"Keep up the good work! You certainly have a very fine choir! I'm very impressed!" -- Kevin McChesney, noted handbell composer, arranger and clinician

Madison Area Concert Handbells (MACH) is beginning its eleventh year of musical service to the community and state. This auditioned community choir performs with six octaves of handbells and seven octaves of handchimes, the largest assemblage of such instruments in Wisconsin. One of the nation's finest handbell choirs, MACH's members share over 250 years of ringing experience and are directed by the choir's founder, Dr. Susan Udell.

Established as a nonprofit organization in the summer of 1997, MACH has the following objectives:

• Serving the community through high-quality performances of handbell music
• Promoting the art of handbell ringing through workshops and performances
• Encouraging the public appreciation of and interest in handbell music
• Providing educational and performance opportunities for highly skilled handbell ringers

MACH serves the community in many ways, such as performing on invitation with the Madison Symphony Orchestra, and creating special hands-on experiences and concert programs for youth. In the Spring of 2007, a MACH team taught over 1000 students to play the handchimes in Madison, Middleton and Waunakee schools and then treated them to a concert by the full choir at the Middleton Performing Arts Center, all without charge to the students or their schools.

In addition, MACH presents free concerts for residents of elderly homes and patients at the UW Children's Hospital and clinics. These interactive programs have been enthusiastically received and appreciated. MACH's ticketed concerts for the general public are given in the December holiday season and in the Spring. To keep the melodious sounds of bells and chimes available all year, the choir sells studio-recorded CDs at concerts and on the MACH web site.

MACH rehearses weekly on Mondays and sometimes on weekends in space generously provided by Asbury Church, 6101 University Avenue in Madison.

MACH is currently listed with:

• Wisconsin's Touring and Arts in Education Artist Directory 2006-2007
• "Arts Alive!--Performing Arts for Youth," a catalog produced by the Madison Civic Center to showcase available arts groups
• portalwisconsin.org, a non-profit website by the Cultural Coalition of Wisconsin
• The Community Pages of madison.com
• Dane County's "Cultural Resources Directory for 2001-2004"
• The Greater Madison Convention & Visitors Bureau

MACH is available to perform at weddings, banquets, arts festivals, meetings and other events for a fee. Please contact the music director at 608-271-3514.

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Auditions - now scheduling!

Do you desire to join a fun and talented group of handbell ringers? Are you a director who'd also like to do some ringing? Here's the opportunity you've been waiting for! MACH is seeking a few good ringers. Auditions for new members are held by appointment. Some of the things you can expect to demonstrate at the audition are basic handbell techniques, rhythmic coordination, and sight-reading skills.

To set up an appointment to audition for MACH, please contact MACH's music director at 608-271-3514.

An important note: MACH has a policy to uphold ringers' commitments to their current handbell choirs; they are encouraged not to leave their choirs to join MACH. For information, contact us at info@madisonhandbells.org

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Officers:

Rachel Bain, President (pres@madisonhandbells.org)
Catherine Faley, Vice-President (vicepres@madisonhandbells.org)
Jane Sulzer, Secretary (secy@madisonhandbells.org)
Jackie Hansen, Treasurer (treas@madisonhandbells.org)

Board of Directors:

Nancy Becknell
James A. Ebben, Vice Chair
Gordon Johnsen, Honorary Chair
Thomas R. Johnson
Lila Lightfoot
David W. Reinecke
David S. Sanks
John W. Thompson, Chair
Jon Udell
Donald D. Wahlin
Karl W. Wellensiek
Steve Williams
Officers of the Ringers

Staff:

Dr. Susan Udell, Music Director (musicdir@madisonhandbells.org)
Kristi Menninga, Executive Director (execdir@madisonhandbells.org)
Mark Bloedow, Guest Director, Spring 2008

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