Nashville's Premier Community Handbell Ensemble

• About Us

  Our mission statement:
  "To reach for higher levels of musicianship in handbells/handchimes and to promote, educate and share the passion of handbell/handchime music with the community"

  Music City Bronze is Nashville’s premier community handbell ensemble and was founded in 2006 by former Principal Conductor and Artistic Director John Pfeiffer, and by former organization President and ringing member Susan Nance. We are a non-profit, 501(C)(3) organization and fully affiliated with the Handbell Musicians of America.

  

• Booking Information

  Booking Information

  Engaging Music City Bronze

  Music City Bronze is available for a variety of performance types. Performance space and parking needs are flexible depending on the venue.

  Private events: Music City Bronze is available for weddings, parties and other private events. Performance fees are $750 per set. A set includes event set up and break down, and 45 minutes of music.

  Featured Concerts for non-profit organizations: Music City Bronze is always interested in supporting schools, churches, faith-based and other non-profit organizations. Music City Bronze must be the featured performance for such events. Depending upon the resources and location of the organization, an honorarium, free-will offering, or combination will be requested.

  Multi-group performance events: Under certain circumstances, Music City Bronze will participate in concert events featuring multiple ensembles. In such cases, we require significant input in the overall event to ensure that our style and contribution is aligned. Compensation for such events is negotiable.

  Other event types: If you would like to book Music City Bronze for another type of event that is not covered in our engagement guidelines, please contact us. Our Board of Directors will respond with our availability and fees promptly!

  To schedule a performance of Music City Bronze, use the Contact Us form on this website.

  

• Membership

  Membership in Music City Bronze

  Membership in Music City Bronze (MCB) is open to all qualified handbell ringers who are at least 18 years or older. These qualifications include demonstrated skills in advanced handbell ringing along with the ringer's willingness to abide by the group’s Bylaws and “Membership Agreement.”

  In previous years, auditions were held every other year. In 2022, however, the process changed to invitation only to individuals sourced from an informal pool of substitute ringers. This “pool of subs” was established for the purpose of 1) filling in at rehearsals for an absent MCB ringer; and 2) as an opportunity to observe a prospective ringer’s abilities and professionalism during actual rehearsals in order to evaluate their qualifications for membership.

  A ringer from the pool of subs who expresses interest in becoming a member of MCB and who receives a favorable evaluation of his or her skills and professionalism may be offered membership in the group. Please use the “Contact Us” form on our website for more information about joining our pool of subs. You can also use the “Contact Us” form if you are interested in just observing a rehearsal.

  The group rehearses in the Donelson area for two hours every Monday evening from mid-July through the end of November, with at least four or more live concerts in December at various dates, times and locations.

  

• Quartet

  MCB 4 Quartet

  As ambassadors for Music City Bronze, Middle Tennessee’s premier community handbell ensemble, the mission of the MCB 4 handbell quartet is to assist in introducing and sharing the joy of handbell ringing with a wide variety of audiences, and to demonstrate the versatility, beauty and exuberance of this charming and graceful pitched percussion instrument.

  

Meet the newest addition to the Music City Bronze collection of handbells: the C2 bell! This bell is pitched three octaves below middle C and is made of aluminum rather than bronze, meaning you don't have to be a championship weight lifter to ring it!