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Rehoboth hosts Handbell Musicians of America fest

Players practiced at home and then held one large concert in the convention center
The Handbell Musicians of America Area 3 held its annual Beach Festival the weekend of March 6-7 in Rehoboth Beach. Thomas Stumpfoll was one of hundreds of musicians who came to town. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTOS
Chris Flood
March 14, 2026

Hundreds of handbell musicians gathered in Rehoboth Beach for the Handbell Musicians of America Area 3’s annual Beach Festival.

Handbell Musicians of America is a national organization dedicated to advancing the musical art of handbell ringing. The national organization is split into a dozen regional areas. Area 3 represents ringers from Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina and Washington, D.C.

The event is typically held in Ocean City, Md., but this was the first year the festival was in Rehoboth Beach. Overall, it’s the 66th annual. This year, there were about 280 ringers and directors in attendance.

In advance of the festival, which was held March 6-7 in the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center, handbell groups or individual ringers learned music on their own. The musicians rehearsed as a group throughout the weekend, which culminated in a concert Saturday afternoon. The guest conductor for the festival was Kathryn Jurado. 

Area 3 will also host a Southern Festival Friday, April 17, and Saturday, April 18, in Winston-Salem, N.C.

 

Kasey Hobert from Newark United Methodist plays a couple of the small handbells.
Area 3 consists of musicians from Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina and Washington, D.C.
Musicians rest with bells up, ready to begin playing.
Capital Ringers’ Heather Beauchamp plays the big chimes.
Carl Eichenwald, of Bethesda, Md., and Pete Grasis of Manassas, Va., prepare to play their big handbells.
Kathryn Jurado was the guest conductor for the Beach Festival.
Capital Ringers’ Nikki Runge’s hands are moving the bells quickly, but it’s all in the wrist, which is how she remains focused on the sheet music.
Musicians are one of a larger handbell choir that has a director. Alan Payne, standing, provides a class for individuals looking to become directors.
The annual festival has been going on for decades. This T-shirt is from festival in 2018.

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Chris Flood has been working for the Cape Gazette since early 2014. He currently covers Rehoboth Beach and Henlopen Acres, but has also covered Dewey Beach and the state government. He covers environmental stories, business stories and random stories on subjects he finds interesting, and he also writes a column called Choppin’ Wood that runs every other week. He’s a graduate of the University of Maine and the Landing School of Boat Building & Design.

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