As a community of handbell musicians, we bring over 340 years of ringing experience to this uniquely collaborative musical art. We share an instrument comprised of more than 200 individual handbells and handchimes. We love to share our skill and enthusiasm with others through workshops offered with Handbell Musicians of America, and by serving in leadership roles at the local and national levels of that organization.
Touring allows us to teach and perform outside of our Chicago-area base, and in the past we've been fortunate to travel to England, Puerto Rico, Canada, and many areas of the U.S. In 2015, the ensemble taught and performed at events for Handbell Musicians of America in Illinois, Nebraska and Massachusetts, the Fellowship of United Methodists, and The United Church of Christ Musicians Association. In 2016, The Agape Ringers are thrilled to perform as part of the Wheaton College Artists Series.
The Agape Ringers is an auditioned group of musicians who have chosen to express their musical talents through the skill of handbell ringing. Our mission is four-fold:
- To inspire audiences through the art of handbell ringing
- To challenge ourselves to reach higher standards of musical accomplishment
- To encourage handbell directors and ringers through our leadership and teaching
- To foster a warm, caring community of friends
The Agape Ringers is proud to be a member of the Handbell Musicians of America, a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the musical art of handbell and handchime ringing through education, community, and communication.