with more than 100 handbell musicians in the room, we'll all play as one ensemble by the time concert day arrives. Fred helps us all to grow as musicians, focusing not just on the notes, but on the feelings behind the notes. That's how we turn a printed score into music that will touch the hearts of our audience.

Thank you, Fred, for everything you bring to the Bay View Week of Handbells. We love and appreciate you! ❤️🎶

(Photos: Kim Finison)

08/16/2026

Wow! What an amazing week we had! 🥳 Four days of rehearsals, and a concert filled with beautiful and exciting handbell music. We had happy reunions, new ringers to welcome, early mornings, late nights, chats on the porch, breathtaking sunsets, teamwork, and so much energy, as we worked together to prepare a handbell concert like no other.

We'll have lots more photos and videos to share with you soon. We have people to thank, and lots to talk about. In the meantime, mark your calendar for next year's Bay View Week of Handbells! The event will start on Monday, August 9th 2027, with the concert on Thursday, August 12th. You won't want to miss it! 😊🎶

(Photos: Kim Finison)

08/13/2026

With the whole group this time, here's a snippet of Kurt Meyer Music's "Prestidigitation". Thanks to Kim for sharing the video with us. Tonight's concert is going to be exciting! Will YOU be there? 😎🎶

08/13/2026

Yesterday included a rehearsal for just the "pit ringers", all playing bass handbells and handchimes. Isn't it fun to see those aluminum bass bells moving? This is an excerpt from Caleb Onstead's "Equinox", with Fred providing the melody in the absence of the entire treble section. Come to tonight's concert to hear the whole piece played by 108 musicians! 🤩🎶

08/12/2026

Today's been another busy day at Bay View! We have 108 handbell musicians here, preparing for Thursday night's concert, and it takes a lot of work! Today we held separate rehearsals – sectionals – for the bass and treble ringers. Here's a snippet from the bass sectional, where ringers are working on CJ Caminiti's powerful arrangement of "Jesus, Lover of My Soul", under the baton of director Fred Gramann. 😊🎶

08/12/2026

WATCH THE HANDBELL CONCERT ONLINE! 🤩 We encourage you to join us here in Bay View on Thursday, August 13th at 7:30pm for the annual Week of Handbells Concert. Experience the sound of 108 handbell musicians, playing music that will touch your heart AND make you want to dance!

If you can't make it to the event in person, you can watch online on the Bay View Association's YouTube channel. It's going to be a great concert! 😊🎶

The Bay View Association of The United Methodist Church, a Chautauqua on Lake Michigan, is a National Historic Landmark community founded in 1875. The videos here represent a small glimpse into the various programs and life in Bay View. Enjoy!

08/11/2026

We enjoyed another meet-and-greet with Fred before today's rehearsals started. Here are some more first-time participants at this year's event. We love to welcome new ringers to Bay View! 😊

08/10/2026

The Auditorium was a blur of activity last night! 🎈After the final Vespers concert of the 2026 Assembly Season here at Bay View, a group of ringers got to work, bringing all the tables, handbells and equipment into the Auditorium. The instruments we use come from a variety of places, generously on loan to us for the event. We want to take great care of everything, and that starts with keeping a record of every single item that comes into the Auditorium. That way, we can keep track of it all, and make sure everything is returned to its owner at the end of the week. Thanks to the Row Captains for their careful supervision, and to everyone who helped with load-in. We hope you slept well afterwards! 😊🎶

08/10/2026

This afternoon, Fred held a meet-and-greet session to welcome some of the new participants to the event. It was a great opportunity for first-time attendees to chat with some of the returning participants and have the opportunity to ask questions. We're looking forward another welcome session tomorrow at 10:00am! 😊🎶